The Dallas Cowboys have an important matchup against the Washington Commanders on Sunday with major playoff implications. It’s for that exact reason that the team won’t be sitting starters, despite Washington’s 4-12 record. A win for Dallas will clinch the NFC East and grant them first-round hosting privileges for the playoffs. However, a loss against the Commanders and a win by the Eagles over the Giants would give Philadelphia the title for the second year in a row.
The Cowboys won’t be sitting starters on Sunday, but former wide receiver Michael Irvin warned the team against it anyway this week on Undisputed.
“I’ve always been a little leary of this scenario when we get down to the end of the season and everybody’s thinking of resting or not resting… The Cowboys are the worst whenever they rest players,” Irvin said. “They come out sloppy, they can’t stay on task because they don’t have the pressing coach that pushes them through it.
“They really take the day off, the mental off, the time off, then they come back and I say, ‘Oh my god, we didn’t need that rest.'”
Though the Cowboys won’t sit stars like Dak Prescott or Tony Pollard, Dallas will either bring multiple injured players back for the final game of the regular season or they’ll sit them for an extra week of rest before the first round of the playoffs. Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins is one to watch for a Week 18 return. He missed the last three games with a high-ankle sprain. Rookie Mazi Smith has been stepping up in Hankins’ absence.
Running back Rico Dowdle could also make a return for Week 18. Rookie running back Deuce Vaughn played on Saturday in Dowdle’s place. He had two carries and a reception for 10 yards in the victory against the Lions. After the weekend, the Cowboys placed the former Kansas State star on Injured Reserve with an ankle injury, which means Dowdle could be full-go for Sunday.
Prescott to play Sunday while Lamar Jackson sits
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott trails only Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for this season’s MVP awards in the latest Vegas odds but even with the Dallas star playing Sunday while the Baltimore standout sits, it’s still highly likely that Jackson will win the NFL’s top award this season.
Jackson has a 67.2% completion rate this season, which is a career-high, along with 3,678 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, 821 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Prescott, also through 16 games, has a 68.4% completion rate, 4,237 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns, 242 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns and eight interceptions.
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