Cowboys vs. Washington NFL injury report, odds: Dak Prescott has been money against the spread on extra rest; first-ever Dallas matchup against Taylor Heinicke

The Dallas Cowboys played on Thursday in Week 13, which means they are on a bit of extra rest for Sunday's big NFC East matchup at Washington. History under quarterback Dak Prescott says the Cowboys likely will win in Maryland – which would all but clinch the division -- and cover the spread, which currently is Dallas -4.5 at Caesars Sportsbook. Click here for model picks. 

Prescott is 10-2 straight up and against the spread on extended rest, with that SU record tied for the best winning percentage (.830) among NFL quarterbacks (minimum 10 starts) this century. Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes is also 10-2. For a point of comparison, Tom Brady is 47-14 (.770).

In his career against Washington, Prescott is 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS with the Cowboys averaging 31.9 points in those eight games and Prescott throwing 17 TD passes to just one pick. The Over is 7-1 in those eight games. The total is set at 48 points, and bettors at Caesars Sportsbook are hammering the Under to the tune of 78 percent of the bets and 71 percent of the money.

Prescott did miss both Washington games last season, and this will be the Cowboys' first-ever in-person look at Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke. He has only started 12 games in his NFL career and his lone one last season was in the wild-card game vs. Tampa Bay. Heinicke has helped lead Washington to four straight wins SU & ATS following a 2-6 start (1-7 ATS).

Heinicke is completing 77 percent of his passes in the winning streak with a passer rating of 110.0. The WFT leads the NFL in third-down conversions in that span at 50 percent, not to mention going 5-for-6 on fourth down.

Last season, the WFT became the second team in NFL history to start 2-6 and make playoffs, joining the 1970 Bengals. Washington is +125 to make it this year and -155 to miss. If Ron Rivera's team loses Sunday to fall three games back in the division, the NFC East race is essentially over even though these teams play again Week 16 because at worst the season series would be a split for Dallas and there are only four games left.

Washington's final five games are against division foes, making the WFT the first club to finish with five straight games in its own division since the 1995 Buccaneers.

A few notable injury updates for this game. Cowboys running back Tony Pollard has a torn plantar fascia in his left foot and likely will be a game-time decision. He's having a fine season with 107 carries for 602 yards and two scores and 31 catches for 259 yards. Washington defensive end Montez Sweat has missed the past four games with a fractured jaw and was to return from that … only to test positive for COVID, so he's out. WFT running back JD McKissic likely will play after missing last week with a concussion. 

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