Redskins-Cowboys Preview

 

SCOUTING REPORT

Redskins can't compete with Cowboys' firepowerWith the Redskins having played well in each of the past two weeks and the Cowboys coming off three impressive victories, this is an outstanding NFC East matchup -- and possibly the game of the week. Both clubs are very physical, and both defenses have acquitted themselves nicely, ranking among the top third of the league statistically. Dallas has the NFL's most explosive offense, and though QB Jason Campbell and Washington got off to a slow start, the offense is coming around in coach Jim Zorn's new scheme. Road games in this division always are treacherous, but the Redskins appear ready for the challenge.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
WAS	8-8	265	296	4-4	4-4	3-3	7-5
DAL	9-7	362	365	6-2	3-5	3-3	7-5
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Washington Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Campbe... 64.5 3618 20 15 Collin... 52.2 144 0 0

Dallas Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Romo 63.1 4483 26 9

Washington Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Portis 124 494 4.0 1 Campbe... 46 236 5.1 1

Dallas Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Barber 214 932 4.4 7 Jones 116 685 5.9 3

Washington Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Moss 70 902 12.9 3 Randle... 50 530 10.6 0

Dallas Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Austin 81 1320 16.3 11 Witten 94 1030 11.0 2

Full Player Stats: Washington | Dallas

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	WAS	320.0
	DAL	345.0
Yards Passing	WAS	189.1
	DAL	236.8
Yards Rushing	WAS	130.9
	DAL	107.7
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	WAS	288.8
	DAL	294.3
Pass Yds Allowed	WAS	193.4
	DAL	187.7
Rush Yds Allowed	WAS	95.4
	DAL	106.6

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Dallas leads 10-6
Dec 30, 2007	WAS 27, @DAL 6
Nov 18, 2007	WAS 23, DAL 28
Nov 5, 2006	WAS 22, @DAL 19
Sep 17, 2006	WAS 10, DAL 27
Dec 18, 2005	WAS 35, @DAL 7
Sep 19, 2005	WAS 14, DAL 13
Dec 26, 2004	WAS 10, DAL 13
Sep 27, 2004	WAS 18, @DAL 21
Dec 14, 2003	WAS 0, @DAL 27
Nov 2, 2003	WAS 14, DAL 21
Dec 29, 2002	WAS 20, @DAL 14
Nov 28, 2002	WAS 20, DAL 27
Dec 2, 2001	WAS 14, @DAL 20
Oct 15, 2001	WAS 7, DAL 9

Its only the fourth week of the season, but the undefeated Dallas Cowboys are already talking about gearing up for a playoff run. This shouldn't be a surprise considering how they've been winning, though.

The Cowboys look to build off their most complete victory of the season on Sunday when they host the Washington Redskins, who will be without six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor.

In its season-opening 28-10 win at Cleveland on Sept. 7, Dallas' defense allowed just 205 yards and limited the Browns to 11 first downs. That same defense was bailed out by the Cowboys' high-powered offense against Philadelphia in Week 2 in a 41-37 victory.

Dallas (3-0) displayed a nice combination of offense and defense last Sunday night at undefeated Green Bay, where it won 27-16. The Cowboys rushed for 217 yards and passed for 236, and the defense kept the Packers out of the end zone until the final two minutes when the outcome was already decided.

"We're slowly starting to jell and that's huge as we get farther along in the season," defensive tackle Tank Johnson said. "That's what the regular season is for, jelling for the postseason."

The defending NFC East champion Cowboys have made the playoffs each of the last two seasons, but have not won a postseason game since 1996.

Dallas rode its high-scoring offense to a playoff berth last year, and its using the same formula this season with quarterback Tony Romo and running back Marion Barber leading the way.

The Cowboys lead the NFL in offense yards (448.0 yards per game) and are third in the league in scoring (32.0 points per game). Romo has thrown for 892 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions, while Barber has rushed for 285 yards and four TDs. Barber ran for a career-high 142 yards and a touchdown against the Packers.

"We've got a good football team, I know that," Romo said. "But it doesn't matter whether you're the favorite now or the least favorite. The reality of it is you've got to keep playing games and you're not trying to be the favorite in Week 3, you're trying to be it at the end of the year."

Dallas managed to beat Green Bay, despite a quiet game from Terrell Owens. The Packers used double and triple coverage on Owens, holding him to just 17 yards on two catches. The plan to shut down Owens was not flawless, though, as Romo found his other receivers.

"It's nice that you can take whatever they give you," Dallas coach Wade Phillips said.

The Cowboys have had little trouble playing Washington (2-1) at home lately, winning two straight, and 11 of their last 12 meetings heading into their final meeting at Texas Stadium.

In Dallas' 28-23 victory over the Redskins on Nov. 18, Romo was 22 of 32 for 293 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Owens caught all four of those touchdown passes, and finished with eight receptions for 173 yards.

The Cowboys lost to Washington 27-6 in the regular-season finale on Dec. 30, allowing the Redskins to secure a wild-card berth. Dallas, which had already secured the top seed in the NFC playoffs, rested most of its starters in the loss.

Washington is again looking like a playoff team after stumbling in its season opener.

After losing to the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants 16-7 on Sept. 4, the Redskins have scored 53 points in winning their last two games.

Washington defeated Arizona 24-17 last Sunday, when Jason Campbell connected on a 17-yard TD pass to Santana Moss with just over 12 minutes to go in the fourth quarter for the winning score.

"After the game against the Giants, we said that the next two games were must wins," tight end Chris Cooley said. "I think that if we continue winning, we will look back and say that this was when we became a good team."

The win came at a price, however.

Taylor was kicked in the calf in the second quarter of the game, and early Monday morning he went to Virginia Hospital Center, where a mass of blood near his ankle was diagnosed as compartmental syndrome. A couple hours later, doctors cut a 6-inch incision into Taylor's calf to drain blood that, left untreated, might have led to nerve or tissue damage and even paralysis, limb loss or death.

While the pressing medical issue was solved, Taylor will be sidelined for Sunday's game, ending his consecutive games streak at 133 -- the seventh longest among active players.

"He's going to be fine," Washington coach Jim Zorn said.

Offensively, the Redskins will be looking for another steady performance from Campbell, who had a league-high eight lost fumbles last season, but has yet to commit a turnover this year.

Campbell, who has thrown for 647 yards and four touchdowns, was 33 of 54 for 348 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the loss at Texas Stadium last season.

Running back Clinton Portis, who has 248 yards and three touchdowns, was limited to 36 yards on 12 attempts in last season's loss to the Cowboys.

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Jean-Jacques Taylor has been at the DMN for 16 years. He covered the Rangers and Cowboys before becoming a columnist.