Thursday, November 26, 2020, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, 4:30 p.m. ET
Washington at Cowboys Betting Preview: Washington (+3/+140), Cowboys (-3/-167)
Washington Football Team
This year wasn’t supposed to be about winning for Washington, and at 3-7, it hasn’t been. Yet a mostly young team with a first-year coach, Ron Rivera, is going to get to play meaningful games down the stretch because its division is among the worst in NFL history.
If nothing else, the pressure-packed stretch run will give Rivera a better idea of who’s worth keeping when this team is good in a couple of years. And what Washington has learned is that its defense can keep it in most games, ranking ninth in points allowed, tied for third in sacks and tied for ninth in interceptions.
The offense isn’t quite as good. Although quarterback Alex Smith has authored quite a story by returning from a horrifying leg injury, there aren’t enough weapons for this unit to solve better defenses, although Dallas certainly isn’t in that category.
Dallas Cowboys
Welcome back, Dallas offense, where have you been for the previous month? Dak Prescott’s season-ending broken ankle and Andy Dalton’s frightening concussion two weeks apart rendered useless a unit with Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper and a good line.
Until Prescott was hurt, the Cowboys were piling up stellar offensive numbers. And their defense was trending just as hard in the other direction. It was like watching the Air Coryell Chargers, version 2.0. You couldn’t stop them, but they couldn’t stop you.
Dallas’ defense has been a bit better the past few games, even coming up with a game-clinching stop Sunday in Minnesota after getting strafed most of the day. It must keep improving for this team to emerge from a morass of bad teams and win the weak NFC East.
Washington at Cowboys Betting Pick for Week 12
There was once a time when this matchup was the sexiest the NFL had to offer. It is far from that anymore, but the ratings will still be good Thursday, even if the football isn’t.
As for the nuts and bolts of this one, Dallas has to play much better in the trenches than it did last month, when Washington administered a beating, outgaining Dallas 397-142 in total yardage en route to a 25-3 victory. But Washington hasn’t won on the road yet, and its tendency to start slowly could prove decisive in this one.
Washington at Cowboys Betting Pick:
Cowboys 23, Washington 20
Washington at Cowboys Best Bet for Week 12
Common sense and recent trends suggest that wagering on the under might be the best play. Until Dallas’ victory over the Vikings last week, the Cowboys’ previous four games all went under, and four of Washington’s past six games have gone under.
Factor in a short prep week limiting the time for players to recover from injuries, plus the fact teams use fewer plays on a short week, and the under sure looks like the way to go.
Washington at Cowboys Best Bet: UNDER 46 total points (-103)
–Field Level Media
