Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins 2017: Thursday Night Football Prediction, Betting Odds

The Dallas Cowboys have quickly learned just how valuable Ezekiel Elliott was to their success over the last year and a half. The team has lost three straight games without the running back, and their playoff hopes could effectively come to an end in Week 13 when he serves the fourth game of his suspension.

Dallas hosts the Washington Redskins on “Thursday Night Football,” sharing a 5-6 record with their NFC East rivals. The betting line favors the Cowboys by 1.5 points (44 over/under), via OddsShark, though Dallas has shown no indication that they can beat a team that isn’t among the NFL’s worst.

Losing to the Los Angeles Chargers 28-6 on Thanksgiving, the Cowboys were defeated by at least 20 points for the third consecutive week. Dallas failed to score double-digits in any of those contests, and each of their last two losses has come at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The team hasn’t had much of a running game in Elliott’s absence. Alfred Morris has filled in admirably, averaging 4.86 yards per carry, but the onus has fallen on Dak Prescott’s shoulders to carry the offense. The quarterback has failed the greatest test of his brief NFL career.

Prior to Elliott’s suspension, Prescott threw for 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. In the three games since, Prescott has no touchdown passes and five picks. The quarterback hasn’t reached the 180-yard mark without his star rusher. He’s posted passer ratings of 82.1, 30.4 and 60.6

It doesn’t take much digging to link Prescott’s struggles to Elliott’s absence.

When Elliott had one of the best rookie seasons ever by a running back in 2016, Prescott did the same as a quarterback. He went 13-3 as a starter, ranking third in the league with a 104.9 passer rating. The Cowboys went 5-3 through the first eight games of the 2017 season, scoring at least 28 points in six straight games. Prescott had a passer rating better than 90.0 six times and a rating better than 105.0 on four occasions.

Washington’s defense hasn’t exactly been outstanding against the pass. The Redskins are 16th in opponents’ passer rating and 15th in opponents’ completion percentage. Washington is 19th in yards allowed through the air, though they are tied for fifth with 12 interceptions.

The Redskins played poorly against the likes of Carson Wentz and Drew Brees. The Cowboys even put up 33 points in Washington when Elliott and Co. led Dallas to a road win five weeks ago. The running back totaled 150 yards on the ground with two scores in that game as Prescott threw for 143 yards and no scores.

That kind of performance won’t be enough for Prescott and the Cowboys Thursday night. Not without the threat of Elliott in the backfield, and not with the way Dallas’ defense has played of late.

The loss of linebacker Sean Lee has been highlighted during the team’s three-game losing streak, as well. Dallas has given up at least 27 points in each contest. They are giving up a 101.4 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Despite the ups and downs they’ve faced through various injuries, Washington ranks 11th in total offense and is tied for 12th in points scored. Their lowest scoring games came against the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks, both of whom boast top-10 scoring defenses.

Dallas’ offense is in complete disarray without Elliott, and it could be what virtually knocks them out of the playoff race Thursday.

Prediction: Washington over Dallas, 27-16

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