After falling to the Cowboys earlier this season, the Redskins will look to get revenge against their divisional rival in a matchup with potential postseason consequences.
The race for second place in the NFC East continues next Thursday, as the Redskins travel to Dallas for what could be their most crucial game of the season.
The nationally televised game will be broadcasted on NBC and the NFL Network and will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video with an 8:30 p.m. EST kickoff.
The last time the Redskins clashed with the Cowboys, Dallas came out on top 33-19. In that game, Ezekiel Elliott carried most of the load on offense, recording 150 yards on 33 carries. Luckily for Washington, Elliott won't be seeing the field anytime soon, as his initial six-game suspension was upheld and began in Week 9.
Without Elliot, the Cowboys have leaned on former Redskins running back Alfred Morris. While he is no Elliott, Morris has been able to gain valuable yardage on the ground, averaging 72 yards through his first two games as the Cowboys' starter. However, the Dallas offense has not been the same since Elliott has been gone. During the first two matchups of Elliott's suspension, the Cowboys' offense averaged 229 yards and scored just one touchdown in that span on a run by quarterback Dak Prescott.
It's hasn't just been the running game that has suffered in Elliott's absence. Defenses have been banking on Prescott stepping back to throw, resulting in zero passing touchdowns during the first two weeks of the suspension for the Cowboys' second-year signal caller.
Against Philadelphia two weeks ago, Prescott threw a season high three interceptions against an Eagle's secondary that ranks second in the league in picks.
The Redskins will have their own issues to deal with at running back, as two of Washington's starting three rushers have been sidelined with injuries in recent weeks.
Rob Kelley, who served as the Redskins' primary back, went down against the Vikings with a leg and ankle injury. Chris Thompson, best known for his explosive plays out of the backfield, fractured his fibula against the Saints and will miss the remainder of the season.
The injury to Thompson will certainly hinder Washington's offense, as before Week 11, Thompson was the team's leading rusher and receiver. In his absence, running backs Samaje Perine and Byron Marshall will try to fill the void against a Dallas defense that allows an average of 4.6 yards a carry, fourth-best in the NFL.
On defense, the Cowboys will still have defensive end Demarcus Lawrence to disrupt quarterback Kirk Cousins' progressions. Lawrence sits among the top of the league's sack leaders and has created more lost yardage than any other Cowboy defender.
At linebacker, the Cowboys were without veteran Sean Lee this week, who has missed time with injuries. Lee, who had five solo tackles in the Cowboys' first game against the Redskins, could once again be out against Washington in Week 13 as well.
Thursday's contest will be Washington and Dallas's second consecutive Thursday game, after both teams played on Thanksgiving the previous week. The Cowboys lead the series against the Redskins 69-44-2.
