NFL
Cowboys And Redskins Battle For First Place In NFC East
The Dallas Cowboys will travel to Landover, Maryland, to face the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Surprisingly, these two teams are battling with first place in the NFC East on the line. While it may still be early in the season, a win for either side will be huge heading down the stretch.
Week 6 Recap
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas looked unstoppable against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week as they put up 40 points. The ground game was particularly dominant as the team rushed for 206 yards. Offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan, decided to let quarterback Dak Prescott run the ball as well.
Prescott rushed for a career-high 82 yards on 11 carries. This is a strategy that a lot of pundits have said should be used more often given Prescott’s ability. It also helps to take pressure off of Ezekiel Elliott since teams are looking to load the box in order to bring down the dynamic running back.
Washington Redskins
The Redskins picked up an impressive win at home last week against the Carolina Panthers. QB Alex Smith didn’t wow anyone with his numbers, but he did have two touchdowns with no interceptions.
RB Adrian Peterson continues to prove that there is a fountain of youth out there somewhere. The 33-year old ran the ball 17 times for 97 yards. With all the talk of how Tom Brady isn’t slowing down, Peterson’s durability is far more impressive in his 12th season.
This Sunday
Will Dallas Be Consistent?
The biggest concern for the Cowboys this season is their consistency on offense and not defense. The defensive unit has allowed just 17.2 points and 243.8 yards passing per game. Dallas has the best defense in the NFC statistically speaking.
Unfortunately, their offense can’t seem to put together a string of good games. While Dallas posted 40 points last week, their inconsistency with the play-calling and passing game warrants some cause for doubt.
Quarterback Dak Prescott has not shown any accuracy nor the arm strength to help them move down the field. These dynamics make his ability to run the ball that much more crucial. Running back Ezekiel Elliott has been fairly consistent on offense.
However, it’s unknown how long the team can win without having some type of passing game to complement their workhorse. Wide receiver Cole Beasley had a very impressive outing last week with 101 yards and two TDs, whether he becomes a factor or not is unknown.
Can Washington Hold Its Place?
The Redskins were really fortunate during the offseason. They had no plans to keep Kirk Cousins as he’s now with the Minnesota Vikings, and the Kansas City Chiefs decided to place their trust in Patrick Mahomes.
This led to the release of Alex Smith and a blessing for Washington. They were able to gain another Pro Bowl caliber QB after letting one go so freely. Alex Smith has proven that he can be trusted to lead a team to the playoffs. His record once getting there is the issue.
Adrian Peterson has shown that he can still get the job done, and Washington’s defense is just as good as Dallas’. The teams are virtual mirrors of each other defensively. Washington is more than capable of winning the division and winning this game on Sunday.
Prediction
This game will be a close one with both teams playing tough, hard-nosed defense in the first half. The scoring will pick up in the second half with the respective running games. Washington wins at home 24-21.
Fantasy Implications
While both teams are stingy on defense, fantasy players should start Ezekiel Elliott if they have him. He’s a dual-threat back who will have to be utilized to his full potential. Alex Smith could also have a sleeper game on offense. He seems to be due.
Photo Credit
Featured Image courtesy of David Hahn Images
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