Dallas Cowboys Giving Seven To Washington Redskins On SNF

NFL News - December 22nd, 2009 - Written by John

For about five weeks, it looked like the Washington Redskins were finally getting back on track, and the Dallas Cowboys were en route to another late-season collapse.

After Monday night, well, maybe not.

The Cowboys stunned the New Orleans Saints with a 24-17 win on primetime to prevent a perfect season, then turned around and watched the Redskins look dismal in a 45-12 loss to the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. Both instances appear to set up a Sunday night game that could earn a playoff berth for Dallas for the first time since 2007.

The Cowboys are seven-point favorites, according to the 2009 NFL Week 16 betting odds, with an over/under of 43. The underdog is 21-7 ATS in the last 28 meetings, although Dallas suddenly has the momentum.

They are a gleaming example of how just one week can completely alter perception in the news. A week ago, Dallas was essentially left for dead after losing for the fifth time in it's last six December games, but a big win over New Orleans has set itself up needing a win Sunday to clinch one of two available wild card spots.

Tony Romo certainly had his best performance of the year, perhaps in his short career due to the magnitude of the game, throwing for 312 yards and a touchdown. He re-established Miles Austin as his go-to guy down field, connecting for a 46-yard score on the team's first possession and then six more times for a total of 139 yards.

Nine receivers had at least one catch.

More importantly, the running game finally made some noise after falling dormant for the past few games. Marion Barber and Felix Jones combined for 120 yards and two touchdowns, despite a long of only 17 yards.

For the Redskins, not so much.

Jason Campbell was harassed most of the night, as was his backup Todd Collins who played briefly on MNF. They managed two touchdowns in the second half, but a 24-0 halftime deficit made it irrelevant. Washington had been playing well prior to that, losing three games by a combined seven points before beating the Oakland Raiders, 34-13.

But with a new boss in the general manager's office, the soda went flat, gaining only 89 yards on the ground and turning over the ball three times.

"I don't think really this team is that bad. The players ain't that bad," tackle Albert Haynesworth said after the loss. "The score, the record, [they] say that we're horrible, that we don't know how to play football. But I've been around these guys a lot and I think they know how to play football. I think we're just all going in different directions, and we need somebody to lead us in the right direction."

The Redskins have double-digit losses for the first time since 2006, and get a precarious finish to the year with the San Diego Chargers.

Dallas is currently riding a two-game win-streak over Washington, including a 7-6 win earlier in the year during the Redskins' aforementioned improved streak four weeks ago. Three of the last four meetings have hit the under.