Kirk Cousins celebrates his fourth-quarter touchdown pass. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Redskins will have their hands full on Thursday afternoon. Not just with turkey cutlets or Hawaiian rolls, but instead with a dynamic Dallas Cowboys offense that’s spearheaded by two rookies. In Week 2, the Cowboys (9-1) got the first of nine straight wins this season against the Redskins (6-3-1).
There were some wrinkles that needed to be ironed out, as it was only Week 2 in the season. Kirk Cousins went 28-of-46 for 346 yards and a touchdown, but a costly interception in the end zone proved to be a game-changer. To add injury to insult, the former Redskin Alfred Morris scored the game-winning touchdown for the Cowboys to win 27-23.
A lot has changed though, as the Redskins offense enters Thursday’s showdown humming. With Matt Jones inactive for the second straight game and Robert Kelley capturing the lead-back role, the rookie gashed the Packers defense for 137 yards and three touchdowns. “We saw him really doing a good job after contact – getting those extra two, three, four yards. We had Matt Jones, obviously. We had Chris Thompson. We had Mack Brown. We felt good about the running back position, but it wasn’t until we got him reps, that the more reps he received, the better he got.,” says head coach Jay Gruden. ” He’s proved us right so far because he’s getting better.”
There wasn’t any drop-off through the air either, as Cousins dissected the Packers secondary by going a mere 21-for-30 for 375 yards and three touchdowns, including a 44-yard toss to Jamison Crowder for six, and a 70-yard bomb to Pierre Garcon for a touchdown. Whether he’s rubbing his general manager’s head, or hollering at you wondering “YOU LIKE THAT?”, this Redskins offense is peaking at the right time.
Injuries and Inactives: No surprises in either department, as wide receiver DeSean Jackson (shoulder) is listed as questionable but will suit up. Defensive end Chris Baker (hamstring/illness) will be a go as well. Long snapper Nick Sundberg is out for the second straight game nursing a back injury, meaning Former ODU All-American long snapper Rick Lovato will be the starter for the ‘Skins. Offensive lineman Trent Williams is inactive again while serving his four-game suspension.
The last time the Redskins played on Thanksgiving, was at Cowboys Stadium in 2012 when RG3 led the Redskins to a 38-31 win. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m.
