The 96-year old Cotton Bowl Stadium was the home of the Dallas Cowboys from their beginnings in 1960 until 1971. The stadium, also known as “The House that Doak Built” opened in 1930. Doak Walker and his Southern Methodist University team in the 1940’s built such ticket demand that the stands were expanded. The End Zones previously had only the lower bowl. Washington played Dallas 12-times in the old ball yard with a final record of 4-6-2. A Washington win on October 3, 1971 with a 20-16 Final Score was the next to last Cowboys’ game at the stadium before the team moved to Texas Stadium.

The football season comes at you fast. We’re approaching Week#2 and the “Code Red” panic buttons are only one more loss away. You’re going to hear this stat soon if not already. So, let’s get it out of the way: Teams that start 0-2 make the playoffs about 11% of the time. Them be some bad odds right there. It’s just the math of the situation. Add in that this game is a Division Game, on the road, against “America’s Team,” and the realization sets in that this is a stiff hill to climb for the Burgundy and Gold. Add in the backdrop of a fanbase still in a state of trauma after the Snyder years and it’s quite the pot of stew cooking on the stove. Oh, and there’s the militant wing of WFT Nation wanting heads placed on pikes outside the castle gate. They’re licking their chops. Against that background it’s time to play Dallas.

“Must Win”?

This phrase is going to get thrown around. It’s best to just tackle it head on. Is it a “Must Win.” No. Not “Must.” But, a loss would not be inconsequential either. It would probably doom Washington to scramble for a Wild Card. Starting 0-2 in the Division is a tough hand to play. Last year Chicago won their Division with a losing record in Division games with a record of 2-up and 4-down. So, it can happen. It just doesn’t happen often. Again, the odds are not good.

So, is it a “Must Win?” No. But, winning would be a darned good idea.

Whither Dallas

This Dallas team is a mystery. It has the same basic Offense that lit up the League last year. That unit went #2 at Offense for yards and 7th in points. The story was the Defense which was dead last in points and 30th in yards. Winning by out-scoring the opponent in “Shootouts” is not a formula for sustained success. The Afterguard in Dallas declared enough was enough. This winter the focus was on Defense. Steven Jones said at the Senior Bowl that the team would go Defense, Defense, and more Defense. He was true to his word: With 5 of 7-selections the Cowboys drafted a Safety, a Corner, and 3-Defensive Ends. They signed 7 Defensive Free Agents. This should have all translated into immediate improvement, right? Lee Corso is somewhere saying, “Not so fast, my friend.”

Dallas’ Defense against the Giants was, what’s the right word, ok, Bad. It was bad. They gave up almost 400-yards. The Giants ran the ball 37-times while throwing 29-times; controlling the time of possession with a 13-minute advantage. Dak Prescott was forced to pace the sideline as the game slipped into the night. If desiring a blueprint for success then the Giants put it on tape: Run it down their throat.

Dak on the sideline is where the WFT wants him. Here’s a few scary numbers. For his career Dak is 37-11 against the NFC East. He’s 47-21 at home while only being one game over 0.500 on the road. And, most alarmingly, he’s 13-2 against Washington. He has two premier Receivers and a solid Running Back. That team will score points. Even in their lackluster effort last week they still put up 20-points. This is a stiff test for the WFT Defense. There will be others. The schedule is loaded with Offenses like Cincinnati and San Francisco. But, Dak and friends in Dallas might be the stiffest of them all. Chunk plays doomed the team on Sunday past. If they are allowed this week it could be a rinse and repeat scenario.

Dallas took two Defensive players in the first-round of the Draft. Their #1 was Caleb Downs. There was no shortage of noise about Downs pre-Draft. Washington was linked to him. Super Safety. Super Smart. First thing Dallas did was have him lose weight. They wanted him at Nickel Corner. It may be a great move in time. He’s going through acclimatization right now, however. He did have four-solo tackles, 1-QB hit, and 1-forced fumble his first game. Obviously there’s talent there. The Downs Washington will see during the last game of the year could and should be more impactful. So also should be Sonny Styles.

Plans

Washington had a plan before the first game. Famously, Mike Tyson said, “Everyone has a plan until they’re hit in the mouth.” Well, the Eagles’ right cross snuck through the gloves and landed a shot right on the old kisser last week. How will the team respond? It’s an open question until kickoff.

Washington ran mostly 11-personnel last week. It was their only grouping with positive “Expected Points Added” (EPA). The Giants used 11-personnel right at one-third of the time with positive results at Plus 0.512. But, the real hay was made in 12-personnel. Ironically they were in 12-personnel 12% of the time. It produced Plus 1.394 EPA. That’s a big number. Washington’s 12-personnel package did not do well against Philly. That’s something to watch.

Defensively the Giants were split between Base and Nickel pretty evenly. But, they did much better in Nickel as did Washington at Philadelphia. With the Receivers that Dak has going Base is going to leave one-on-ones against either CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens. If Washington is in Base, Dallas had better be in 21-personnel or it’s a mismatch; advantage Dallas.

Dak gets sacked only about once every 16 drop backs. He’s not immune to pressure. Daronte Jones knows how to bring it. After studying film of this Defensive scheme in action it’s tempting to label Mr. Jones as football’s “Dr. Strangelove.” It is so wild and unpredictable it’s no surprise that it confounds Offenses. The list of looks is long and varied. The actions off of the looks are just as long.

Back in the day Sonny Jurgensen played Dallas some 25-times ending with a record 1-win shy of 0.500. Near the tail end of his career he found a weakness in the Dallas Defense. His name was Charlie Waters. Sonny would say that, “When I really needed a play I’d look for Charlie Waters.” Terry Bradshaw said something similar. When Dak looks at the Washington Defense film this week his head is going to hurt. But, he’s going to see a go-to. It’s Mike Sainristil. Mike had a bad, bad game. He was burned on two plays where hustle was lacking. Dak is going to see those and think that’s his out. He may be disappointed. Rasul Douglas is going to get more reps than Mikey one would think. Sainristil is clearly in the dog house after being called out by his Head Coach. He’s going to have to work his way out of it.

The team as a whole is trying to avoid a dog house stay of its own. Winning this game would be a big step to avoid it.

Rookie of the Week

Antonio Williams won Offensive Rookie of the Week honors. He was only on the field for one-third of the plays. And, he was only targeted four-times. But, he snagged them all. On Tuesday during his weekly NFL Radio interview Dan Quinn talked about Williams in glowing terms. (para) “He knows where to go based on the Defense. He reads the field extremely well. He’s always in the right place.”

Terry McLaurin was a third-round pick. Stefon Diggs was a fifth-round pick. Just sayin’.

Game Information

Dallas is playing the second of its eleven prime slot games this week. Eleven. For the second week in a row Fox is sending the A-team to cover a Washington game. It’s only because of the Cowboys. Does the country really need to see that team that often?

Washington vs. Dallas

4:25 p.m EDT at AT&T Stadium

Las Vegas Line: Dallas by 4.5 points

TV: Fox

Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi

Radio: WBIG 100.3

Announcers: Bram Weinstein, London Fletcher, Grant Paulsen

Satellite: Sirius XM Channel 88