Things have not been great for the Dallas Cowboys the past few weeks, losing three in a row (at home) on their way to 5-6. They will look to shift the narrative this week against another division foe, Washington, on Thursday Night Football at 8:25 p.m. ET on NFL Network and NBC (live stream).
Cowboys vs. Washington live stream: How to watch ‘Thursday Night Football’ online
One of these NFC East teams will hit the .500 mark with a win on Thursday.
Both NFC East teams are fighting for second behind the division leading Philadelphia Eagles, but with both Dallas and Washington holding 5-6 records, this Thursday night matchup will go a long way in deciding which team is still in the hunt for a playoff bid after Week 13.
The Cowboys have made a handful of roster moves this week, including waiving kicker Mike Nugent (now that Dan Bailey is back) and running back Darren McFadden (after a very strange two-year career in Dallas). They’ve also decided to drum up some competition for a starting CB spot, and potentially get some rookies additional in-game experience. It might too little, too late for it to make an impact this season, but the Cowboys seem to be wasting no time in laying the foundation for an improved 2018.
On the other sideline, Washington somehow still needs the last five games of the season to figure out what they’re going to do with quarterback Kirk Cousins. Having played the last two years on the team’s franchise tag, it’s time for them to either pay up, or be prepared for Cousins to lead another team. (Why they haven’t made a decision yet is one of this season’s greatest mysteries.)
The last time these two teams met, just over a month ago, the Cowboys claimed a 33-19 win, but the momentum of both teams has changed a bit since then.
Time, TV channel, and streaming info
- Time: 8:25 p.m. ET
- Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- TV: NFL Network and NBC
- Streaming: NBCSports.com | Amazon Prime | FuboTV
- Odds: The Cowboys opened as 2.5-point favorites but Washingon are 1.5 favorites now
Cowboys vs. Washington news:
- The Cowboys defense has been littered with injuries, but a few of those players sidelined started to at least “do something” in practice this week.
- Washington head coach Jay Gruden spoke to the media this week, and touched on Josh Allen’s possible return this season and noted a few other injuries.
- Despite a steep drop off from the 2016 season to 2017, Jason Garrett’s job is probably safe, but several players will use these last five games as an audition for next year’s roster spot.
In hindsight, as many have been pointing out repeatedly since free agency, the Cowboys may have let too many of their free agents walk in free agency. And it didn’t need any amount of hindsight or foresight to understand that the young Cowboys defense was going to struggle this year.
- Instead of bringing in veteran talent, Washington is choosing to rely on young guys to step up following some injuries to key players.
Washington has shown again and again, that they are committed to developing their talent, and expecting them to improve weekly and become consistent when stepping on the field. Perine has achieved career highs in back-to-back weeks and seems he has developed a sense of patience as a back, which in turn allows him to be more physical as well.
Cowboys vs. Washington predictions:
No matter how many times Jerry Jones threatens his players, this year’s Dallas team seems to be scrambling for any semblance of momentum. Washington, on the other hand, has kept it close with some top-ranked teams, and will also be looking to end the 2017 campaign 1-1 against the Cowboys. Cousins and squad get the win. Six of our eight experts took Washington in their Week 13 picks.
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