One of many NFL’s most recognizable rivalries resumes on Sunday because the Dallas Cowboys host the Washington Commanders. Dallas has dominated the sequence with its longtime divisional rival recently, profitable 9 of the previous 12 conferences.

NFL Predictions for Each Recreation in Week 4

Final season, the Cowboys demolished Washington at dwelling 56-14 whereas profitable the sooner assembly 27-20. The video games got here 14 days aside, with Dak Prescott throwing for 5 touchdowns complete within the victories. Nonetheless, they will must go at it with out their star quarterback this week, as he stays sidelined after present process thumb surgical procedure.

The Cowboys (2-1) are literally 2-0 with out Prescott, dispatching the Giants 23-16 on “Monday Night time Soccer” of their newest win. Cooper Rush was an environment friendly 21-of-31 passing for 215 yards and one landing. He obtained assist from Tony Pollard, who was higher than Ezekiel Elliott, as he ran for 105 yards on 13 carries. The protection was spectacular as typical, though Micah Parsons ended up with only one deal with. One delicate concern is that Dallas allowed the Giants to common 6.7 yards per carry though it did not matter ultimately.

In the meantime, Carson Wentz laid an enormous egg towards his former crew because the quarterback confirmed all of the faults he had in Indianapolis and Philadelphia. Wentz held the ball too lengthy, resulting in 9 sacks and a pair of fumbles. When the signal-caller truly obtained time, he airmailed a number of throws and was fully inaccurate till rubbish time when he led them right down to the crew’s solely landing drive within the 24-8 loss. Jalen Hurts sliced up Washington’s protection to the tune of 340 yards and three touchdowns. The Commanders (1-2) had been with out cornerback William Jackson III, however he is additionally had some issues in his second season in DC.

Washington (1-2) at Dallas (2-1)

Kickoff: Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. ET

TV: FOX
Stay Stream: fuboTV (Begin your free trial)
Unfold: Cowboys -2.5
Tickets: As little as $76 on SITickets.com*

Three Issues to Watch

1. Intangibles
Washington alternates dwelling and away contests all the best way till Week 11 however a a lot greater issue is will Carson Wentz bounce again after a tough day on the workplace final Sunday. It needed to be emotional for Wentz going through the crew that drafted him, however he has to regroup and get again to how we performed within the first two video games. He’s 4-4 in eight profession begins towards Dallas, though with a pleasant 14:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. In the meantime, the Cowboys are coping with a brief week, though they gained on Monday night time so there must be some optimistic carryover headed into this recreation. This additionally is a crucial contest with back-to-back street video games towards the Rams and Eagles looming.

2. Carry on maintaining on
Though nothing is official, Dak Prescott isn’t anticipated to return for this recreation. Which means it is going to be Cooper Rush underneath middle and to date the sport plan involving the backup QB has been implausible. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has not requested Rush to do an excessive amount of and he has responded by not solely enjoying mistake-free soccer he is finishing 63 p.c of his passes and in addition serving to the crew common 364 yards in his two begins. And he is finished it with no full complement of weapons however that will change this week with the expectation that huge receiver Michael Gallup and tight finish Dalton Schultz will each return. Gallup has not seen the sphere since his ACL tear final 12 months, whereas Schultz missed final week’s recreation after struggling a PCL harm in Week 2. Prescott may very well be again subsequent week, so this can be Rush’s final shot main the offense. And he could possibly exit on a excessive word with Washington’s protection giving up 402.7 yards per recreation (twenty sixth) and coping with persistent communication points on that aspect of the ball.

3. Change the sport plan
All the eye will probably be on Wentz’s failures final Sunday, however a whole lot of the blame falls on Washington offensive coordinator Scott Turner, whose recreation plan wanted to alter as soon as he noticed his quarterback getting killed within the pocket. The Cowboys lead the league with 13 sacks, coming from six totally different gamers. Micah Parsons (4), DeMarcus Lawrence (3), and Dorance Armstrong (3) have been the leaders so far, however the depth of Dallas’ go rush will current an issue to a Commanders’ offensive line that is already misplaced middle Chase Roullier to harm. This group remains to be higher than the O-line the Giants discipline, and so they opened up sufficient holes to result in 167 dashing yards (6.7 ypc) on Monday night time.  Nonetheless, working the ball has not been Washington’s energy (86.7 ypg, twenty fourth) so far however Turner cannot abandon these play calls and in addition must dial up some brief passes to assist out his QB and maintain the Cowboys’ sack specialists at bay.

Closing Evaluation

It is laborious to have any confidence in Washington coming into this recreation. Dallas has all the things clicking whereas the Commanders are struggling on each side of the ball. I do assume they will attempt to shorten this recreation by working it extra however neither Antonio Gibson nor J.D. McKissic is a real between-the-tackles choice. Vegas believes this will probably be a good recreation with such a brief unfold and, for some motive, I agree. Rivalries carry out bizarre outcomes once in a while. I nonetheless assume the house crew wins on Sunday.

Prediction: Cowboys 24, Commanders 20

— Written by Matt Josephs, who is part of the Athlon Sports activities Contributor Community. Observe him on Twitter @MidMajorMatt.

*Worth as of publication.