The 5-6 Washington Redskins had an aggressive performance last week in a 20-14 win over the New York Giants and the result was a tie for the lead in the NFC East Division in which both teams reside. The 3-8 Dallas Cowboys — also in the NFC East — last played against the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving Day… a day in which their quarterback Tony Romo suffered a fracture in the same collarbone that had already sidelined him for seven games. Dallas lost that game 33-14. The Redskins now must meet up with the Cowboys in a Monday Night Football matchup to possibly further Washington’s position in the division.
The Cowboys have recorded losses in every game Romo has missed. After Romo went out the first time, then-backup QB Brandon Weeden was the the signal caller. Dallas went 0-3 and then the team called up QB Matt Cassel. As far as anyone knows, this is who will be getting the start on this Monday night as Dallas visits Washington for Monday Night Football. Cassel dropped his subsequent four starts.
Dallas owner and General Manager Jerry Jones has not placed Romo on season-ending injured reserve despite his QB’s injury and reports are that this is because the team isn’t that far out of first place. A Giants victory over Washington last week would have left Dallas three games back and potentially out of the playoff race but obviously that is not the case now. The Redskins, who have finished last in the division in six out of the last seven seasons; are in the driver’s seat now, controlling their own destiny in the NFC East. The Giants lost to the New York Jets Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
What will it take for the Redskins to beat their arch rival Dallas Cowboys at home in front of the nation?
They must ground and pound the ball. Getting the offensive line firing off the ball and imposing a physical presence will be key to getting the offense clicking on all cylinders for the Burgundy and Gold. Running back Alfred Morris has rushed for 170 yards on 40 carries over the past three games. After putting up a big fat goose egg against the Panthers two weeks ago, Morris came back last week against the Giants and rushed for 78 yards. The key to his success comes in a two-fold package: running him downhill and mixing up when he runs, especially early in the game.
Consistency allows for Morris to get into a rhythm; not just in feeling his blocks and timing but also in allowing his offensive line to get into an aggressive rhythm as well. When both are working together he has success. The versatility of the backfield with third-round draft pick Matt Jones and the second year shifty Chris Thompson really can keep a defense off balance and help wear them down physically.
A quality run game will help neutralize an aggressive pass rush lead by Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy who currently has four and half sacks in 2015. Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins has only been sacked 11 times this year and wasn’t dropped at all last week. He recognizes the importance of a successful running game.
“I think running the football will always help with the pass rush” Cousins said to reporters recently. “I think when you have a lead it helps with the pass rush. We have said that when you get in a catch-up mode — a two-minute mode — it gives the pass rushers on the other teams a chance to know that they’re throwing the ball and they pin their ears back and they come with a vengeance. So having a lead, running the football, all those things play well into avoiding sacks but ultimately it comes down to players holding up in protection. It comes down to me getting the ball out of my hand quickly and making good decisions and it really does take all 11 to avoid sacks. And to this point… we gave up five against Carolina, that was kind of an anomaly in my opinion… I think, overall, if you look at the season; we’ve done a very good job of protecting me as a quarterback and avoiding sacks because sacks really do kill drives when you look at statistics. When you take a sack, it is very, very hard to overcome and stay on the field.”
The Redskins are riding high on their longest single-season home win streak since 1991. The play of Cousins has played a huge part in this, throwing for 10 touchdowns and no interceptions in their last five home games and posting a 76.0 completion percentage and 121.2 passer rating as well at FedEx Field.
Last week this Washington football team came out with an attitude and a level of confidence that was oozing out of each player as they laid the hammer down on the defensive side of the ball.
“Well, their attitude has been good,” Head Coach Jay Gruden said about his team’s attitude this week. “They came back ready to work. They had two days off. I figured we’d be a little bit rusty and complacent a little bit but practice was outstanding today. We put the pads on for that reason and they got some good work in there. I don’t think anybody is really worried about first place. The big message is we’ve just got to continue to get better — focus on ourselves getting better — and make sure we continue to stress the ball. Getting after the ball and protecting the football and we’ll go from there.”
The records can be thrown out when the Redskins and the Cowboys take the field in this long-time rivalry. With the aggressive attitude of the 2015 Redskins fans will see if they can seize the moment and take another step in their quest for the division crown under the bright lights of prime-time Monday Night Football.