Washington Redskins (5-6 SU, 5-6 ATS) vs. Dallas Cowboys (5-6 SU, 5-6 ATS)
NFL Week 13
Date/Time: Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 8:25 P.M. ET
Where: AT&T Stadium
TV: NBC
by Jerbeek, Expert Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: Wash +1.5/Dal -1.5
Over/Under Total: 44.5
The Washington Redskins will travel to Arlington to take on the Dallas Cowboys in a critical must win game for both teams if they want to stay alive for a playoff berth. The NFC East is all but wrapped up with the Philadelphia Eagles leading the division by 5 games bu with 5-6 records, both teams still have slight hopes of a wild card berth as they are 2 games out of the wild card race. The loser of this game will most likely be eliminated from the playoff race while the winner will remain with slim hopes. This is not your typical Thursday night game as both teams will be coming into the game with a full weeks rest since they last played on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys lost on Thanksgiving to the Los Angeles Chargers by a score of 28-6. It was the 3rd straight loss by the Cowboys who have been reeling with the 6 game suspension of RB Ezekiel Elliott and injuries to Left Tackle Tyron Smith and LB Sean Lee. Smith is expected to be back for Thursday nights game but Lee is listed as doubtful. The Redskins have lost 2 of their last 3 games but hope to be back on track with a Thanksgiving win against the New York Giants by a score of 20.
Washington is led on offense by QB Kirk Cousins who has completed 66.1% of his passes for 3,038 yards and 19 touchdowns. Cousins has not had a lot of help from the running game; however, rookie Samaje Perine has emerged as a threat the past 2 games as he surpassed 100 yards rushing in both games. Perines emergence could be a key factor if the Redskins hope to make a playoff push. WR Jamison Crowder struggled early in the season but he has also picked it up lately and had a nice game on Thanksgiving catching 7 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown. The Redskins have been averaging 23.5 points per game in 2017 but the offense has found that they need to try to outscore their opponents. The Redskins are averaging 7.4 yards per pass attempt against teams that average 6.5 yards per attempt so they will continue to look for their passing game to lead them.
The Cowboys offense has really struggled the last 3 games without Elliott and Smith. They have only scored 22 points in those 3 games and lost all 3 games by double digits. QB Dak Prescott has struggled mightily in those 3 games as he has combined for just over 400 yards total passing in those 3 games. The Cowboy offensive line has really struggled as they allowed 14 sacks in those 3 losses. The Cowboys only hope to move the ball seems to be rushing as they are averaging 4.7 yards per rush but that average has dropped to 4.1 yards per carry with the loss of Elliott.
The Redskins defense seems to be the key to the Redskins winning. In games that they win the Redskins have allowed 15.6 points per game but in the losses they have allowed 31.7 points per game in their losses. In fact, the Redskins have won every game when they have allowed less than 24 points. The rushing defense seems to be the biggest problem in their losses so it will be a key matchup to see how they perform against the Cowboys offense considering the recent problems that Dallas has had.
The Cowboys defense has also had trouble stopping the run game as they have allowed 4.4 yards per rush against teams that average 4.1 yards. In the game against the Chargers they had no answer on how to stop Phillip Rivers and Keenan Allen. Rivers threw for 434 yards and 3 touchdowns and Allen had 172 yards receiving. The Cowboy defense has been especially bad the last 3 weeks with the loss of Sean Lee. I expect them to struggle again this week without him.
Jerbeeks Pick to Cover the Point Spread: I think the Cowboys offensive struggle will continue although the presence of Tyron Smith should help in protecting Prescott. This game seems to be 2 teams heading in different directions and I expect those trajectories to continue here and the Redskins to win this game by a score of 27-17 to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. My recommendation is to play the Redskins plus 1.5 points. Bet this game for FREE by taking advantage of a FAT 100% bonus up to $1000 at MyBookie! (Use Promo Code: PRDCT14)
