The NFC East is hard to pin down, but maybe it can get some early clarity when a pair of expected divisional contenders face off. The Washington Redskins will host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 of the regular season.
The Redskins will face off with the Pittsburgh Steelers in their opener on Monday Night Football this week and then they will get ready for the divisional clash. The Cowboys don’t have the services of quarterback Tony Romo for several weeks because of a back injury, and rookie quarterback Dak Prescott is the man again after almost leading Dallas to a win in its opener.
Watch this regular season Week 2 matchup live on Sunday, September 18, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at FedEx Field.
Odds Analysis
The odds should be released after the Redskins play their first game. The Cowboys were competent with Prescott at the helm so they likely shouldn’t be huge underdogs, but a Washington team at home will be the team to beat.
The scoring total would have been higher with Romo under center as Dallas isn’t going to overload Prescott with responsibilities right out of the gate.
Injury Report
Romo -- The latest update has Romo returning to the field by Week 7. He is a star when healthy, but as he gets older he is becoming an increasingly-big injury risk. Prescott will try his best to fill in but the Cowboys will likely be welcoming Romo back with open arms once he is able to play.
Josh Doctson -- The Redskins rookie is dealing with an Achilles injury and could be questionable for this one. More will be known once Washington plays on Monday. If he is available, he should be good to go next week.
Player to Watch
Prescott -- The rookie will continue to get plenty of attention as he looks to keep the team afloat when Romo is out, In a perfect world, he could win the job completely with an impressive showing, although that seems like a lot to ask.
He was fantastic in the preseason, which really increased expectations, and then had bright spots against the Giants but wasn’t as dominant. Prescott will assuredly go through ups and downs as he gets his first taste of the NFL.
Prescott wasn’t a high pick, so there are obviously some issues that caused him to drop in the draft, but he will look to prove those critics wrong. He is in a good position since the Cowboys have a great offensive line and a talented running back in Ezekiel Elliott.
Free ATS Pick
The Cowboys are getting a ton of attention because of their high-profile quarterback replacement, but the Redskins have a talented signal-caller on their side. Kirk Cousins had a breakout season in 2015 and hopes to continue it.
Cousins has some key weapons like DeSean Jackson and Jordan Reed in the passing game, although the running game is a concern. The Giants are looking good in the NFC East, so Washington wants to keep pace with some early season wins.
This is an important game for Washington, which is the reigning NFC East champion and will aim to make a statement at home. If the Cowboys had a more stable quarterback situation they could have been primed to pull out the road win, but this one should go the Redskins’ way.
If the spread is less than a touchdown, bettors should jump on it and back the Redskins. Even though there are plenty of people excited about what the young Dallas backfield can do, there’s a steep learning curve in the NFL.
The Redskins shouldn’t have a lot of trouble taking care of business in this matchup. The total scoring could come in at about 47, so check to see where the “over-under” is pegged early in the week.
NFL Odds: Redskins 27, Cowboys 20
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
