As the Washington Redskins get closer to the start of another season, Redskins.com will preview all 16 of the team's regular season games, continuing with today's look against the Dallas Cowboys.
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One season after the Cowboys won the NFC East with a 12-4 record and earned a trip to the Division Round of the playoffs, Dallas took a step back in 2015. Finishing last in the division with a 4-12 record, the Cowboys struggled with a roster depleted by injuries.*
Last Game Vs. Dallas: Won 34-23 on Jan. 3, 2016
Dallas' Key additions: Signed RB Alfred Morris, DE Cedric Thornton; Drafted RB Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State), LB Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame), QB Dak Prescott (Mississippi State)
Dallas' Key subtractions: DE Greg Hardy (free agent), CB Brandon McGee (waived-injured), CB Terrance Mitchell (released; signed with Houston), QB Matt Cassel (free agent; signed with Tennessee), DE Jeremy Mincey (free agent)
Dallas' Pro Bowlers: K Dan Bailey, C Travis Frederick, LB Sean Lee, G Zack Martin, T Tyron Smith
The Washington Redskins will play their first of six NFC East games against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 at FedExField.
The rivalry runs deep between these two teams dating back to their first matchup on Oct. 9, 1960, a game the Redskins would win 26-14 at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.
The NFC East foes have also faced each other twice in the postseason, as the Redskins defeated the Cowboys in the 1972 NFC Championship Game and in the 1982 NFC Championship Game.
Dallas' offense is led by quarterback Tony Romo, who is coming off a season in which he only appeared in four games and threw five touchdowns to seven interceptions. He missed both of the Cowboys' games against the Redskins, as Matt Cassel and Kellen Moore made starts instead.
Behind Romo, the Cowboys have a revamped running back corps.
A look back at some of the top images in games between the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys.
Darren McFadden returns from a 1,000-yard season, but Dallas went out and signed Alfred Morris in free agency and then selected Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott with the No. 4-overall pick.
Morris, of course, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Redskins, rushing for a total of 4,713 yards and 29 touchdowns. This game will mark the first time he's on the visiting sideline at FedExField.
Elliot, meanwhile, is coming off a junior season in which he rushed for 1,821 yards and 23 touchdowns, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors in the process.
Dallas' top two passing game threats will likely once again be wide receiver Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten.
Bryant, like Romo, struggled to stay healthy in 2015, as a foot injury limited him to just nine games. Witten, meanwhile, appeared in all 16 regular season games for the 12th consecutive season, collecting 77 receptions for 713 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Cowboys could be without defensive ends Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence. Gregory has already been issued a four-game suspension to start the season, while Lawrence is facing an equally lengthen suspension of his own.
Compounded by the team's decision to not re-sign Greg Hardy, Dallas' other defensive ends could have a combined eight NFL sacks entering the game.
Dallas elected to keep its secondary mostly intact, as Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, J.J. Wilcox and Barry Church are in line to be starters once again while Byron Jones is expected to play a large role in his second season with the Cowboys.
Redskins 2016 Season Previews--Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 1
