Washington Redskins: This one’s different; It’s Dallas week.

The Redskins train is back on track, and just in time.

The Dallas Cowboys are coming to town, and the opportunity of taking a firm grip of the division is right on the Washington Redskins doorstep.

The Redskins win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday was all but perfect, but its hard to overstate just how important of a win it really was. The Redskins not only improved to 3-2 after a 23-17 last-minute, thrilling win against Cam Newton’s Panthers, but they now have the chance to build on that momentum entering the biggest week of the year.

Dallas week.

This week means just a little more to D.C. I will never forget as a young kid watching the Monday Night Miracle and Santana Moss’s two fourth-quarter touchdowns from Mark Brunell that sent Jerry Jones and the Cowboys home in the bitterest of fashions.

The Troy Vincent blocked field goal attempt from Mike Vanderjagt in 2006, that was scooped up by one of the greatest safeties to ever play, Sean Taylor. Taylor’s return set up Nick Novak, a replacement kicker for the injured John Hall, with a 47-yard game-winning kick with zero seconds left in regulation.

It was one of the wildest sports moments you could ever have imagined.

How about Robert Griffin III and the 2012 run in Week 17 that finished with a Rob Jackson interception of Tony Romo that sealed a home playoff game for the first time in over ten years? One of the most electrifying moments I have ever experienced at FedEx Field.

The Redskins and Cowboys mean just a little more.

This season, the Redskins have faced ups and downs, and they have never been able to build off of big wins and string together a true identity. This season so far resembles my golf game. My opening drive is usually a line drive straight down the middle of the fairway, and my confidence is high and mighty. Sounds a lot like the season opener in Arizona.

But of course, I never do make the best of my opening shot. What tends to happen is that my second shot usually takes a violent left turn, and sets up shop next to the squirrels in the woods. All the while that ProV1 golf ball I spent $4 on is never to be seen again. Now that sounds more like the Redskins home opener against the Colts.

The Monday Night Football debacle against the Saints left Redskins fans everywhere wondering if that was the beginning of the end. Jay Gruden’s job was being called for, Alex Smith was labeled a complete bust of a signing, and media and fans were calling into question whether their $75 million cornerback, Josh Norman, was even interested in football anymore.

But the Redskins silenced it all when they showed up to play against the Panthers.

The burgundy and gold have to find a way to do it again, and Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys should give the team all the motivation to showcase their best effort. The Cowboys have had a similarly up and down season, and have struggled to find an identity of any sort. Unlike my golf game, the Redskins actually have a real chance to make the most of the momentum they have earned.

It starts against Dallas.

Washington has the tools in place. Daron Payne and Johnathan Allen are the perfect pair to face Dallas’ offensive juggernaut, Ezekiel Elliot. Aside from Elliot, Dallas is short on star playmakers.  Alex Smith needs to find his groove early, and Jordan Reed has to simply become more involved in the offensive plan. The health of Chris Thompson and the availability of Jamison Crowder are also stories to monitor as Sunday approaches.

For Redskins fans, this is your time to show up. It is time for FedEx Field to be the home field advantage that we have always wanted it to be. It is time to be loud. Because, after all, it’s not just any week.

It’s Dallas week.