Cowboys @ Redskins

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(AP) -- In each of the last three seasons, the Dallas Cowboys entered Week 17 with a chance to win to get into the playoffs and failed every time.

 

Those years seem like a distant memory now.

 

The NFC East champion Cowboys can finish 8-0 on the road and post a fourth straight victory Sunday when they try to avenge an earlier defeat to the last-place Washington Redskins.

 

Dallas (11-4) botched opportunities to capture the division the last three years in season finales in which the winner became the champion. The Cowboys lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants in 2011 and Washington in 2012 in Week 17 before an injured Tony Romo missed a home loss to Philadelphia a season ago.

 

There won't be any final-week desperation this time after the Cowboys crushed Indianapolis 42-7 at home last Sunday for their first division title since 2009. Romo threw four touchdowns and NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray had 22 carries for 58 yards and a 1-yard score six days after surgery for a broken left hand.

 

"We've had opportunities in the past," said Romo, who surpassed Troy Aikman's franchise record for passing yards. "We had a game here (last year) I wasn't able to be a part of but you feel comfortable going into those games but we obviously hadn't won (them). … I just think we're a better football team."

 

Clinching was sweet for giddy owner Jerry Jones, who had low expectations before the season in calling the Cowboys "a `to prove' group." Now Jones is looking to win his fourth championship with the iconic club.

 

"I just don't have bad Christmases. I've been too fortunate," Jones said. "On the other hand, to have the promise of getting ready to compete in the playoffs, but with a team that can compete in the playoffs ... we've got a chance to do something."

 

Dallas can become the 14th team since 1950 to finish unbeaten on the road, and first since the 2007 New England Patriots. The Cowboys last went unbeaten on the road with a 7-0 mark in 1968 and last began 7-0 in 2007 before losing to Washington.

 

Four of the last five teams to go 8-0 on the road advanced to the Super Bowl.

 

There are several unlikely scenarios in which Dallas can earn a first-round bye. One involves the Cowboys winning and Seattle and Arizona losing Sunday, and another is a victory coupled with a tie in the Green Bay-Detroit game.

 

"A lot of different scenarios can come up in this situation," coach Jason Garrett said. "Our plan is to practice as well as we can practice and go play our best football game with the guys available to us."

 

Murray has 1,745 rushing yards and needs 29 to break all-time NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith's single-season team record. He has run behind an offensive line that features Pro Bowlers Travis Frederick, Tyron Smith and rookie Zack Martin for a rushing attack that's second in the NFL with 145.3 yards per game.

 

That unit last Sunday was without right tackle Doug Free, out with an ankle problem. Jermey Parnell replaced Free, whose status is not clear.

 

One of the few low points for Dallas was when its six-game win streak was snapped Oct. 27 in the Redskins' 20-17 overtime road victory.

 

Romo left the contest briefly as he re-aggravated his back. Colt McCoy was the catalyst for the Redskins (4-11), going 25 of 30 for 299 yards and engineering a drive that led to the winning field goal.

 

Washington lost its next six games, with McCoy eventually taking over as the starter before being lost for the season with a neck injury in a 24-13 loss to the New York Giants on Dec. 13.

 

That paved the way for Robert Griffin III to return as the starter, and the embattled third-year pro helped Washington end its slide last Saturday with a 27-24 win over Philadelphia that also helped Dallas clinch the East.

 

Griffin is dealing with a sprained right shoulder, though, he was a full participant in practice Friday and coach Jay Gruden said he "looked good" and "made all the throws."

 

"We wanted to make sure he didn't have a lot of pain when he threw, and he didn't today," Gruden said. "... I think everything's full-systems-go with him. We feel very confident he'll be OK."

 

Griffin and Gruden have had a rocky relationship, though both have said that all is well between them.

 

"Jay is the head coach, he's going to make decisions and do things a certain way," Griffin said. "My job is not to try to play that mental mind game. It's to go out and try to lead this team to victory."

 

Griffin went 16 of 23 for 220 yards with one interception last Saturday. He'll be handing off to Alfred Morris, eighth in the league with 1,031 rushing yards, as Washington attempts to end on a high note.

 

"In order to come out here our last game of the year and compete with Dallas and beat Dallas would mean a lot just to see where we are ending the season on two huge victories against two quality opponents and two archrivals," Gruden said.

 

Source: Hosted.Stats.com

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Tony Romo (back) is active and starting for Week 17.

The Cowboys are essentially locked into the No. 3 seed, but appear poised to play their starters for at least a half against the Redskins.

Inactive for the Cowboys are ILB Rolando McClain, DT Josh Brent, RT Doug Free, QB Dustin Vaughan, S Jakar Hamilton, LB Dekoda Watson and OT Donald Hawkins.

 

 

 

Robert Griffin III (throwing shoulder) is active for Week 17 against the Cowboys.

RGIII is on the DFS radar against the Cowboys' bend-but-don't-break defense. It's possible Dallas will begin resting starters in the second half.

Inactive for the Redskins are RB Chris Thompson, CB Kenny Okoro, G/C Josh LeRibeus, OG Rishaw Johnson, DT Travian Robertson, WR Leonard Hankerson and LB Steve Beauharnais.