Dallas Cowboys Must Take Washington Commanders 'Very Seriously,' Says Micah Parsons; Here's The Problem With That
The Dallas Cowboys face the Washington Commanders in the Turkey Day tradition Thanksgiving game for the 11th time in history. Dallas holds an 8-2 edge in the previous 10, and all signs point to a ninth win before all is said and done. ... even though Dallas' Micah Parsons is leading the parade in favor of just how almost-good Washington is.
"This is a really good team,'' Micah said of the 4-7 Commanders. "The ball just don't roll to your side sometimes. This is a team that could and should be on a positive track with the amount of talent they have. It's a team that we need to take very, very seriously."
That's true of any foe, of course, but ... The Commanders have fallen hard this season after an 8-8-1 finish last year and a near-miss of the playoffs. Not much was expected from the Commanders in 2022, but coach Ron Rivera somehow made sweet lemonade out of rotten lemons. That finish last season is more impressive when you realize the team started 1-5.
Washington averaged just 19 points per game and won four games by six points or less last year. They beat the Eagles 32-21 and throttled the Cowboys in the final game of the season 26-6. But admittedly, that's when Dallas wasn't really paying attention and was preparing for the playoffs.
What Washington did well last year was play defense, allowing just 20 points per contest. But that seems like forever ago, and the Rivera magic seems to have disappeared.
Again, they're now 4-7 and have been outscored by 69 points in their 11 games this season, and the defense is allowing more than a full touchdown more per game this year, allowing an average of 28. Entering Thursday's game against the 7-3 Cowboys, they're one of the worst defensive teams in the NFL statistically.
Last season, the strength of Washington's defense was the defensive line. But this season at the trade deadline, rather than pay to extend standout defensive end Chase Young - who's just 24 years old and is a former second overall pick in 2020 - they boxed him up and shipped him to San Francisco for what will be a late third-rounder.
A former No. 2 overall pick just three drafts ago was traded to a conference rival for a late third-round pick. That's how teams unravel quickly in the NFL.
Young's former linemate, defensive end Montez Sweat, who was leading the team in sacks, was sent to Chicago for surely a top pick, right? Nope. A second-rounder.
Sam Howell (L) and Dak Prescott
Last week, the Commanders were embarrassed by the then-two-win Giants as New York completed the season sweep of Washington. Two of New York's three wins have come at the expense of the Commanders this season.
Dallas is favored on Thanksgiving Day by 12.5 points, which doesn't seem like enough. The Cowboys are rolling right now, at least against bad teams, which the Commanders - despite the best efforts of gritty second-year QB Sam Howell - clearly are.
Dallas is still chasing the 9-1 Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East lead, as the Eagles are coming off a big Monday Night Football win over the Chiefs. All the Cowboys can do is take care of their own business and hope for the best.
Dallas has to focus on one thing right now. ... and Micah is right about this one: Beat Washington.
The schedule toughens up considerably after Thursday. After the Commanders, Dallas will face Seattle, Philly, Buffalo, Miami, and Detroit. the Cowboys don't play another "easy" game this season, until Week 18 when they face ... almost-good Washington.
