It’s a meeting of 2015 playoff teams as the Arizona Cardinals clash with the Washington Redskins. Will there be fireworks in the desert?
A year ago, the Washington Redskins overcame a 5-7 start, won their last four games and captured the NFC East. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals fell one game short of Super Bowl 50 after a season in which they won a franchise record 13 regular-season games.
Now both clubs are in danger of missing the playoffs all together but for totally different reasons. Jay Gruden’s 6-4-1 team is playing respectable football but can’t make up any ground on the red-hot Dallas Cowboys.
On the other hand, the defending NFC West champions are 1-3-1 in their last five games following a 3-3 start. It’s been a very uneven year for the 4-6-1 Cards. It’s anyone’s guess who will prevail on Sunday afternoon at Arizona.
Highlights
Posted live as they happen
Three Stars
1. Kirk Cousins
The fifth-year quarterback lit up the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving afternoon to the tune of 449 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-26 loss. Cousins has picked up where he left off in mid-October of 2015 when he began to tear it up. This season, he’s completing 68.4 percent of his throws for 3,540 yards and 20 scores with only seven interceptions. He’ll be taking aim at the league’s second-ranked pass defense.
2. David Johnson
Talk about a monster showing. In his second season, Johnson entered Week 13 as the NFL leader with 1,534 yards from scrimmage and 13 total touchdowns. He’s run for 921 yards and 10 scores, 611 rushing yards, and seven touchdowns in his last seven games. And he leads all running backs in the league with 55 catches. Washington ranks in the bottom quarter of the league in rushing defense.
3. Jamison Crowder
It’s been a solid year for the second-year wideout. Crowder ranks second on the team with 55 grabs but leads the Redskins in receiving yards (725) and touchdown catches (6). There could be some fun encounters with the Arizona secondary, namely Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson.
More fansided.com: NFL power rankings, Week 12: Falcons soar, Texans tumble
Odds
The home-standing 4-6-1 Arizona Cardinals have two fewer wins than the 6-4-1 Washington Redskins. But Arians’ team is still a 1-point favorite to upend the defending NFC East champions. The OVER/UNDER is a very healthy 49.
Next Week
The Redskins hit the road for the third consecutive week as they travel to Philadelphia. Washington has knocked off the Eagles in four consecutive meetings. Arizona makes its first appearance in Miami since 2004 to face the recently-rejuvenated Dolphins.