NFL Week 4: Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins

The epic ‘Boys v. 'Skins rivalry continues in NFL week 4

Cowboys vs. Redskins Overview:

The NFC East was an elite division in the 2007-08 NFL season and looks to have unseated the AFC South as the best in football. All four teams in the NFC East are playoff contenders, and two of them are Super Bowl favorites. The Dallas Cowboys may be the best team in football right now, but they face a serious roadblock in their historic rivals the Washington Redskins. After a rough start, the Washington Redskins are ready to follow head coach Jim Zorn and his potent offensive attack.

Dallas Cowboys Offense:

The pair of Tony Romo and Terrell Owens gets press and hype from every medium, but it is another dynamic duo that is stealing their thunder. RBs Marion Barber and Felix Jones are the perfect compliment for each other and bowl over defenses. Marion Barber hunts for contact while Felix Jones has the speed to outrun the entire field in seconds. The Dallas Cowboys offensive line can bench press a house and dominate in both the run and the pass. TE Jason Witten is the unsung hero of the Dallas Cowboys offense with his many clutch catches.

Dallas Cowboys Defense:

The Dallas Cowboys 3-4 is the most aggressive variant of the defense in the NFL. OLB DeMarcus Ware may be the best pass rusher in the NFL right now, and he also hunts down the running back. OLB Greg Ellis is past his prime but is still putting up monster numbers. NT Jay Ratliff has gone front seventh-round pick to a run-stopping beast. The Dallas Cowboys have the best secondary in the NFL with a trio of CBs in Pacman Jones, Terrence Newman, and Anthony Henry. SS Roy Williams is injured but that could be a blessing in disguise as his poor coverage was a weak spot.

Washington Redskins Offense:

Jim Zorn’s pass-happy offense took a while to come together but seems to finally be hitting its stride. QB Jason Campbell is a mobile weapon who can hit any target on the field. He has a bouquet of pass catchers including Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, Antwaan Randle El, Devin Thomas, Fred Davis, and Malcolm Kelly. RB Clinton Portis may be the best player on the Washington Redskins but has found his role in the offense diminished as the passing game takes center stage. The veteran Washington Redskins offensive line has been great so far.

Washington Redskins Defense:

An injury to DE Jason Taylor will be a big letdown to the Washington Redskins defense. The Washington Redskins defensive line is much improved from last season and is an athletic bunch. The Washington Redskins linebackers are a quick and experienced group as well with London Fletcher leading from his spot in the middle. FS LaRon Landry is a physical freak and hits harder than any player on the roster. CB Shawn Springs is a veteran while CB Carlos Rodgers is a shutdown corner in the making. Nickelback Fred Smoot has the talent of a starter.

Dallas Cowboys Keys to Victory:

In an effort to counter the brilliant secondary of the Washington Redskins the Dallas Cowboys will feed the Washington Redskins a healthy dose of Marion Barber and Felix Jones. The gigantic offensive line of the Dallas Cowboys should be able to manhandle the small Washington Redskins defensive line. With Jason Taylor out Tony Romo should have more time to find Terrell Owens, but TE Jason Witten could be the key player once again.

Constant blitzes from the Dallas Cowboys linebackers will be necessary to get pressure on Jason Campbell. Jason Campbell has yet to throw an interception and even the talented secondary of the Dallas Cowboys cannot cover forever. DeMarcus Ware must have a big game. The quartet of CBs for the Dallas Cowboys will have to be on their toes to protect against all the weapons and schemes of the Washington Redskins. Covering TE Chris Cooley will probably be the biggest problem for the Dallas Cowboys defense.

Washington Redskins Keys to Victory:

Ideally the Washington Redskins would like to establish the run with RB Clinton Portis to call off the dogs from the Dallas Cowboys 3-4 attack. The Washington Redskins have not shown much dedication to the run game however and may try and attack through the air. The wideouts of the Washington Redskins could have a tough time getting open against the great Dallas Cowboys corners, so it will be up to TEs Chris Cooley and Fred Davis to exploit the shaky Dallas Cowboys safety situation.

The Washington Redskins defense will be out to get pressure on Tony Romo but must also have their eyes on Felix Jones and Marion Barber. Taking away the running game should be the first step though as an active running game can slow the pass rush. More blitzes will be called for to make up for the loss of Jason Taylor. FS LaRon Landry could be asked to play in the box to stop the running backs as well as to intimidate TE Jason Witten. CB Carlos Rodgers will find himself in single coverage against Terrell Owens and will be tested early and often.

Cowboys vs. Redskins Outlook:

The Washington Redskins are a much different team now than they were last year. Jim Zorn has opened the offense and made the once conservative team an offensively minded ball club. The Dallas Cowboys have also changed the look of their secondary by adding Pacman Jones and rookie Mike Jenkins. The receivers vs. defensive backs should be a great battle for fans of the passing game.

The Dallas Cowboys have a deeper team however. The rush of the 3-4 defense gives an advantage to the Dallas Cowboys defensive backs and even the careful Jason Campbell will be forced into making mistakes. The loss of Jason Taylor is also a blow that cannot be easily overcome. The NFC East is packed with talent and the Washington Redskins are a great team but are still gelling around a new system and coaching staff.