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The Redskins can effectively end the Cowboys’ playoff chances

By Lawrence Jason Dukes

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 29: Cornerback Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins celebrates with free safety D.J. Swearinger #36 of the Washington Redskins after recovering a fumble against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at FedEx Field on October 29, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 29: Cornerback Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins celebrates with free safety D.J. Swearinger #36 of the Washington Redskins after recovering a fumble against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at FedEx Field on October 29, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Redskins and Cowboys will meet on Thursday night in what is essentially an elimination game. With both teams at 5-6, the loser is certain to be out of playoff contention.

Losers of three straight, the Cowboys have looked helpless without the trio of Tyron Smith, Sean Lee, and Ezekiel Elliott. Quarterback Dak Prescott has succumbed to the dreaded sophomore slump, throwing five interceptions in his past two games, as well as being sacked 16 times in the past three weeks. However, Prescott is 3-0 in his career against the Redskins, and on Thursday, that will have to change.

It’s been doomsday for the Dallas defense, as they’ve allowed 72 points in the second half alone during their latest three-game losing streak. Linebacker Sean Lee sustained a hamstring injury against the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas has been woeful without Lee in the lineup. Lee had nine tackles in the first meeting against the Redskins but is unlikely to play on Thursday, per Zeke Barrera of Cowboys Wire.

There’s no doubt that the Cowboys haven’t been at their best, but they can still run the football. Former Redskins running back Alfred Morris has been effective for Dallas. He’s yet to receive a workload compared to Elliot’s, but he’s averaging nearly six (5.8) yards per carry. It goes without saying that if the Redskins can limit Morris on the ground, they’ll have a solid chance of winning this football game.

It’s imperative that head coach Jay Gruden has the Redskins focused and ready to play. Regardless of how bad Dallas has looked the past three weeks, they’ll be sure to give the Redskins all they can handle. The Cowboys are desperate, as are the Redskins. Washington, however, has shown the propensity to overcome injuries and lineup changes.

With it being 10 years since the death of the late Sean Taylor, I’d like to think that the Redskins would lean on some inspiration from the former star. Taylor rarely spoke to the media, but he always expressed his thoughts on Dallas week, per NBC Sports Washington.

"I think I love it so much because they talk so much trash. They think they run us, they think they own us. I’m ready. We take little things like that, and it adds to our fire. Our fire will start out small, but by game time, it will be blazing and ready to go."

Next: 5 Redskins players to watch in Week 13 vs. Dallas

In Week 13, it’s time for the Redskins to win for Sean Taylor. With a win, they’ll be back to .500, and they’ll be in the thick of the NFC playoff race. And effectively eliminating the Dallas Cowboys would make it that much sweeter.

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