IRVING, Texas --The Cowboys know all about Redskins receiver Santana Moss -- who can forget his two late touchdowns that spoiled the Triplets' Ring of Honor induction at Texas Stadium in 2005 -- but tight end Fred Davis has joined Moss as quarterback Rex Grossman's favorite targets through two games.
Davis is tied with Moss with 11 catches and leads Washington's offense with 191 yards (17.4 avg.) and one touchdown.
"I think he's a lot more comfortable this year," second-year head coach Mike Shanahan said, "and with (tight end) Chris Cooley being hurt throughout the preseason he got a lot more reps and a chance to prove himself."
The Cardinals let Davis roam free in Week 2, and he burned them for 86 yards and a score. Whether they use a corner, safety or a linebacker like Sean Lee, the Cowboys can't allow that to happen Monday night.
Perennially a difficult matchup for the Cowboys, Cooley has played fewer snaps and has only two catches so far as he returns from a preseason knee injury.
Davis' play has factored into Cooley's reduced role, but both will be priorities for Rob Ryan's defense.
"Both these guys are very similar in that they can stretch the field, they're very good catching the football, they're very good route runners, and Fred Davis is starting to step up," linebacker Keith Brooking said. "He's making a lot of plays and he definitely shows up in third-down situations."
