Washington
Redskins

Credit a much-enhanced pass rush which is feeling the effects of luring All-Pro tackle Albert Haynesworth from Tennessee with a seven-year, $100 million contract ($41 million guaranteed) in February and drafting Texas All-American Brian Orakpo with the 13th selection overall in April.

Just nine games into 2009, the Redskins have equaled their 24 sacks for all of 2008 and are on pace for 45, which would match their highest number since their last Super Bowl team, back in 1991.

And as was the case in 2000, the season Washington last had 45 sacks with Marco Coleman (12) and Bruce Smith (10) doing most of the damage from opposite ends, this year's pass rush is mostly being generated by right end Andre Carter (eight) and strongside linebacker Orakpo (seven), who plays left end on passing downs.

Only Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis (18), Minnesota's Jared Allen and Kevin Williams (16.5) and Denver's Elvis Dumervil and Darrell Reid (16) have more sacks as a tandem than the 15 of Carter and Orakpo. Washington's top four pass rushers combined for 15 sacks in all of 2008.

"Last year I felt like we had some (opposing) QBs feel very comfortable in the pocket," said Redskins coach Jim Zorn. "This year, we're making quarterbacks uncomfortable ... creating just the sense of 'I've got to get rid of the ball sooner.' "

That was especially true last Sunday against Denver when Orakpo's hit just before halftime on Kyle Orton sidelined the starting quarterback for the day as the Broncos were about to kick the field goal to give them a 17-14 lead. In the second half, Carter and Orakpo sacked Chris Simms three times, and the Redskins blanked the Broncos while holding them to 36 yards and three first downs while rallying for a 27-17 victory.

Carter, typically, doesn't take too much credit for his rise from four sacks in 2008 to a pace for a career-high 14. He cited tips from veteran backup end Renaldo Wynn, his own strong offseason preparation and the push inside from Haynesworth and a healthier Cornelius Griffin.

"Last year, I would go against the tackle and the guard would kinda sit there and wait or the running back would chip me," Carter said. "(This year), I do see the guard going to (Albert). Griff, he's the (healthiest) I've ever seen him."

Not only has Orakpo broken the Redskins rookie record that had been held by Dean Hamel (1985) and Andre Collins (1990), he has three more sacks than any other current rookie.

"That's what they drafted me for, to make big plays," Orakpo said. "(Andre's) a guy I've looked up to and admired. That's what keeps great pass rushers hungry and able to improve, it's competing. You don't ever want one guy doing all the workload."

SERIES HISTORY: 97th regular-season meeting. Cowboys lead 57-37-2 in the regular-season. The Redskins had victories in the 1972 and 1982 NFC Championship Games. The most unforgettable matchup of late came in 2007 when Terrell Owens burned Washington's Sean Taylor-less secondary for four touchdowns in a 28-23 Dallas home victory.

"I've lived that life," Gray said. "If something happens like that, I feel like, 'OK, it's becoming a trend,' I have to protect this guy. Sometimes as a corner you can lose confidence. I knew they would have picked on him the rest of the game. I have to be smart enough as a coach to say, 'I'm going to protect my guy.' There's a period of embarrassment, and then you get past that and you say, 'OK, coach, why did you do it?' I explain it and then move on."

So what about this week at Dallas, gentlemen?

"I don't expect to be on the bench," Rogers said. "I made a mistake. It happened. Whatever consequences is, I gotta deal with it, I gotta live with it. If (starting is) not the plan, I'm here to support the team. I don't think I'll be just strictly benched. I may come off the bench. I don't know right now. I'm going to continue to prepare, practice, continue to study like I am a starter."

Rogers apparently got more reps than anyone in practice, but veteran Fred Smoot and youngsters Justin Tyron and Lendy Holmes were also in the rotation.

On Thursday, Gray seemed to hint that Rogers will start on Sunday.

"He's responded great," Gray said. "He understands what he has to do ... show who you really are, stop going through the little phase that he'd been going through of giving up double moves. Traditionally, he hasn't given up double moves. And what I saw on film is exactly what I've talked about, taking a little peek back at the quarterback, losing sight of the wide receiver. When you do that, any corner can get beat. I expect for Carlos to bounce back, be the physical guy that he is, and go out there and cover wide receivers

"Last year, when we lost Shawn Springs, we put him on T.O. and he knocked three or four balls down during that game. It's just going through your progression, keep your eyes on the wide receiver and then you'll make a play. Don't try to make a play that's not there."

