Game Preview, Week 18: Dallas Cowboys at Washington
January 5, 2024
by Steve Thomas
Well, we made it, folks. The end of another season. A failed season, of course, but at least we had fund watching football during the past 17 weeks. Washington doesn’t have anything to play for in terms of playoffs, of course, but this game against Dallas carries with it two things that are diametrically opposed to one another: hurting Dallas’ playoff seeding and Washington’s draft order. Washington would love to keep Dallas out of first place in the NFC East by winning this game, but by doing that, they’d drastically hurt their draft order. What to do? Most fans probably want the draft order victory, not the victory over Dallas. Certainly, the odds are against Washington actually winning this game. We’ll all find out on Sunday. Our game preview begins below.
Game time & location: Sunday, January 7, 2023, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fed Ex Field, Raljon, Maryland; Gates open 2:25 p.m. ET; Red Zone parking lots open 11:25 a.m.; all other parking lots 12:25 p.m.
Television: FOX
Television announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen
TV broadcast map: click here
DC-area radio: BIG-100 (WBIG FM)
Washington radio network: click here
Dallas radio network: click here
Satellite radio: SiriusXM: 225 (Wash. broad.); internet: 831
Washington roster: click here
Washington depth chart: click here
Dallas roster: click here
Dallas depth chart: click here
Records: Washington 4 – 12 (home 1 – 6); Dallas 11 – 5 (away 3 – 5)
All-time head-to-head record vs Dallas: 46 – 77 – 2 (last 10: 3 – 7; streak: 0 – 1)
Last meeting: L, November 23, 2023, 10 – 45
Early odds: Dallas, -13.5
3 KEYS TO THE GAME
Stop the big plays by Dallas
Putting aside the fact that most Washington fans don’t want a win this week, if Washington is going to have any chance in this contest, their defense is going to have to play a solid game with no mental breakdowns in order to eliminate the cheap and easy big plays. This especially means keeping CeeDee Lamb in check through zone coverage that’s slanted his way. Man coverage isn’t going to work this week, particularly with nearly all of the starters being injured. Washington doesn’t have the ability to mount a big comeback, so sacrificing short gains in order to keep Dallas from hitting on the big plays will be mandatory.
Establish a strong running game
I have no faith that this will actually happen, mind you, considering how Washington has operated its offense this season, but they really need a running game this week. Washington desperately needs to be a running team in order to win. They need to control the tempo and keep the Cowboys off the field. This means a heavy dose of Brian Robinson Jr. on inside runs in order to extend drives and burn time. Eric Bieniemy almost assuredly won’t call this kind of game plan, but he should.
Quick, short passing game
Along with an inside run game, Bieniemy needs to dump the vertical routes this week in favor of a quick, short passing game. Dallas will be able to put significant pressure on the quarterback, and that’s not going to go well considering how much Sam Howell’s play has dropped on in the second half of the season. Think quick, short outs and screens, not long and slow vertical routes. That’s going to be the only to get Washington’s passing game moving.
3 KEY MATCHUPS
Emmanuel Forbes vs CeeDee Lamb
Forbes versus Lamb is a matchup that is 100% sure to go wrong. Unfortunately, Forbes is probably going to be on Lamb the most this week considering the number of injuries to the secondary that Washington has suffered. As I mentioned above, Washington’s defensive staff needs to help Forbes out by not putting him in press-man situations. Even with help, though, Forbes needs to play his best game of the season in order to keep Lamb from getting big plays and easy scores. The odds are with Lamb.
Cornelius Lucas vs Micah Parsons
This is another “sure to go wrong” matchup. Parsons is a 2x First Team All-Pro linebacker with 13 sacks this season, whereas Lucas is – at least at the time of publication – probably going to be the replacement for league-average left tackle Charles Leno. The potential for abuse this week is high. Keep an eye out on whether Lucas makes any sort of inroads in keeping Parsons out of Washington’s backfield. Don’t hold your breath, though.
Terry McLaurin vs. Stephon Gilmore
Best on best, here. McLaurin had only 4 receptions in 11 targets for 50 yards in the first game against Dallas on Thanksgiving Day, so Washington needs significantly more here from him. If the television broadcast pays any attention to an individual matchup in this game, it’s probably going to be McLaurin the Pro Bowler versus the two-time First Team All-Pro Gilmore.
OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (active roster only)
LP – limited practice FP – full practice DNP – did not practice
NIR – not injury related Q – questionable O – out
D – doubtful NL – not listed
| Washington | Cowboys |
| DT J. Allen, knee; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O | DE D. Armstrong, ankle; Wed: LP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| CB T. Castro-Fields; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; to IR | T C. Edoga, illness; Wed: NL; Thurs: DNP; Fri: FP |
| S K. Curl, quad; Wed: FP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: Q | DE C. Golston, illness; Wed: NL; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: Q |
| CB K. Fuller, knee; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; to IR | S M. Hooker, ankle/illness; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| CB C. Holmes, concussion; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; to IR | G Z. Martin, NIR-vet res; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP |
| WR C. Samuel, hamstring; Wed: FP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: FP | G T. Smith, foot; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP |
| DT J. Ridgeway, foot; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP | T T. Smith, NIR-vet rest; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: Q |
| DE C. Toohill, shoulder; Wed: FP; Thurs: LP; Fri: DNP; game: Q | S J. Thomas, illness; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| T A. Wylie, elbow; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q | DT J. Hankins, knee/ankle; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q |
| QB J. Brissett, hamstring; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | RB R. Dowdle, ankle; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP |
| DB J. Martin, chest; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | DE V. Fehoko, knee; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP |
| CB B. St-Juste, concussion; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | RB H. Luepke, thigh; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP |
| C T. Bladasz, illness; Wed: NL; Thurs: NL; Fri: DNP; game: Q |
Steve’s Prediction
Washington quit on the season a few weeks ago, and Dallas needs a win. This one’s going to be a blowout. 34 – 10, Dallas.