Cowboys vs. Redskins preview: Improvement is the theme for both teams
Two teams looking for their first win meet on Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys travel to Washington.
This long-standing rivalry has lost its edge in the past few years. Nevertheless, it’s an important early NFC East matchup.
For the Cowboys, it’s a live-and-learn approach after their 20-19 season-opening loss against the New York Giants.
The season opener featured rookie starters Dak Prescott at quarterback and Ezekiel Elliott at running back. However, the team had to rely on Dan Bailey’s four field goals for the majority of its points after bogging down in the red zone several times.
A final-play gaffe, when wide receiver Terrance Williams failed to get out of bounds before time expired, eliminated any potential for a possible game-winning field goal.
In Washington, the Redskins are coming off a 38-16 loss at home Monday night against Pittsburgh. Washington led 6-0 in the first quarter, then fell behind and could never catch up.
Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins passed for 329 yards, but was intercepted twice.
Here are some other notables about Sunday’s game:
▪ The Cowboys lead the all-time series 66-44-2, including the playoffs
▪ The Redskins won the NFC East last season, but split their division games against Dallas. Dallas won 19-17 on the road, then lost 34-23 at home.
▪ Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey has made all 22 field goals against the Redskins in his career and all 24 conversion kicks.
▪ Cowboys running back Alfred Morris started all 64 games of his four-year career with the Redskins before joining Dallas in the off-season.
▪ The Cowboys are 12-7 when playing at FedEx Field.
Statistical comparisons
Cowboys | Redskins | |
Record | 0-1 | 0-1 |
Scoring average | 19 | 16 |
Opp. Scoring average | 20 | 38 |
Total offense | 328 | 384 |
Rushing | 101 | 55 |
Passing | 227 | 329 |
Total defense | 113 | 147 |
Turnover margin | (+1) | (-1) |
Penalties/yards | 6-50 | 9-55 |
Dallas Cowboys regular-season schedule | |||
Sept. 11 | Giants 20, Cowboys 19 | ||
Sept. 18 | at Washington | Noon | KDFW/4 |
Sept. 25 | vs. Chicago | 7:30 p.m. | KXAS/5 |
Oct. 2 | at San Francisco | 3:25 p.m. | KDFW/4 |
Oct. 9 | vs. Cincinnati | 3:25 p.m. | KTVT/11 |
Oct. 16 | at Green Bay | 3:25 p.m. | KDFW/4 |
Oct. 23 | Bye | ||
Oct. 30 | vs. Philadelphia | 7:30 p.m. | KXAS/5 |
Nov. 6 | at Cleveland | Noon | KDFW/4 |
Nov. 13 | at Pittsburgh | 3:25 p.m. | KDFW/4 |
Nov. 20 | vs. Baltimore | Noon | KTVT/11 |
Nov. 24 | vs. Washington | 3:30 p.m. | KDFW/4 |
Dec. 1 | at Minnesota | 7:25 p.m. | KXAS/5, NFL Net. and Twitter |
Dec. 11 | at NY Giants | 7:30 p.m. | KXAS/5 |
Dec. 18 | vs. Tampa Bay | Noon | KDFW/4 |
Dec. 26 | vs. Detroit | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Jan. 1 | at Philadelphia | Noon | KDFW/4 |
All games broadcast on KRLD/105.3 FM and KMVK/107.5 (Spanish)
*Time and television broadcast subject to change.
This story was originally published September 15, 2016 at 9:48 AM with the headline "Cowboys vs. Redskins preview: Improvement is the theme for both teams."