--P Hunter Smith was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after throwing a 35-yard touchdown pass to fullback Mike Sellers on a fake field goal to help the Redskins end a four-game losing streak with a 27-17 upset of the Denver Broncos.

Smith, who was an All-State quarterback in high school in Texas, ran a fake field goal for a touchdown in Week 1 against the New York Giants. He's the first specialist in NFL history to rush and pass for a touchdown in the same year.

Smith said he got a text from Colts All-Pro quarterback Peyton Manning, his teammate the past decade.

"He sent me a text, 'Nice TD throw,' and I sent him back a text, 'You need to get your quarterback rating up where mine is,' " joked Smith, whose perfect 158.3 passer rating, 54.1 points higher than Manning, who ranks third among quarterbacks.

--Fullback Mike Sellers, one of four holdover healthy starters from the 2008 offense, said the spate of backups has given the regulars a lift the past two weeks.

"There's a lot of guys that are really hungry, guys that haven't had the opportunities," Sellers said. "There was a whole different mindset."

Quarterback Jason Campbell, another one of the holdovers, agreed.

"A lot of guys getting their opportunities. ... This may be the only opportunity that you get and you have to make the best of it," Campbell said. "That gives them the energy to go out and play hard and fight."

BY THE NUMBERS: 20 -- Years since Washington won consecutive games in Dallas (1987-89). The Redskins won just four of their final 19 games in Texas Stadium (1991, 1995, 2005, 2008).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Ladell was like, 'It's my time to shine.' He's playing with a vengeance." -- FB Mike Sellers on new starting RB Ladell Betts.

--DT Albert Haynesworth did not practice for a second straight day because of the sprained left ankle he suffered last week against Denver. He will be a game-time decision.

--OT Mike Williams remained out on Thursday with the ankle he injured at Atlanta. He will be a game-time decision.

--OT Stephon Heyer (knee) was limited in practice on Thursday but is expected to start as he has since injuring the knee on Oct. 26 against Philadelphia.

--TE Chris Cooley is still wearing a boot on the right ankle he had surgically repaired on Oct. 28. Cooley will miss a third straight game.

--CB DeAngelo Hall's 589 interception return yards the last six seasons are the most by an NFL cornerback.

GAME PLAN: The Redskins rank fifth on defense, first against the pass and third in sacks per attempt. However, they surrendered seven plays (six for touchdowns) of at least 30 yards the past three games to Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson, Atlanta's Michael Turner and Denver's Brandon Marshall. That makes this a bad matchup since the Cowboys thrive on big plays. Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton, Roy Williams, Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice have all produced at least one of 35 yards.

Washington needs to pressure Tony Romo into mistakes in the passing game and be much more stout against the run than it has been.

Washington's long-dormant power running game resurfaced last week with 174 yards on 40 carries as Ladell Betts sparkled in place of injured Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis. New left tackle Levi Jones and Chad Rinehart, back at right guard after a four-week absence, helped form a solid line which also didn't allow a sack in the first half, giving Jason Campbell time to spread the ball to nine targets against Denver's third-ranked defense. Jones will be in the eye of the storm known as elite pass rusher DeMarcus Ware on Sunday while ace receiver Santana Moss will renew his long-running rivalry with Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Cowboys OLB DeMarcus Ware vs. Redskins OT Levi Jones. Last week, in his first start in a year and first as a Redskin, ex-Bengal regular Jones held NFL sacks co-leader Elvis Dumervil without one for the first 51 minutes. Ware is even more dangerous, having posted 20 in 2008 and 60.5 during 73 career starts, six in eight games against Redskins stud OT Chris Samuels.

Cowboys OT Doug Free vs. Redskins OLB Brian Orakpo. Orakpo, the 13th pick in the draft, needed just nine games to register seven sacks and set a Redskins rookie record. With veteran right tackle Marc Colombo out for the year with a broken leg, Dallas will give the inexperienced Free his first start against the red-hot Orakpo, who had 4.5 sacks in the past four games.

INJURY IMPACT: If DT Albert Haynesworth (ankle) can't play Sunday, DT Kedric Golston would make his second start of the season.

With RB Clinton Portis (concussion) out again Sunday, Ladell Betts will make his second start since the 2006 finale.