ASHBURN — The importance of the Redskins’ next game isn’t lost on Ryan Kerrigan. Fresh off a 23-17 win over the Carolina Panthers, the linebacker recalled walking into the team facility Monday and noticing the newly hung signs taped across the glass.
The pieces of paper all carry the same message in a bold, black font: Cowboys Week.
“This is a big week for us,” Kerrigan said.
As happy as the Redskins were after beating the Panthers on Sunday, attention shifted quickly to to the Cowboys, who have won four straight in the historic series.
The Redskins will have to snap that streak to hold onto first place in the NFC East when the two meet Sunday at FedEx Field. At 3-2, Washington has a half-game lead over the Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles, both 3-3.
So far this season, it’s been win one, lose one for coach Jay Gruden’s squad.
A win against the Cowboys would say a lot about who the Redskins really are.
“This win was good, but next week is a division game — it’s time to really strap up,” safety D.J. Swearinger said. “It’s time to really lock in and focus on another level. If you watch film for 48 hours, you need to watch it for 58 hours this week. That’s the level we’ve got to be.”
The Cowboys have posed major problems for Washington on both sides of the ball the past two seasons.
Ezekiel Elliott has rushed for an average of 110 yards per game in three meetings against the Redskins. The Cowboys running back didn’t appear in one game because of a suspension, but Dallas still ran for 182 yards, largely behind former Redskin Alfred Morris.
The Cowboys have also shut down the Redskins’ offense, relying heavily on their zone defense and movement along the defensive line. Already this season, Washington had problems against a similar scheme, scoring only nine points in a Week 2 loss against the Indianapolis Colts. (Matt Eberflus, the Colts’ first-year defensive coordinator, spent years in Dallas.)
The losses, too, have been costly. Last season, the Redskins finished 7-9 — in large part because they were just 1-5 in the NFC East.
Gruden knows the Redskins have to reverse their division record for any shot at the playoffs.
“It’s a game that everybody circles on their calendar,” Gruden said. “It’s going to be a packed house and we have to use that emotion to our benefit. … We haven’t fared too well the last couple of times we played them, so it’s going to be important for us to come out of the gate, come out of the tunnel, and play fast.”
Gruden was pleased with the way his team responded Sunday after being blown out by the New Orleans Saints in the game prior.
Throughout the week, the Redskins had made an effort to fix the issues that had been plaguing them. Cornerback Josh Norman held a meeting last Tuesday with the defensive backs, addressing any potential chemistry problems within the group. Quarterback Alex Smith noted the Redskins had a sense of urgency in practice.
But Gruden said he wants to see the Redskins maintain that energy level without having their “teeth kicked in” first.
And given their recent history with the Cowboys, Kerrigan said this next matchup was a matter of pride.
“It’s really exciting because of where both of us are at in the division right now,” Kerrigan said. “They’re playing really well right now and we played a good game yesterday. So it’s an exciting time with a lot of implications on the division.”
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