Redskins vs. Cowboys: 3 takeaways from Thursday’s 23-31 loss
By Ian Cummings
No. 1 – The Redskins, for the first time in 2018, are behind in the division race
The Redskins haven’t spent much time behind in the race for the NFC East title in 2018. But now, after the Cowboys completed the split on Thanksgiving, the Redskins are 6-5, and they are trending down.
It appears to be a two-horse race now, as the New York Giants have been on the outside for some time, and the Eagles, with both the Rams and the Saints still on their plate, face a steep uphill battle toward re-entering the ring.
The Cowboys still have the Saints on their schedule, so the Redskins can at least be thankful for that. But Washington can’t rely on others to help them win the division, and based on the way they played on Thursday, they aren’t reliable in must-win situations anymore. They’ve lost their identity, and when a team is adrift, it’s hard to make progress.
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For the first time in the 2018 season, the Redskins have been overtaken by a division rival. They still hold the lead, by the NFC tiebreaker, but the Cowboys have all the momentum. Washington’s mini-bye comes at an opportune time; it allows McCoy to finally settle into his starting role. But the margin for error will be slim next week. Against the Eagles, they face the risk of both letting another rival into the race, while effectively ousting themselves.
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It’s all about risk and reward. The Redskins have been all in for a while. By a stroke of luck, their gamble can still pay off.