Washington Commanders (11-5) will face off against the Dallas Cowboys (7-9) on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, broadcasted on Fox. The current betting line from BetMGM has the Commanders as 4.5-point favorites. In terms of performance against the spread, Washington has a record of 10-5-1, while Dallas stands at 6-10. Historically, the Cowboys lead the series with a record of 79 wins, 48 losses, and 2 ties. In their last encounter on November 24, the Cowboys emerged victorious with a score of 34-26 in Landover, Maryland.
Last week, the Commanders secured a 30-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons, whereas the Cowboys suffered a heavy defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles, losing 41-7. Assessing the overall team statistics, the Commanders rank fourth in the league for overall offense, third in rushing, 16th in passing, and fifth in scoring. Meanwhile, their defense is ninth overall, although they struggle against the run, ranked 28th, but excel in pass defense, coming in third overall and 19th in scoring.
Conversely, the Cowboys’ offense is ranked 19th overall, 27th in rushing, 11th in passing, and 21st in scoring. Their defense has had a rough year, ranking 28th overall, 29th in rushing, 20th in passing, and 31st in scoring. Notably, the turnover differential favors Washington at plus-2, while Dallas sits at minus-7.
Focus players for the Commanders include wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who had a quiet game last week with only one catch for 5 yards due to tight coverage from Atlanta’s A.J. Terrell. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will likely continue to target McLaurin heavily, especially after both players were selected for the Pro Bowl.
For Dallas, the performance of quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Trey Lance is under scrutiny. Coach Mike McCarthy has been evasive about whether Lance will see action after his preseason limited play. Rush, stepping in for Dak Prescott, has been a reliable backup, holding a 4-4 record since Prescott’s injury. It remains uncertain if a single game would influence the team’s decision on Lance, acquired before last season after a trade. Both players are facing contract expiration at the end of the season, making the offseason a crucial period for Dallas to consider backup options.
One critical aspect to watch will be the Commanders’ run game against the Dallas defense. Washington primarily relied on their passing game to defeat Atlanta, but they expect the return of running back Austin Ekeler, who has been sidelined with a concussion for four games. Dallas experienced difficulties against the run early in the season, improved marginally, but couldn’t maintain that momentum during their recent loss to the Eagles, allowing significant yardage against NFL’s rushing leader, Saquon Barkley.
In terms of injuries, Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore may be unavailable again as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Additionally, their offensive line is struggling with injuries to center Tyler Biadasz and offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas, although right tackle Andrew Wylie is showing signs of recovery.
The Commanders last recorded a victory on the road against the Cowboys in 2020, the same year they last made the playoffs. That 41-16 win on Thanksgiving helped Washington clinch the NFC East title despite a 7-9 record, leading to a wild-card playoff loss against the Buccaneers and Tom Brady. The Cowboys will aim to sweep the season series, a feat they have achieved in three out of the last four seasons.
Statistically, the Commanders are playoff-bound under first-year coach Dan Quinn, who has previously overseen three consecutive playoff teams as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. Washington is currently on a four-game winning streak after previously falling to Dallas. The franchise last achieved 11 wins in 1991, coinciding with their last Super Bowl triumph. Jayden Daniels impressed last week, throwing three touchdown passes against Atlanta, notably being the first NFL player to accumulate eight-plus touchdown passes and more than 200 rushing yards in two games consecutively. Unfortunately, Washington’s running backs, Brian Robinson, Chris Rodriguez, and Jeremy McNichols, have collectively struggled to make an impact, averaging just 2.14 yards per attempt over the last three games.
For the Cowboys, running back Rico Dowdle recently achieved his first four 100-yard games within five weeks, a significant contribution compared to previous seasons. Additionally, wide receiver Jalen Tolbert has caught a touchdown pass in the last three games. Defensive end Micah Parsons is on the brink of achieving his fourth straight season with 10 sacks, an accomplishment reached only by a few players in NFL history.
