Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders Betting Preview
The Washington Commanders (7-8-1, 3-5 home) host the Dallas Cowboys (12-4, 4-3 away) in an NFC showdown to close out the regular season. Dallas still has a shot to win the NFC East with a victory and Philadelphia loss. The Cowboys knocked off the Commanders, 25-10, earlier this season.
Sunday’s divisional tilt kicks off at 4:25 p.m. EST at FedExField in Landover, Maryland. Dallas is a seven-point favorite, and the over/under total is 40 points.
What to Know – Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have put themselves in a position to still win their division and possibly lock up the top seed in the NFC. For that to happen, the scenarios we mentioned above would have to happen in addition to the San Francisco 49ers losing to the Cardinals. If Philadelphia wins, Dallas is locked into the five-seed.
Offensively, Dallas showcases the league’s highest-scoring unit averaging 28.8 points per game and 365.8 yards of total offense. The Cowboy’s defense also ranks near the top of the NFL, limiting opponents to 19.8 points and 331.5 yards of total offense per game.
Starting center Tyler Biadasz is out for the Cowboys, and left guard Connor McGovern is questionable for the offense. Starting linebacker Leighton Vander Esch also remains sidelined for the Dallas defense.
Dallas is 10-6 against the spread this year and 4-3 ATS in away games. The Cowboys own a 6-2 mark ATS over their last eight matchups against Washington.
What to Know – Washington Commanders
Washington’s three-game losing streak has eliminated the Commanders from any playoff scenarios heading into the final week of play. Still, the Commanders can play spoiler to the Cowboys attempts to win the division and possibly claim the no. 1 seed in the NFC.
Washington’s offense has struggled this year, and the Commanders sit in the bottom half of the NFL, averaging 18.4 points and 331.6 yards of total offense per game. The Commanders defense has been the team’s strength, surrendering 21.1 points and 312.3 yards of offense to opponents.
Rookie quarterback Sam Howell will make his first start of his career in Sunday’s season finale for Washington. The Commanders will also be without starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. Washington’s defense is banged up, with Jonathan Allen sidelined Kamren Curl out.
The Commanders are 7-8-1 ATS this season and 3-4-1 ATS on their home field. Washington is 2-5 ATS over its previous seven games following a straight-up loss.
The Pick is In
Dallas heads to Washington with a lot on the line but won’t know it’s playoff fate until after the game. The Cowboys have won six of their last seven games and carry all the momentum into the Sunday afternoon showdown.
A rookie quarterback starting and a short-handed defense isn’t what Washington envisioned it’d bring to the table in the season finale. Dallas takes advantage of the Commanders’ shortcomings and puts an exclamation mark on a solid regular season.
The Pick: Dallas Cowboys -7
