The Dallas Cowboys welcomed head coach Mike McCarthy back to team activities on December 9 after missing last week’s Thursday night match against the New Orleans Saints due to a positive COVID test. McCarthy was among a group of coaches and assistant coaches held out of last week’s action.
McCarthy, who was clearly exuberant about returning on Thursday, informed reporters that the Cowboys would be victorious on Sunday.
“We know what people think of us. We love that. We’re comfortable with who we are, where we are,” McCarthy said during Thursday’s press conference. “But I’m excited about what’s in front of us. We’re going to win this game. I’m confident in that.”
While he stopped short of guaranteeing victory, McCarthy has several reasons to be confident, namely the return of several starters on the defensive line that could be difference-makers against the Washington Football Team.
The Cowboys are expected to have Neville Gallimore, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Randy Gregory back for the first time since Week 1.
Washington started the season going 2-4 but has won four straight games since defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 14. Three of the four wins have been by one score, including last week’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders that came on a field goal as time expired.
Washington has relied heavily on quarterback Taylor Heinicke and running back Antonio Gibson during the current win streak. This season, Heinicke has completed 267 passes and has thrown 18 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. He is also the teams’ second-leading rusher with 52 runs and 289 yards on the ground.
Gibson has compiled 800 yards on 206 rushes this season and has five touchdowns. Gibson is also a vital part of the passing game and has 31 receptions and two touchdowns this season. Washington has only two receivers with more than 300 yards this season.
In comparison, Cowboys running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are both over 600 yards rushing, and quarterback Dak Prescott has thrown 287 completed passes, resulting in 23 touchdowns. Prescott has tossed only eight interceptions this season. The Cowboys +7 turnover ratio stands in stark contrast to the -5 differential Washington currently holds.
The Cowboys defense will look to shut down the run game against Washington and likely has an advantage with the return of the team’s original starters, who should offer opportunities for pass rushing from the linebacker core, led by rookie Micah Parsons. Parsons has 10 sacks this season and has 25 QB hits and 16 tackles for loss.
Heinicke’s habit of tossing interceptions will be an opportunity for NFL-leading Trevon Diggs to add to his already eye-popping numbers. Diggs has 9 picks in 2021 and is only two short of the franchise record held by Everson Wills, who recorded 11 in 1981. Dick “Night Train” Lane set the NFL record in 1952, recording 14 interceptions in a 12-game season.
Head coach Mike McCarthy’s confidence in his team’s ability to win against Washington may have been nothing more than excitement at his return to team activities after being locked down from COVID, but the numbers certainly appear to favor a victory for Dallas on Sunday.
