Cowboys at Redskins
THE STORY: Rookie running back DeMarco Murray has stepped up to shoulder some of the load for the Dallas Cowboys. His emergence has taken the pressure off quarterback Tony Romo and played a big part in leading the Cowboys back into the playoff race. Murray has totaled 601 yards since taking over as the lead back on Oct. 23. Murray will be a big focus for the Washington Redskins, who have allowed 115 points in dropping five straight games. The Redskins went back to Rex Grossman at quarterback last week after a three-game John Beck experiment. Grossman was picked off twice in a 20-9 loss at Miami. The Redskins will be trying to avoid their first six-game losing streak since 1998 when they host Dallas on Sunday.
TV: FOX, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Cowboys -7.5. O/U 41.5
ABOUT THE COWBOYS (5-4): Murray opened things up against the Detroit Lions last week, helping Romo to have one of the best days of his career with 270 yards and three touchdowns while completing 23 of 26 passes. Romo has eight touchdowns against one interception in the last four games. Chasing after Grossman will be Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Ware, who ranks second in the NFL with 13 sacks and recorded one in an 18-16 victory over Washington on Sept. 26.
ABOUT THE REDSKINS (3-6): Washington held the Cowboys without a touchdown in that Sept. 26 meeting but Grossman threw an interception and lost a fumble with 28 seconds left that sealed it for Dallas. That marked the Redskins’ lone loss in their first four games. Since then they have been outscored 115-53 in the five straight setbacks – three of which came against teams that previously had only one win.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Romo is 17-2 lifetime November games – the best mark in the Super Bowl era.
2. Felix Jones, who began the season as the Cowboys’ starting running back, will return after a four-game injury absence to serve as Murray’s backup.
3. Washington rookie Roy Helu is only NFL rookie with 200-plus rushing yards and 200-plus receiving yards.