Cowboys
downplay effects of collapse
By Jim Ducibella, Landmark News Service
ASHBURN -- The Dallas Cowboys say
that any effects from Washington's bizarre 14-13 victory Sept. 19, in which
Santana Moss caught two long touchdown bombs in the final four minutes, didn't
linger.
"It went away pretty
quickly," Dallas coach Bill Parcells said Wednesday. "Every game
we've played this year but two seem to have come down to the last play. That
game really turned out to be the rule rather than the exception."
Dallas has played eight games that
have been decided by four points or less.
Cowboys
bid for the playoffs hinges on next two games
By Cedric Golden, Cox News Service
AUSTIN, Texas — Bill Parcells is
miserable after a loss and he is not too chipper after the Dallas Cowboys win.
Somehow, though, the Tuna changed
course after Sunday's 31-28 win over Kansas City.
"I like my team,'' he said.
'Our
biggest game of the season'
Washington's 4-2 record at home is meaningless in a rematch against
Dallas.
By Michael C. Wright, Hampton Roads (VA) Daily Press
ASHBURN -- Quarterbacks say this
kind of stuff all the time. But really, Mark Brunell isn't feeding us a line
when explaining what Washington needs to do against Dallas to keep its playoff
hopes alive.
"It would have to (take) our
best offensive day (of the season) to win this game," he said.
"Everybody understands
what's at stake. It's our biggest game of the season."
Skins
know Dallas is key
But playoff variables put great significance on numerous games
By Paul Woody, Richmond Times-Dispatch
ASHBURN -- The last time the
Washington Redskins were 7-6 and still in the playoff race, the coach got
fired, the team lost the next game to Dallas, and the season ended up in ruins.
That was in 2000. Joe Gibbs, the
present Redskins coach, hopes for a different outcome this time.
So far, Gibbs is ahead of the
game. He still has his job.
Injured
nine plan to play Sunday
By Ryan O'Halloran, The Washington Times
Even though nine Washington
Redskins, including the team's top three cornerbacks, did not practice
yesterday, all are expected to play Sunday against Dallas.
That outlook is far rosier than
the one coach Joe Gibbs gave on Monday when he said he was "hoping for
some miracle recoveries."
All seven players on the official
injury report are listed as probable and defensive tackles Joe Salave'a and
Cedric Killings, who did not play last week at Arizona, aren't even on the list
Two
plays go long way
By David Elfin, The Washington Times
If one play can change a season,
then two plays can change a career.
Santana Moss came to Washington
from the New York Jets in March with a reputation as a speedy but inconsistent
receiver. The Redskins had acquired Moss for the more proven Laveranues Coles,
and the trade had not opened up the passing game.
Then came those two plays in the
last four minutes in Week 2 at Dallas.
Dallas
Is Making Time for Bledsoe
If Blockers Falter, Game Plan Fails
By Mark Maske, Washington Post
IRVING, Tex. -- When the Dallas
Cowboys overhauled their roster in the offseason with a series of expensive
free agent signings and a highly regarded draft class, they never figured their
success this season would end up hinging on the play of inexperienced offensive
tackles Torrin Tucker and Rob Petitti. But that's how things have worked out,
and when the Cowboys face the Washington Redskins on Sunday at FedEx Field with
both teams' playoff aspirations at stake, the outcome largely could depend on
the ability of the two tackles to keep pass rushers out of the face of quarterback
Drew Bledsoe.
In
Defense of the Offense
Gibbs Is Publicly Reassuring of Brunell After Poor First Half
By Howard Bryant, Washington Post
A day following a nightmarish
first half against Arizona in which Mark Brunell threw three interceptions and
had a fourth negated by a penalty, Washington Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs used his
opening remarks to the media not to stress better offensive focus deep in enemy
territory, but instead to defend his quarterback.
That Gibbs singled out Brunell
preemptively when other coaches might have been sarcastic or even dismissive is
emblematic of Gibbs's soothing coaching personality. Two weeks earlier, he had
used portions of his Monday address to similarly reassure tight end Robert
Royal, who dropped three key passes in a 23-17 home loss to San Diego and was
near tears after the game.
Injured
Players All Listed as Probable
Redskins Notebook
By Jason La Canfora, Washington Post
The Washington Redskins were
without their top three cornerbacks and a handful of regulars for yesterday's
practice, but listed all injured players as probable for Sunday's game against
Dallas. Given the importance of the last three regular season games, it is not
uncommon for clubs to be optimistic with their injury reports, and several
players who did not practice were not listed at all.
Cornerbacks Shawn Springs
(groin), Carlos Rogers (biceps) and Walt Harris (calf) are of particular
concern given the position they play, the lack of depth there and the strong
arm of Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe. "Their quarterback is a veteran
guy who's been around and knows where to go with the ball and all of those
things," Coach Joe Gibbs said. "So you don't like it."
