Redskins Reality Checks Week 12: Thanksgiving Day matchup provides Redskins unique opportunity

4. Reality Is, the defensive line has to stop Zeke and get pressure on Dak.

The Redskins’ defensive line is dramatically improved from a year ago. In fact, it is dramatically improved over every Redskins defensive line this decade.

However, they have proved inconsistent at various points this season. They failed to stop the run against Tampa, Atlanta, and Houston. They failed to pressure the quarterback against the Cardinals, Colts, Saints, and Falcons.

In this game, the Redskins can likely afford to give up a few plays to Dak on the ground. They can also likely afford to give up a few chunk passing plays to the Cowboys’ receiving core. They have proven adept at the “bend but don’t break” approach. What they can’t afford is to let Zeke pound them for 150-plus yards and to give Dak build confidence and have time to pick them apart with the short and intermediate passing game.

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I’ll be watching to see if they are creative to get pressure on Dak while still containing Zeke. I’d like to see them be extremely aggressive in their blitz packages, and force Zeke to stay in to pass protect.

Prediction: I think Manusky will dial up the pressure in this game to mix it up from how they approached the last game. I expect Zeke to get his yards, but I also expect there to be many series where the Cowboys end up behind the sticks. I expect the interior defensive line to have a big day in the pass rush. The Redskins will sack Dak four times, but Zeke will rush for 125 yards and 2 TDs on 26 carries.