Dallas at Washington

The Redskins would like nothing better than to spoil Dallas’ chance at the playoffs. Now they get the chance to do just that - at home. Washington players and coaches are bitter about the week 9 loss to the Cowboys and the fact that the up-start Cowboys have a shot at the playoffs while the Skins do not. The Cowboys desperately want to turn things around after losing two straight but I’m not sure they have the confidence, or the offense, right now to do it. Quincy Carter is playing poorly and Dallas’ running game is not good at carrying the load. Carter has thrown 13 interceptions over the past seven games and the excellent Dallas defense has not been doing enough to compensate. The past two weeks, Dallas’ defense has looked average or worse. Washington starts Tim Hasselbeck at quarterback as Patrick Ramsey is done for the season. It really shouldn’t matter much. My Power Ratings say the Skins should be favored by a couple of points in this one and by game time, they may actually be getting a point. December divisional home dogs historically have done very well against the spread. Dallas has won 11 of the last 12 meetings but the Skins make it 11 of 13 this week.