Here is what you need to know on this Monday, December 7, the day the Washington Redskins host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night football.

Five final thoughts on Redskins vs. Cowboys

—Matt Cassel will be making his fifth start for the Cowboys. Remember that he did not spend any of the offseason program or training camp with Dallas. They made the trade to acquire him a few days after Tony Romo broke his collarbone for the first time in Week 2. He still is learning the offense on the fly. He has completed 62.7 percent of his passes but for only 5.7 net yards per attempt.

—Greg Hardy leads the Cowboys with 4.5 sacks but he had three in his first two games after returning from a four-game suspension to start the season and just 1.5 in his last five games. He usually lines up on the right side so he will be up against Trent Williams. It’s a good bet that Hardy will continue his sack slump as Williams has not allowed one all year.

—Will it be an Alfred Morris night or a Matt Jones night? Morris seems to be the hot hand now. Disregarding the Panthers game, in which Morris left after only two rushing attempts due to a rib injury, Morris has 38 carries for 170 yards in his last two games. In those same two games Jones had 75 yards on 19 carries. I think they will go in hoping to get Morris going early and see what they can get running and receiving from Jones.

—Kirk Cousins has 290 or more yards passing in each of the Redskins’ last four home games. Since allowing 356 yards to Eli Manning and the Giants in Week 1 the Cowboys have allowed no more than 250 passing yards in a game. I think the Redskins will be OK if Cousins splits the difference and throws for about 275. But with, say, 225 yards the Redskins could struggle.

—Of course, there is more to it than just Cousins’ passing. If the Redskins are going to win they will have to contain Darren McFadden on the ground and force Cassel to show off his relative inexperience in the Dallas offense, get a few takeaways, and get at least a moderately effective running game going. My gut feeling from around Redskins Park this week is that they are ready to do it but there is a fine line between confidence and overconfidence. I think they will pull it out but I won’t be shocked if they struggle.

Timeline

—Today’s schedule: Redskins vs. Cowboys 8:30 p.m., ESPN

—Days until: Redskins @ Bears 6; Bills @ Redskins 13; Redskins @ Eagles 19

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