When you consider the Cowboys were an underdog last week to the Giants, it's clear this line is a significant market adjustment for Dallas. And yet, it is still the right side going against a Washington team that cannot protect its quarterback and appears headed towards a top five pick in next year's NFL Draft. Cooper Rush is playing well enough in a game manager role, but its the Cowboys running game and defense that gets me excited about this spread. Try to avoid the forthcoming hook if possible. It's worth taking the 'Boys up to -3 (-120).

The Cowboys’ pass rush has been relentless, and that’s bad news for Carson Wentz. The Commanders QB has been sacked 15 times after going down nine times last week. Dallas is relatively weak against the run, but that hasn’t been a strength for Washington’s offense, either. The favorite is 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings, and the Cowboys are covering in 58 of my simulations.

Raise your hand if you thought Dallas was dead in the water when QB Dak Prescott went down. (Mine is up.) Cooper Rush has a spotless 3-0 straight-up record as a starter in his career. He could fare better than his more renowned counterpart, Carson Wentz, who apparently has nine lives because he was sacked nine times last week. He’ll be running for his life against the NFL's most prolific sack defense (13). I wish I’d moved on this game when the line lingered at 2.5 most of the week, but I can live with the three points.

Carson Wentz was sacked nine times by the Eagles, center Wes Schweitzer remains in concussion protocol, and now Washington visits a Dallas team that leads the NFL with 13 sacks. If Schweitzer can't play, the Commanders would be down to their third-string center. Michael Gallup appears set to return for Dallas, which had everyone practicing Thursday except for Dak Prescott. Cooper Rush has a 91.8 passer rating, and the running game should excel against a Washington defense allowing 5.4 yards per carry. The Commanders aren't as bad as they've looked the past two games, but I'll still back Dallas at -3 (-120) to improve to 11-2 ATS in its last 13 home games vs. division foes.

The Cowboys offense continues to truck along with Cooper Rush at QB, and it managed 6.4 yards per play on Monday against a Giants defense that had been playing well. But the real reason to love the Cowboys here is their defense, which ran through the Giants O-line like it wasn't there and now faces a Commanders team that just gave up nine sacks against the Eagles. Washington's offense has been brutal each of the last two weeks, and I don't know how it has success here, while the Washington defense is 28th in yards per play and is facing a Cowboys offense that kept Rush clean on Monday. I make this line Cowboys -5.

Obviously a short week for the Cowboys but that defense is legit. DeMarcus Lawrence had three sacks vs. the Giants on Monday and did leave for a bit with a foot injury but returned and said he's fine. While it will be Cooper Rush under center again, I'm not even sure that's a bad thing. Dak Prescott might get Wally Pipped. No. 2 WR Michael Gallup is expected to make his season debut. I expect this to rise this week so will take it now.