(Mega Merged Thread) Redskins-Dallas Game

I think this is a case of two pretty evenly matched teams and it's going to come down to the usual X factor, turnovers.

I think the home crowd is going to be a big advantage as FedEx has finally arrived as a true homefield for the Skins this year. I think the place will be nuts and could cause some problems for the Cowboys on offense.

I wouldn't count on our top 3 corners being out for Sunday. They know what's on the line, guys will suck it up and play.

This is what I've heard from various sources. Rogers will be sore, but good enough to play. Harris is vastly improving from his injury and should be ready to go this weekend. Springs is hurt bad, but according to him, he'd have to be dead to miss this one.

(See #5)


It's a 1:30 difference - an advantage, to be sure, but not exactly an earth-shattering statistic.


DE/DT - probably.
LB - umm...I don't think so. Dat is out, and Washington and Arrington are better than the rest of your pack.
CB - you're kidding, right? CP has outgained your two top backs COMBINED.


Not if we contol TOP, which I think we are capable of doing (see #1).


You list injuries like 3 times on your list (#1, 4, and 5). Moss tweaked his hammy, but is fine. Our CBs will hurt us, but in a team defense like the Skins, we can survive a couple of injuries.


He's certainly taller, but he does like to throw those picks.

What does the CB (Cornerback) have to do with Portis? Portis is a stud, no doubt. But with the depth that Dallas has a RB you could see one HB for 2 1/2 quarters of play, then when the Redskins defense is playing tired in the 4th, in comes the other HB with fresh and rested legs and a full tank of gas. That is a distinct advantage.

By the way in his career with Washington, Clinton Portis has never ever eclipsed 100 yards against Dallas.

Concur on the abilities of Arrington and Washington, both extremely talented players. But that is why the depth of the Dallas defense will come into play in the later quarters. You have two outstanding LB's, no argurment. But when it comes to the LB corp as a whole and what they bring to the table.

Whether or not the beat-up CB's for the Redskins play or not we will have to find out on Thursday. But they are certainly not 100% and will be playing hurt even if they suit up. And if those "scrub" DB's play in place of Rogers, Springs and Harris they will be exploited and Bledsoe will pick them apart. Bledsoe was sacked 4 times last Sunday but still put up HUGE numbers.

You picked apart my list farily well, but you still failed to point out facts that put the odds in favor of the Redskins. You attempted to discredit my points but you did not point out facts that make a case for your team and why the Redskins will win?

Ok there has been a lot of smack flying all over the place.

But with all smack aside I would like to hear from Redskins fans, and intelligent assesment as to why the Redskins will win on Sunday. What are the factors in place that place the odds clearly in favor of Washington. Besides the home field advantage of course.


I think Dallas will win because of the following reasons:
1. With the exception of LT, they are healthy on both sides of the ball.
2. Dallas leads the league in TOP and controlling the clock.
3. They have better depth at key positions, DE, DT, LB and RB.
4. With thier depth they are able to rotate players in and out of the game, keeping them fresh and rested for the later quarters when the opposition is showing signs of fatigue.
5. Injuries to the Redksins make them very vulnerable. Thier top 3 CB's probably will not play, they are moving a practice sqaud guy up to play and another that has never started a game in the NFL. Thrash and Moss both have tended hamstrings.
6. Dallas has the better QB.If your depth was so great what happened last time we played. You D gave up several big plays and our D stoped you in the 4th qtr.

If he won't then I will...

1.) Provided they are healthy, Washington's CBs are far superior to Dallas's WRs. Taylor normally covers Keyshawn and has owned him in previous meetings. The CBs being healthy are a HUGE reason I believe the Skins will win. If we are down to our second or third string corners, I truly am worried about the outcome of the game.

2.) Home field advantage. There truly is one now at FedEx. Being that this is also the most important game ever played there is going to be make it a VERY hostile place to play.

3.) Dallas's defense cannot match up with EVERYONE the Skins have, while I feel that the Redskins match up very well against Dallas's offense.

All of this being said, I don't feel that Dallas has any true advantage, running game or otherwise on the Skins. It's not like you have two all-pro backs that have your "full tank of gas". It's Jones who, in his short history, has done jack nor shit against the Redskins and Marion Barber III, who I agree, is coming into his own, but is definitely not on the level of Portis. As far as backup RBs are concerned, Ladell Betts AND Rock Cartwright are both more talented than Barber. Both spell Portis when he needs a breather and have done an excellent job. Your main point seems to be the depth you say the Cowboys have. I don't think that alone is going to be enough because if I remember correctly, most Cowboys games are coming down to the last quarter. It'll be a shootout, no doubt, but the X-factors are turnovers and whether the Skins will have their starting cornerbacks playing.

If your depth was so great what happened last time we played. You D gave up several big plays and our D stoped you in the 4th qtr.

