We have the Washington Redskins to thank for the Prescott phenomenon. It was in our nation’s capital back in Week 2 when the Dallas Cowboys’ rookie quarterback authored his first victory, in comeback fashion no less. And the Boys have continued to win, rattling off nine straight since that one. The Skins haven’t been bad since that loss, posting six wins, a loss and a tie, but they need to knock off the Cowboys in their Week 12 Thanksgiving Day showdown to gain any ground in the NFC East race.
This contest in Week 12 of the regular season will go down Thursday, November 24, 2016, at 4:30 p.m. ET at ATT Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Washington Redskins +7
Dallas Cowboys -7
Over/Under 51
Odds Analysis
The Cowboys are a hot bet and the wagering public is backing them in this one. The line opened at Dallas -6 and went as high as -7.5 before settling on its current number. But don’t expect that to hold. With this game getting plenty of action expect the line to fluctuate up until kickoff. The teams combined for 50 points in the first meeting to cash the over and the total has been adjusted to 51. Points are out there and the over has some value.
Injury Report
Nick Sundberg – The Redskins signed Rick Lovato the day before their game with Green Bay to take the place of long-time long-snapper Sundberg, who is nursing a sore back. Skins’ kicker Dustin Hopkins missed a PAT late in the game and Jay Gruden elected to go for a 2-point conversion twice instead of kicking the extra point. The Skins failed to convert both times.
Morris Claiborne – The Cowboys corner suffered a setback in his recovery from a groin injury and is likely out a few more games. His absence, along with that of safety Barry Church, leaves the Dallas secondary thin and the group will be tested by Kirk Cousins.
Matchup to Watch
People were still wondering how the Cowboys were going to survive without Tony Romo and rookie Prescott behind center when these teams met back in Week 2. Dallas was coming off its opening day loss to the Giants and talk at the time was focused on the Cowboys’ quarterback situation. Was Prescott the right guy to handle the job or should the Boys go in search of a veteran backup to keep the team afloat. After all, Dallas went through the same thing last season when Romo went down and the reserves failed miserably.
The game was a coming out party for Prescott and fellow rookie Ezekiel Elliott, who led the Cowboys to a come-from-behind 27-24 victory. Prescott engineered an 11-play, 80-yard game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, starting Dallas on its franchise record nine-game winning streak. Prescott was sacked four times in the game, but showed the poise that would make him the sensation he is today by going 22 of 30 for 292 yards without a turnover. But this was a game the Redskins could’ve won. Kirk Cousins tossed an end zone interception as the Skins were poised to take a 10-point lead. Instead, the tables were turned and the Cowboys haven’t looked back. A little payback and tightening the race in the NFC East are what consumes Washington heading into the Thanksgiving Day contest.
Free ATS Pick
All the talk about the Cowboys has flooded the national landscape, yet Dallas is a loss away from making the NFC East race more interesting. But the talk is deserved and there is no hotter team in the league than America’s Team right now. Prescott and Elliott have transformed the Boys into an offensive juggernaut. They rank fourth in total yards and have amassed better than 400 yards of offense in eight straight games. They’ve done it against some pretty good defensive teams also. But there have been a few not-so-good ones mixed in.
The streak started the week after the Washington game, so the Skins know they can at least slow the Cowboys down. And that first meeting is a game Washington definitely let slip away. As well as the Cowboys are playing offensively, the Skins have been equally good. Cousins is on fire and the weapons will give the Dallas secondary fits. I just don’t see the Skins having enough on defense to pull off the victory, however. This game should be entertaining with plenty of points, and the Skins will keep it within the spread. But it’s the Boys who pull out the victory.
NFL Odds: Cowboys 31, Redskins 27
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