An offensive explosion and late heroics could be on the menu when the Washington Commanders visit the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
The NFC East matchup features strong offenses, struggling defenses, and two teams that lost their previous game on a last-second field goal.
Oh, and each team may be getting a star wide receiver back.
Dallas All-Pro CeeDee Lamb, who missed the past three games with a high ankle sprain, returned to practice on Wednesday.
“Yeah, if he’s breathing,” Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer joked about Lamb’s return. “Honestly, yeah. CeeDee knows how to play football. If he runs around and catches a pass or two, I’m good.”
Washington’s Terry McLaurin, who has sat out the past three games with a quad injury, also returned to practice Wednesday.
“I’ll have a better sense after we go through some full-speed routes and movements to see where he’s at,” coach Dan Quinn said. “But I’m excited where he’s trending.”
Washington (3-3) rallied from a 13-0 deficit to take a fourth-quarter lead Monday night, but Jayden Daniels’ fumble at the Chicago 40 set up the winning drive for the visiting Bears. The Commanders continued to alternate wins and losses with a 25-24 defeat.
At Carolina on Sunday, the Panthers got a 33-yard field goal as time expired to beat Dallas 30-27. The Cowboys (2-3-1) gave up 216 rushing yards, including 183 to former Dallas back Rico Dowdle, and 410 total yards of offense.
The Dallas defense ranks last in the NFL, allowing 411.7 yards per game. The Cowboys are last against the pass (269.5) and 29th against the run (142.2), and they are giving up 30.7 points per game, second worst in the league.
“We can’t go all year playing defense like this, especially with how our offense is playing,” defensive tackle Kenny Clark said. “If we can match that, we’re going to be a really tough team to beat.”
The Dallas offense leads the NFL with 387.5 yards per game, while the Commanders are 13th (345.7). The Cowboys are second in passing yards per game (270.3), and the Commanders are tied for second in rushing (151.0).
Dallas is third in scoring (29.7 points per game); Washington is seventh (26.3).
Against Carolina, Dallas got a monster game from George Pickens, who caught nine passes for 168 yards and a touchdown.
Washington’s defense is ranked 26th overall (allowing 356.8 yards per game). The Commanders rank 23rd against the pass (235.2) and 20th against the run (121.7).
Both teams will look to improve their running attack on Sunday. Dallas gained just 31 rushing yards against the Panthers. Minus Daniels (52 yards), Washington ran for 72 yards vs. Chicago, and rookie back Jacory Croskey-Merritt lost a fumble for the second straight game.
“He’s still growing,” Quinn said of Croskey-Merritt. “This is a rookie player. They’re going to have some ups and downs just like any other guys. I’m certain he’s made of the right things to battle through it.”
The Commanders placed wide receiver Noah Brown (groin/knee) on injured reserve one week after he returned to practice. Quinn said the injury has not responded as the team had hoped. Defensive end Dorance Armstrong (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday.
Washington signed free agent defensive end Drake Jackson on Wednesday. A second-round pick by San Francisco in 2022, Jackson has appeared in 23 NHL games, recording six sacks. The 49ers waived him in May.
For Dallas, returner/receiver KaVontae Turpin (foot) and rookie guard Tyler Booker (ankle) both returned to practice on Wednesday and were limited.
Last season, Dallas won 34-26 in at Washington in Week 12 and visiting Washington was a 23-19 winner in Week 18. The Commanders are looking to win at Dallas in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2014 and ’15 campaigns.
