To get you in the right mood for Sunday’s game, check out this must-read from Big Stein about interviews given this week by DE Dexter Manley and DT Darryl Grant, two Redskins greats who forged legendary victories over the Dallas Cowboys in the 1980s. One of the greatest memories for Redskins fans was the NFC Championship game in RFK January 1983, where Manley knocked Cowboys QB Danny White out of the game with a crushing hit. White came back out after halftime, but never played another down in the game. Instead, he sat on the sideline, gazing vaguely out into space. It was not even clear if White was fully aware of the game or in command of his faculties.

“I could tell as he was going down, he was whining like a baby, and I knew at that point in time this guy is done,” Manley said on The Sports Fix. “He’d never play another down, and I knew that the Redskins’ fan base was all excited and happy and we were on our way.
…
“Basically the scheme, to sum it up, was just attack,” Grant said. “We ran some stunts, we ran some twists, but it was just penetration, get to the quarterback, put as much pressure, knock him around. And Dexter came through there on a twist and knocked him out. Cold. That’s the kind of aggression we went into the game with. We felt they had no respect for us, they totally disrespected us, and we were focused when we went in there. It was all about beating the Cowboys, man. We weren’t gonna be denied.”

Grant added that the only thing he wants for his 50th birthday is a Redskins victory over the Cowboys. If that doesn’t get you fired up, nothing will.

The Redskins have used five different offensive lines this year, a major reason why the offense has struggled to score points and protect QB Jason Campbell. Washington’s offensive line played well last week against the Broncos, the first good game the unit has had all year. Levi Jones went from the scrap heap to starting left tackle and RG Chad Rinehart was resurrected from the bottom of the depth chart and thrown into the starting lineup. The result was a season-high 174 rushing yards and a season-high 27 points. Jones got his starting job after injuries to LT Chris Samuels and RT Mike Williams made it necessary. Rinehart got his starting job because OL Coach Joe Bugel thought he worked hard and responded well to a benching earlier this season.

The Redskins will use the same five starters on Sunday against the Cowboys and hope they can produce similar success. Read it.

As the level of competition has improved, the propensity of the Redskins defense to give up big plays has increased. WR Desean Jackson ran 67 yards for a TD and caught a 57-yard TD pass in the loss to the Eagles. RB Michael Turner ran 58 yards for a TD in the loss to Atlanta. And last week in the win over Denver, WR Brandon Marshall caught touchdowns of 40 yards, 75 yards and would have had another long TD catch if not for a poor throw by QB Kyle Orton.

The Dallas Cowboys have the 4th-ranked offense in the NFL and have made a ton of big plays through the air. Washington will need to get pressure on QB Tony Romo, who produces most of the big plays himself. Read it.

With TB Clinton Portis out with a concussion for the second straight game, the Redskins will once again rely on TB Ladell Betts to carry the load for the rushing attack. Betts thinks he can do it.

Ever since he came to the Washington Redskins seven years ago, Ladell Betts has believed the same thing.

“He’s always said, ‘Get me 20 carries, I’ll get you 100 yards,’ ” longtime teammate Rock Cartwright said.

Betts has backed up his words in the few opportunities he has gotten, most recently in the Redskins’ victory over the Denver Broncos last week.

Betts has reached the 100-yard mark seven times in the nine games in which he has carried at least 20 times, including the 114 yards he gained on 26 attempts against the Broncos.

Redskins coaches and players have repeatedly mentioned Betts’ good practice habits as a major reason he is having more success than Portis. Whether that’s a not-so-veiled shot at Portis and his notoriously shoddy practice habits or just the plain truth or a bit of both, is something only the players and coaches could confirm.

The injury list for Sunday’s Redskins @ Cowboys game:

For the Redskins:
Out: TE Chris Cooley (ankle), RB Clinton Portis (concussion), FB Eddie Williams (ankle).
Questionable: DT Albert Haynesworth (ankle), OT Mike Williams (ankle), RT Stephon Heyer (knee).
Probable – RB Ledell Betts (ankle)

For the Cowboys:
Out: CB Allen Rossum (hamstring), RT Marc Colombo (ankle), S Ken Hamlin (ankle).
Probable: RB Marion Barber (thumb), K David Buehler (toe), CB Mike Jenkins (elbow), S Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb), LB DeMarcus Ware (foot)

Colombo wasn’t a special right tackle, but he was better than his replacement, so there is a good chance for SLB/DE Brian Orakpo to make some plays when used as a down lineman. Hamlin is being replaced by a young player making his first NFL start. Expect Heyer to p lay and Haynesworth, while a game-time decision, is likely to give it a go. DT Anthony Montgomery will probably be active, though.