What's Up?
After a 23-6 beat-down at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football the previous week, the Redskins may have lost more than just a game in the NFC standings. One-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Santana Moss injured a hamstring and didn't practice Monday. Meanwhile, the NFL's second-leading rusher, Clinton Portis, suffered a knee sprain and a bone bruise on his femur. While Portis' chances of playing Sunday have already been called "50-50" by head coach Jim Zorn, Moss' status clearly is still up in the air.
Chalk Talk
No one ever roots for a player to miss a game, but one would have to think the Cowboys are hoping Portis doesn't play this Sunday. Portis, who is second in the NFL with 995 rushing yards, has been a pain to the Cowboys, compiling 635 yards and three touchdowns on 154 carries in the eight games he's faced them and owns 100-yard rushing performances in the past two games against them. Portis' backup, Ladell Betts is also a question mark with knee issues of his own, meaning Shaun Alexander would carry the load if Portis couldn't go Sunday. In four career games against the Cowboys, Alexander has rushed for 57.3 yards per game and 3.2 yards per carry. With the Cowboys giving up 107.1 rushing yards per game - good for 18th in the NFL - Portis' absence would help the Cowboys tremendously.
Connections
Redskins defensive end Demetric Evans, who filled in for an injured Jason Taylor in the earlier meeting this season, played with the Cowboys for two seasons (2001-02) . . . In just two seasons with the Redskins (1999-00), Cowboys backup quarterback Brad Johnson recorded 6,510 yards passing and 35 touchdowns . . . Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham made 67 percent of his kicks with the Cowboys in 2005-06. . . Washington guard Jason Fabini was active in 15 games for the Cowboys in 2006 . . . Redskins head coach Jim Zorn was actually cut by the Cowboys in the 1975 preseason.
Miscellaneous
Terrell Owens' fumble against the New York Giants two weeks ago marked the first time the Pro Bowler has lost a fumble since 2004. In his 12-year career, Owens has only lost seven fumbles . . . The Cowboys minus-6 turnover differential ranks 27th in the NFL . . . Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas share a deeper connection than their playing days with the Miami Dolphins; the two are actually brothers-in-law, Taylor married to Zach's sister . . . With a combined record of 24-12 - 18-6 outside of division play - the NFC East has the highest winning percentage of any of the NFL's eight divisions . . . The Redskins last swept the Cowboys in 2005, and that's been the only time since 1995.
