Cowboys vs. Redskins 2013, Week 16: Dallas comeback adds to Washington woe

The Giants are considered 3.5-point home favorites against the Redskins by CBS Sports. When considering the spread, the eight-man CBS Sports panel picked in favor of the Giants with a 6-2 vote. The vote remains unchanged when the panel picked straight up.

Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” crew gave the Giants a clean sweep vote against the Redskins. Cris Collinsworth, Phil Simms and guest analyst Franco Harris all sided with New York in the NFC East rivalry game.

Dawn Macelli of Blogging the Boys is happy that Week 17 will be a meaningful game for the Cowboys:

Sean R. Patterson of Hogs Haven lamented the Redskins loss:

“That triggered it a little bit,” Romo said. “Whatever the kid did on that one play, it really sent something that didn’t feel comfortable.

The injury is apparently not connected to a play in the second half in which Romo stumbled while avoiding a defender and could be seen limping badly for several plays after. He never left the game, although the limp was so severe at one point he had to hop on one foot to complete a handoff.

One unlucky Redskins fans (aren’t they all kind of unlucky though?) was in the midst of a free escort out of FedEx Field when he went back down the stairs, the hard way.

Did the guy from Dan Snyder’s personal security force throw him down the stairs? Was he just drunk and missed a step? Or did he even exaggerate the fall himself?

Watching the play on which Romo was injured, it would appear that Garrett is likely closer to the truth. Romo appeared to kick himself in the heel as he stumbled during a play in the second half. He stayed in the game, but exhibited a severe limp for the next couple of plays, hopping on one foot at one point while making a handoff. He walked it off quickly, though, and helped rally the Cowboys for a late touchdown to win the game.

• NFL Week 16: Updates, GIFs and playoff pictures | Clinching scenarios

When I was in college, I spent my summers working at a day camp for eight-year-olds. Each group had a bunch of college kid counselors and one head “counselor” who was an elementary school teacher trying to get some cash in the summer. The lead counselor in my specific group was named Grant, and most days after the kids left, he’d go into a bathroom, put on a bright yellow outfit, and take the train to Shea Stadium where he also worked as a hot dog vendor.

That wasn’t necessarily for the extra cash: he’d been selling stuff at stadiums since high school and loved the experience. He spent his summer nights climbing stairs and watching his favorite baseball team for free, and just happened to also be dealing in hot dogs.

We’re not sure why he decided to, but he did, and here we are.

• NFL Week 16: Updates, GIFs and playoff pictures | Clinching scenarios

The two teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter to make the score 23-17 and set up the Cowboys’ late scoring drive.

The Cowboys entered as three-point favorites, according to Oddsshark.com, failing to cover with the one-point win.

Even though it’s #DallasWeek, the Washington fan base has slowly had the life sucked out of it over the last two months. With their team a disaster both on and off the field, you would think the crowd at FedExField is just going through the motions at this point. But no, this gentleman remains:

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

• NFL Week 16: Updates, GIFs and playoff pictures | Clinching scenarios

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He’s literally chewing on spite here.

• NFL Week 16: Updates, GIFs and playoff pictures | Clinching scenarios

Game Date/Time and Location: Sunday, Dec. 22, 1 p.m. ET at FedExField, Landover, Md.

TV schedule and distribution map: FOX; The506.com

Before anybody gets big ideas about Cousins sparking a quarterback battle in DC, Ken Meringolo at Hogs Haven has some preemptive words:

The Redskins have used the blitz particularly well against the Cowboys in recent years, but Dawn Macelli at Blogging the Boys thinks Murray could be the key to preventing that this time around:

Four of SB Nation’s six NFL experts picked the Cowboys to win. Jason Chilton and David Fucillo picked Washington.

CBS Sports’ eight NFL experts were even more in favor of Dallas, with seven picking the Cowboys. Jason La Canfora was the only expert who picked Washington. The Cowboys are a 3.5-point favorite, and five of the eight still picked Dallas when factoring in the point spread. John Breech predicts Dallas will win by a touchdown, 34-27.

A Cowboys win would ensure they stay alive heading into the Week 17 matchup against Philadelphia. Even going on the road, the Cowboys are favored, opening as 3.5-point betting favorites, according to OddsShark.com. Dallas has fared well against the spread this season, going 8-6. Washington is 4-10 ATS. Dallas is 5-1 straight up this season when favored by at least three points. The only loss came last week when the Cowboys blew a 23-point lead against Green Bay.

Dallas and Washington both rank near the bottom of the NFL in scoring defense, and oddsmakers are expecting a shootout. The total opened at 53.5 points, which is actually substantially lower than the 58.5 points the teams combine to allow per game. The two offenses combine to average 49.9 points per game.