The big difference between this year and last for Dallas in Week 12

Last year, the Washington Commanders arrived in Texas to face the Dallas Cowboys in a Week 12 contest.

Washington was 4-7 and playing out the string. The Cowboys were 7-3 and trailing the Eagles by two games for the NFC East title.

Fast-forward one year to Week 12 of the 2024 season.

The Cowboys are 3-7 and are in Washington for today’s game against the Commanders, and all but officially eliminated from the playoffs.

Washington is currently 7-4. They are trailing the Eagles by just 1.5 games for this year’s NFC East crown.

Dallas trounced the Commanders last year 45-10.

The highlight of the game was DaRon Bland’s record-setting 63-yard interception return for a touchdown.

It was Bland’s fifth Pick Six of the season.

In all likelihood, a repeat of last year’s rout by Dallas in today’s game is unlikely. Whether they can even make this game a contest for Washington remains to be seen.

You Look Familiar

There will be a lot of ex-Cowboys standing on the opposite sideline today. Starting with the coaching staff.

Head Coach Dan Quinn was the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator last year.

Defensive Coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. was with the Cowboys staff the last three years. Commanders linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. played for the Cowboys from 1988-93.

There are five players that will be on the field for Washington that recently played for Dallas.

Dorance Armstong, Tyler Biadasz, Noah Brown, Dante Fowler, and Noah Igbinoghene have all been on the Cowboys’ roster in the past.

Nearly all followed Quin over when he took the head job in Washington, and he has them playing very well. Most of the Commanders’ roster will be motivated to hand their coach a revenge win.

What The Cowboys Need To Win

One is tempted to say a miracle is what Dallas needs to win today.

However, the fact is that the Eagles ground the Commanders down last week with a sustained running attack. Philadelphia ran the ball 40 times against just 28 pass attempts.

Saquon Barkley did the most damage with 146 yards and three touchdowns on 26 attempts. Jalen Hurts added a touchdown and 39 yards on 10 carries.

While Dallas doesn’t have a Barkley or Hurts, they should still use this blueprint to upend the Commanders.

The Cowboys need to use Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott and even Hunter Luepke to pound at the Commanders’ defense.

Luepke was the lead back at North Dakota State before becoming a fullback in Dallas. A Quinn-run defense is at its weakest when defending against the run.

If Mike McCarthy is going to insist on starting Cooper Rush, then he has to get Trey Lance into the game to use his legs much like Hurts did.

If McCarthy insists on trying to make Rush be a straight drop-back passer, then a sixth-straight loss is all but certain.

On defense, containing Jayden Daniels is going to be the priority.

That’s what the Eagles did last week and its why the Eagles are in first place in the NFC East instead of Washington this week.

The Prediction

Washington is coming off of tough back-to-back losses to the Steelers and the Eagles that dropped them out of first place.

The Cowboys have dropped five games in a row. Their players are dropping like flies.

While Dallas is 0-5 at home, they are 3-2 on the road, if you’re looking for some hope.

But hope only gets you so far.

At the beginning of the season, I predicted the Cowboys would be 3-7 coming into this game. I also predicted they would get to 4-7 with a win today.

But what’s my pick three months later?

Washington 28, Dallas 17.

History Favors Dallas

The Cowboys traditionally turn it on at this point in the season.

In Week 12 games, the Cowboys come into this afternoon’s game with a 41-23 record all-time. They are 12-4 in those games when the Commanders are the opponents.

However, Dallas is just 9-14 on the road in Week 12 contests.

Washington is one of the Cowboys’ oldest rivals.

Today marks the 129th time these two teams will meet in regular season and postseason play. Dallas is 78-48-2 all-time against the Commanders with both ties occurring in Dallas.

The Cowboys are 35-31 when the teams play in Washington.

Dallas has won the last two games by a combined score of 83-20. Washington’s last win was on Jan. 8, 2023 at home by a 26-6 score.

Dallas has met Washington just twice in the postseason. Both games were in Washington, and both were for the NFC Championship.

Washington won both games – 26-3 in the 1972 title game and 31-17 just 10 years later.

ALL-TIME RECORDS VS. OPPONENTS

NFC EAST

GIANTS (3-2)

EAGLES (3-1)

COMMANDERS (12-4)

NFC WEST

CARDINALS (3-1)

RAMS (0-0)

49ERS (1-0)

SEAHAWKS (2-0)

NFC SOUTH

FALCONS (0-1)

PANTHERS (1-1)

SAINTS (1-1)

BUCCANEERS (1-0)

NFC NORTH

BEARS (1-0)

LIONS (0-1)

PACKERS (1-1)

VIKINGS (0-1)

AFC EAST

BILLS (0-1)

DOLPHINS (1-0)

PATRIOTS (0-1)

JETS (2-0)

AFC SOUTH

TEXANS (0-0)

COLTS (0-1)

JAGUARS (1-0)

OILERS/TITANS (0-0)

AFC NORTH

RAVENS (0-1)

BENGALS (0-1)

BROWNS (3-1)

STEELERS (1-0)

AFC WEST

BRONCOS (1-1)

CHIEFS (1-0)

RAIDERS (2-1)

CHARGERS (0-1)