AP

Washington is the only team in the NFL that knows its playoff seed, locking up the 4 seed when it clinched the NFC East on Saturday night. That means Washington is the team best positioned to rest its starters in Week 17.

With that in mind, coach Jay Gruden says he wants to beat Dallas in the finale but adds that “we also have to be smart” about injuries.

Asked specifically about quarterback Kirk Cousins, Gruden said it might be a matter of whether Washington’s offensive line is intact. If an offensive lineman or two gets banged up, Gruden might pull Cousins to avoid having him play behind a depleted line.

“If he’s injury-free, a lot will depend on who’s playing around him,” Gruden said. “We’ll make a decision and go forward.”

No matter what happens against the Cowboys on Sunday, Washington will host either the Vikings, Packers or Seahawks during the first weekend of the playoffs.