You couldn’t ask for a better Sunday night game this week. For all intensive purposes this is a playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins. The winner will take down the NFC North, while the loser will likely miss the playoffs all together (if Dallas loses they are out, if Washington loses they could still get a wildcard berth). Check out the full NFL standings here to see all of the different scenarios.
Washington started the season 3-6 so nobody really expected them to be in this position, but they won their most recent 6 games and RG3 has shown that he is already one of the top QB’s in the game. These wins included some big ones over the Cowboys, Giants and Ravens. Now they will have to defeat Dallas again to solidify their spot in the playoffs.
Dallas also turned up the heat in the second half though to put themselves in this spot. They were 3-5 after week 8, but then won 5 of their next 6 before losing the New Orleans in OT by a freak fumble recovery last week. They still have everything to play for though in this win and you’re in game.
Cowboys vs Redskins Odds
Online sportsbook Bovada.lv has the following odds for this game:
Dallas Cowboys +3.5 (-125)
Washington Redskins -3.5 (+105)
Cowboys +160
Redskins -180
Over/Under 49
Prediction
The Redskins are 3.5 point favorites in this one and rightfully so. Washington beat Dallas early in the year in Dallas by a touchdown, but home and away doesn’t seem to faze these two teams who have very similar records whether they play in front of their own fans or travel.
RG3 said he will be able to do more in the scramble department this week than he was last week against the Eagles, but people forget that RG3 was a pass first QB in college and it’s his arm that is his primary weapon. Even if he is still not at his scrambling best RG3 should be able to at least keep up with Romo in this one. Pierre Garcon has come on lately and has developed into the top receiver on this team. He isn’t the weapon that Dez Bryant is on the Cowboys, but Garcon, Moss and Morgan should be able to move the chains in a similar fashion to Bryant and Austin.
The Redskins just look like a team that knows how to win lately and that is a big part of getting W’s in the NFL. You don’t always have to be pretty to get the job done, but Washington often is. If they win this game they will be going into the postseason with the biggest winning streak in the NFC and will be a threat. That is just what I expect them to do. I don’t like the spread though because Washington could easily win this game by a field goal, but I do like them to find a way to win.
Play: Washington Redskins -180
Dallas Cowboys • Washington Redskins • Week 17