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Edgar Chaput
Cowboys vs. Commanders Point Spread: NFL Week 18 Odds, Prediction
Of all the clubs involved in action this weekend and whose postseason future is yet decided, the Dallas Cowboys have the easiest task. All they need to do is win on Sunday against Washington Commanders and the NFC East title will be bestowed to them. With that comes a home playoff game in the Wild Card round. All the Commanders can do is play spoiler in that regard as the Cowboys have already clinched a playoff berth.
Mike McCarthy’s group is heavily favoured, as per the NFL odds. They’re currently pegged at -13.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Come to think of it, the Commanders have more reason to play the Cowboys tough than just making the latter’s playoff journey more difficult. Washington fans surely recall the beatdown their club suffered on Thanksgiving down in Texas, 45-10. Not only was the overall performance an embarrassment, but it resulted in the team’s defensive coordinator at the time, Jack Del Rio, getting his pink slip.
Who are the Dallas Cowboys? It seems incredible that with only one game remaining in the regular season, the answer to that question would be so unclear. They’ve defeated strong teams like the Lions and Eagles, yet have been crushed by other good sides like the Bills and 49ers. One thing is certain: a win on the road would do the club some good as they’re only 3-5 away from AT&T Stadium this season. Even ATS, Dallas was 9-4 not so long ago, but has failed to cover three weeks in a row and thus stares at a 9-7 tally.
Unfortunately, the first season in Washington under new ownership has not paid dividends. Expecting greatness immediately, especially with this roster, was always silly, but at 4-12, the Commanders haven’t met many minimal requirements. It’s frequently said in professional sports that when a new owner comes along, the coaching staff already in place needs to provide positive results, otherwise, their tenure ends. One wonders what Ron Rivera’s job security is at the moment.
Dallas Cowboys
One can argue that the game of Week 17 wasn’t even played on a Sunday. On Saturday night the Dallas Cowboys hosted the Detroit Lions in a battle of two teams who, at the time, had hopes of being the number one seed in the NFC.
The beauty of December football is that games like this one feature playoff intensity. This was a fascinating chess match to watch unfold. It wasn’t a shootout despite that both sides boast good offences. Rather, fans were rewarded with a war of attrition, a battle in the trenches with occasionally incredible manoeuvres through the air. Dak Prescott came to ball, finishing 26-for-38, 345 yards and two TDs, including one superb bomb to CeeDee Lamb for 92 yards in the first and a critical 8-yard end zone pass to Brandin Cooks in the fourth. Up 20-13 late, Dallas allowed Detroit to stroll down the field and score a huge touchdown before a controversial trio of two-point attempts by the Lions ultimately failed. Make the final a heart-stopping 20-19 Cowboys victory.
Washington Commanders
To recall what transpired in Dallas on Saturday night makes recounting the events of Sunday afternoon in Washington even more depressing. The Commanders hosted a 49ers team desperate to pick itself up after a Christmas Day defeat and secure the top spot in the NFC.
To give the hosts some credit, they played San Francisco tough for a little while. Trailing 10-0 to Kyle Shanahan’s machine, all looked lost, yet Washington battled back to level the terms at 10-10. From there, the 49ers were done playing nice and outscored the Commanders 17-0 the rest of the way. Sam Howell’s forgettable season as the club’s QB is coming to an end. He went 17-for-28, 169 yards, one TD, and two brutal picks. WR Terry McLaurin, a three-time 1,000-yard receiver, brightened some spirits with a score.
This was a poor showing from a team few expected much of against a team many expected a lot of.