The Cowboys face the Commanders on Christmas Day, but how do they get a seventh win of the year?
The 6-8-1 Dallas Cowboys will travel to face the 4-11 Washington Commanders on Christmas Day, with coach Brian Schottenheimer's team looking to end the year on a positive note in these final two games.
With the Cowboys and Commanders out of the playoff race, pride is all that both can play for in Week 17.
Given that Dallas is on a three-game losing streak and Washington has won just one of its last nine games, this pits two teams against each other who desperately need a win.
So, how do the Cowboys snap their three-game losing streak and get win No. 7?
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By doing these five things.
1 - Healthy dose of Javonte/Malik
With Javonte Williams (neck) banged up, this could be a game where we see both used as part of Dallas' gameplan.
Why? Because the Commanders give up rush yards in bundles. Washington gives up on average 141 rushing yards per game. Yikes.
Totals of 155, 150, 152, 148, 226, 169, 162, 146, and 202 yards have been allowed by coach Dan Quinn's bunch this season.
Meanwhile ...
The Cowboys average 118 rush yards per game (ranks 19th). Run that football, Schotty.
2 - Win third-down battle
Dallas' offense is ninth in conversions (41 percent), and Washington is 23rd in stopping them (41 percent). Conversely, the Commanders' offense only converts 37 percent of the time (ranks 24th), while Matt Eberflus' defense is 31st in stopping them (47 percent).
After last weeks' horror show on both sides of the ball, the Cowboys have to win on third down here.
Keep the offense on the field, and when the chance arises, get Washington off it.
Simple, right?
3 - Get Lamb and Pickens rolling
Well, duh, right? But looking at the numbers, it is even more imperative that the Cowboys get Nos. 88 and 3 going.
This season, when facing a top weapon, the Commanders have been helpless to stop them.
Drake London (8 receptions, 110 yards), CeeDee (5 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD), Pickens (4 receptions, 82 yards), Rashee Rice (9 receceptions, 93 yards), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (8 receptions, 129 yards), and A.J. Brown (9 receptions, 95 yards) all have had their way with the Commanders.
They can't stop the elite weapons of the NFL.
Dallas has two. Use them.
4 - Contain McLaurin, Deebo and run game
With tight end Zach Ertz out for the season, Washington has two weapons - Terry McLaurin (462 yards, 3 TDs) and Deebo Samuel (639 yards, 5 TDs).
Stop Terry and Deebo and make whoever is playing QB (Josh Johnson?) beat you with backups.
As for the run game, Washington ranks fourth in yards per game (133.9), and the Cowboys allow 122.3. Prior to giving up 152 rush yards to the Los Angeles Chargers, Dallas didn't allow 100 yards in three of their last five games.
Stop this perhaps underrated Commanders' ground game. Otherwise, it could be a long day.
5 - Give Prescott time
We have seen what the offense looks like when Dak has time and when he doesn't.
Just one sack against the Chargers after giving up seven against the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings combined? Well, that is progress.
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The Commanders have just 33 sacks on the year (20th), with Von Miller (7.0) the leading sack-getter.
Give Prescott - who is 5-2 at Washington in his career - time to get Lamb and Pickens involved, good things will happen.
"Good things'' meaning a win for the Christmas travelers.