ClutchPoints
There was a time that a confrontation between Dallas and Washington meant everything in the NFC as these two glamour teams were fighting for NFC superiority.
It has been decades since Tom Landry stalked the sidelines for the Cowboys and George Allen dreamed of postgame ice cream while coaching the then-Redskins. Those were Dallas-Washington battles helped make the National Football League the leading sports enterprise in the world.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has always respected the rivalry between the two teams, but now both teams are simply fighting for respectability — not conference superiority.
The Cowboys (2-3-1) certainly look like a competitive team from an offensive perspective this season. Quarterback Dak Prescott is healthy once again and capable of delivering big plays with his arm and he has a fine go-to receiver in George Pickens. The former Steelers wideout has stepped in and produced at a high level since CeeDee Lamb was injured early in the year.
The Commanders (3-3) are trying to build off their great season last year that saw them get to the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Washington is coming off a disappointing Monday night loss to the Chicago Bears. Head coach Dan Quinn’s team has been troubled by injuries and inconsistency. They will try to find their way to a key division win in Dallas and much will depend on second-year QB Jayden Daniels.
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The Cowboys quarterback has had a solid season after missing 26 games in a five-year period. It seems as if the football gods have made the decision that Prescott will have a healthy 2025 season, and the signal caller is taking advantage of it.
Prescott has shown remarkable accuracy this year, completing 164 of 229 passes for a 71.6 completion percentage. He has thrown for 1,617 yards and is averaging 7.1 yards per pass. He has a 13-3 TD-interception ratio that is far better than the 11-8 ratio he had a year ago.
The Cowboys know they have to protect Prescott if they want to succeed. Backup Joe Milton has a very strong arm and could do a competent job if he has to relieve Prescott for a game or perhaps two, but he does not have Prescott’s leadership or big-play ability.
Prescott has developed a solid rapport with Pickens. He has become the team’s top threat at the WR position, and he has the skills to make the tough catch in traffic and come through at the game’s biggest moments. He has 32 receptions for 524 yards and 6 touchdowns, and he can get the best of Washington’s ordinary pass defense.
Tight end Jake Ferguson is an excellent complement to Pickens. He can make the key catches on third downs and is a capable target in the red zone. Ferguson has been targeted 51 times by the Cowboys quarterback, and he has caught 44 passes for 305 yards and 4...