There you go, I knew there would be one who would bring up the last game. That was your "one", does not take away from the fact that Dallas has won 14 of the last 16 meetings and have beaten the Redskins in Maryland MORE than the Redskins have beaten Dallas in Maryland.

Congrats on the win in week 2, but last time I checked there was a game THIS Sunday that we were discussing.

If he won't then I will...

1.) Provided they are healthy, Washington's CBs are far superior to Dallas's WRs. Taylor normally covers Keyshawn and has owned him in previous meetings. The CBs being healthy are a HUGE reason I believe the Skins will win. If we are down to our second or third string corners, I truly am worried about the outcome of the game.

2.) Home field advantage. There truly is one now at FedEx. Being that this is also the most important game ever played there is going to be make it a VERY hostile place to play.

3.) Dallas's defense cannot match up with EVERYONE the Skins have, while I feel that the Redskins match up very well against Dallas's offense.

All of this being said, I don't feel that Dallas has any true advantage, running game or otherwise on the Skins. It's not like you have two all-pro backs that have your "full tank of gas". It's Jones who, in his short history, has done jack nor shit against the Redskins and Marion Barber III, who I agree, is coming into his own, but is definitely not on the level of Portis. As far as backup RBs are concerned, Ladell Betts AND Rock Cartwright are both more talented than Barber. Both spell Portis when he needs a breather and have done an excellent job. Your main point seems to be the depth you say the Cowboys have. I don't think that alone is going to be enough because if I remember correctly, most Cowboys games are coming down to the last quarter. It'll be a shootout, no doubt, but the X-factors are turnovers and whether the Skins will have their starting cornerbacks playing.

Well I will disagree with you about the Dallas defense being able to matchup with everyone, I think they can and they will. Secondary is healthy across the board, Keith Davis was one of the DB's that Moss burned in week 2, but for the last month oor so he has been playing LIGHTS OUT.

I also do not think it will be a "shootout". These are 2 "old school" coaches that will rely heavily on the ground game. Both defenses are pretty even across the board and it will be a defensive struggle until late in the game. I think that Dallas will win, but unlike some of my fellow Cowboy fans, no way do I think it is a blow out. It will be decided in the 4th quarter.

By the way how is Ladell Betts doing? Last I saw he was listed as questionable with a knee injury a couple weeks ago.

He's back and playing fine actually. Even if he aggrivates it in practice, Rock has an insane average per carry and is more than capable of spelling Portis.

What does the CB (Cornerback) have to do with Portis?
Relax - it's a typo. I meant RB, which is what you originally typed.

Portis is a stud, no doubt. But with the depth that Dallas has a RB you could see one HB for 2 1/2 quarters of play, then when the Redskins defense is playing tired in the 4th, in comes the other HB with fresh and rested legs and a full tank of gas. That is a distinct advantage.
You can't seriously buy that argument, can you? You would take two decent backs over one top 5 back?

By the way in his career with Washington, Clinton Portis has never ever eclipsed 100 yards against Dallas.
He doesn't need 100. I'll take 80 and the win. Point is, he will grind it out, get decent yards, pick up the blitz, and be an option on the screen when Brunell needs him. That's what he brings to the position that none of your RBs do.

Concur on the abilities of Arrington and Washington, both extremely talented players. But that is why the depth of the Dallas defense will come into play in the later quarters. You have two outstanding LB's, no argurment. But when it comes to the LB corp as a whole and what they bring to the table.
Again, the Skins' team defense doesn't need 4 Pro Bowl LBs to do the job. The only area where we have basically nothing is on the D line. If we can't get to Bledsoe, we are going to be in trouble.

Whether or not the beat-up CB's for the Redskins play or not we will have to find out on Thursday. But they are certainly not 100% and will be playing hurt even if they suit up. And if those "scrub" DB's play in place of Rogers, Springs and Harris they will be exploited and Bledsoe will pick them apart. Bledsoe was sacked 4 times last Sunday but still put up HUGE numbers.
I agree, except that I don't think Bledsoe will get the huge numbers if the Skins pressure him. We don't need 5 sacks, but we can't give him time to check down 3 receivers every passing down.

You picked apart my list farily well, but you still failed to point out facts that put the odds in favor of the Redskins. You attempted to discredit my points but you did not point out facts that make a case for your team and why the Redskins will win?
TMC beat me to the punch (stupid lunch breaks!), but I'll add superior running game and superior run defense to the list. It's going to come down to TOP and turnovers, and I think the Skins will win TOP based on this. I can't predict turnovers.

Is it just me or have you guys noticed that since Griffin is back he's been taking SERIOUSLY pressure off Daniels? Daniels has been a beast since Griffin has come back into the game.

Everyone is saying how the Skins won't be able to run against Dallas. That's nuts if we can run well against the #1 run defense in San Diego and basically tear apart Tampa Bay's. That's not to say Portis won't get shut down, but we're just NOW figuring out how to use him at this point in the season. Our offensive line is fairly dominant and it's all about pounding Portis at them and then using him outside of Dallas's slow DEs.