Cowboys: How about them boyz? The Cowboys are by far the most surprising team this year. After four straight years of an 8-8 record or worse, the Cowboys are currently 6-1. They have been able to find a winning formula that allows them to produce alot of points. Unparalleled to previous years, the Cowboys have chosen to run the ball heavily. This year , they have looked to run alot more. Running back DeMarco Murray is simply off to a stupendous year. Murray is on pace to break the record for most carriers in one single season in NFL History. Murray has rushed for at least 100 yards in ALL 7 games, in addition to scoring at least 1 touchdown in 6 out of 7 games.
Running the ball the way that the Cowboys do does multiple things. First , running the ball successfully takes pressure off of Tony Romo and the passing game. If the Cowboys are able to run the ball the way they have , defenses will be forced to try to stop their running game. Once that happens, when the Cowboys look to pass, they will have a greater chance of doing so. Less attention will be on Dez Bryant, which is something no team should ever do.This also allows for Romo to take advantage of the blitzes that teams use in order to stop the run. Running the ball relieves pressure from the defense. The defense was notorious for giving up large amounts of yards and touchdowns last season. Granted, many of their key players were injured throughout the year, but they were still considered as one of the lower ranked defenses. One of the effects of running the ball includes extended offensive drives which keeps the defense off of the field and energized. Last but not least, running the ball and winning games makes Jerry Jones seem like a complete genius. 4 out of the last 5 first round picks that the Cowboys have had are offensive lineman. While it may not be the most popular thing to do, offensive lineman can make or break a team. With a 6-1 record, the lineman are clearly making the team.
Redskins: The Skins just cannot seem to get it going this year. They were able to add more explosiveness to their offense this year, signing wide receiver DeSean Jackson. For a second straight season, RGIII has been able to successfully stay on the field due to injuries. This hurts the Redskins, as they need their talented quarterback to perform and at a high level in order for them to be successful. The Redskins have lost the last 4 out of 5 games. Led by backup Kirk Cousins , the Redskins could not seem to get it going. The coaching staff decided to give 3rd string quarterback Colt McCoy a chance to play and show off his skills. Fortunately , he was able to lead them to a 19-17 victory. After the win, the head coach name McCoy as the starter for tonight's game.
While the Redskins have been struggling, they hope to somehow get back on the track. What better way than to do so by beating a red hot team on their home turf? Wins such as these give teams a major confidence boost. Once a team beats the best at that time, they feel as though they can beat anybody. Therefore, look for them to come out focused and attacking early.
Matchup:
This will overall be a matchup that will be closer than people think. These two teams see each other twice a year, and they aren't very fond of each other, no matter the record. Look for the Redskins to make some big plays, but will it be enough? Only time will tell.