Cowboys - Redskins Prediction, 11/16

Without Tony Romo, the Cowboys were a disappointing 1-2. Even their 1 win set a team record for futility in a win.

With Tony Romo coming back this week, the Cowboys head to DC to take on the Redskins in a huge matchup. The Cowboys are currently 5-4 and tied for last in the NFC East with the Eagles.

Here are the keys to the game for the Cowboys according to the Sportings News:

1. Contain Santana Moss. No receiver has dominated the Cowboys like Moss in recent memory. He had eight catches for 145 yards in the Redskins' 26-24 win in Week 4, and he has a string of three-straight 100-yard games against Dallas. Equally impressive, he has caught 25 of 36 passes directed his way in those games, and has not caught fewer than eight passes. He's also had a 159-yard game against the Cowboys. Moss has outstanding speed, which means he's a tough matchup for Anthony Henry. And when Terence Newman covers him, he's so good at finding soft spots in zone that he's difficult to contain. Dallas has allowed four 100-yard receivers this year. If Moss becomes No.5, it will be difficult for Dallas to win.

2. Get Marion Barber going. The Redskins own Barber. He hasn't scored a touchdown in four games against Washington, and has not gained more than 45 yards in five games against them since the start of the 2006 season. He's averaging 29.0 yards per game and 3.2 yards per carry against Washington. That's not nearly good enough to get it done. Barber is a runner who punishes defensive players for tackling him, which means the more carries he gets, the more effective he becomes. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has to make sure he gets him the ball and doesn't get frustrated and go away from him, even if the yards don't come easy in the first 10 carries.

3. Don't give up points on the first drive. The Cowboys have allowed points on their opponents' first drive in four consecutive games, a trend that needs to stop if the Cowboys are going to get on a roll and get into the playoffs. The trend is an indication that the defensive coaching staff is not doing enough during the week because teams are doing a better job of game-planning. The Cowboys' staff is making adjustments, but the early struggles on defense are forcing them to play from behind. The Cowboys can be tackling better. To that end, Wade Phillips has had his team tackle on Wednesdays and Thursdays, instead of just one day a week.

Game Prediction: Cowboys 28, Redskins 27