'Skins Week 11 Preview: v. Dallas
The NFC East rivals are coming off bye weeks and embarrassing losses – the 6-3 Redskins were pummeled 23-6 by the Steelers and the 5-4 Cowboys lost 35-14 to the Giants before the bye.
Who Gets the Post-Bye Bump? The Redskins had an uncharacteristic offensive showing in their last game. Jason Campbell threw his first two interceptions of the year and was sacked seven times, while Clinton Portis rushed for only 51 yards . The bigger question mark for Sunday is Portis - second only to Adrian Peterson in the NFL in rushing yards this year - whose sprained knee makes him a 50/50 for starting Sunday, according to Jim Zorn. The backup plan is to use Ladell Betts, just coming off an injury himself, Shaun Alexander, whose carries and yardage have been minimal so far, and even Rock Cartwright.
The Redskins also pulled a Dallas-like move over the bye week by signing outspoken DeAngelo Hall at cornerback (someone on ESPN actually predicted he would end up in Dallas due to the team’s history of rehabilitating talented troublemakers). Supposedly, the two-time Pro Bowler’s presence will help a “banged up” secondary that has nevertheless played well this year (the defense is fourth overall in fewest yards allowed per game, sixth against the run and eighth against the pass). If nothing else, Hall, who is not scheduled to start Sunday, adds a bad boy edge to the Redskins’s sideline, which has been relatively scandal-free since Chris Cooley’s camera escapade earlier this season.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, will have Tony Romo back for the first time since he injured his pinkie in Week 7 (we’re not sure who sent more flowers, Terrell Owens or Jessica Simpson). Jason Witten, who was Dallas’s leading receiver Week 4 against the Skins, is battling a broken rib but should play Sunday.
And the Bump in the Road: Despite the excellent play of Jason Campbell, Santana Moss, and Chris Cooley, the backbone of the Redskins’s offense this year has been the dependable Portis. And despite Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, and Marion Barber, the Cowboys have learned since Week 7 that Tony Romo is the glue holding their high-powered offense together. The Redskins defense proved in Week 4 that they can shut down Owens and Barber (Dallas had only 44 yards rushing in their 26-24 loss), while Dallas's defense has been more effective against the pass than the run. So arguably football’s fiercest rivalry comes down to a sprained knee and a pinkie.
For the Chips ‘N Dip Crowd (those of you there for the food, the beer, or because your boyfriend gave you no choice): Don’t press the mute button during halftime. An LA Times blog reports that part of a new Bruce Springsteen song, "Workin' On a Dream',' will provide a soundtrack for halftime highlights (the song was also played when Springsteen campaigned for Obama in Ohio).