Game 8: Redskins (2-5) vs. Cowboys (4-3)

vs.

Turnaround is the name of the game this week, for both the Cowboys and Redskins who meet for the second time at 1pm on Sunday. The Cowboys are coming off a big win at the Panthers. Tony Romo, in his first career start, led the team to a comeback victory, scoring 35 unanswered points. The defense showed up, letting through two TDs in the first quarter, then nothing. It was quite a turnaround from the previous week, in which Drew Bledsoe got benched and everything just went to hell against the Giants.

Meanwhile in the desert, the Redskins have hope in one hand and __________ in the other (fill in the blank), and are hoping for their own turnaround. By Joe Gibbs' admission, Santana is likely not to play with a hammy, and Jason La Canfora says it may be a great opportunity for James Thrash and David Patten to which I say WTF given Brunell's pattern of going to the #1 WR first, Cooley second and the running back third, how bout a little ARE and B-Lloyd. If the Redskins was Friends, James Thrash would be Gunther and David Patten would be Mr. Heckles (my vote for Rachel: Chris Cooley).

How to prepare for Tony Romo? It's an aphorism of football that a new QB gets a couple games before the league catches up to him, and Gregg Williams thinks there's enough tape on the guy that the Redskins know what to expect. Thanks so much Mr. 30th-ranked Passing D. I don't think it's much of a secret that success tomorrow will hinge on whether the Redskins can keep Romo off his game. In the debacle against the Giants, Julius Jones had a whopping 30 yards rushing, and in the come-from-behind win at the Panthers, Jones and Marion Barber went for almost 150. In that game, the Cowboys established the run and stuck with it even when it was not producing points. That gave Romo cover and the chance to get comfy. Can't give him that, which also means can't give Jones room to run.

As far as the Redskins offense goes, I think the arguments for benching Mark Brunell and putting Jason Campbell in the game are a bit facile, and that's no endorsement of Mark Brunell. Yes Campbell is a first rounder and Romo went undrafted, so what? Yes Bruce Gradkowski, a 6th rounder for Tampa Bay, got pressed into service this year, just like 4th rounder Kyle Orton did last season for the Bears. Chris Simms had a splenectomy and Rex Grossman blew out another knee. Not comparable. In Dallas, Bill Parcells' thing is to needle and harass, and he's been hinting around replacing Bledsoe for some time. Here in Washington, Brunell is Gibbs' guy and I don't think Gibbs is of a mind yet that Campbell gives the Redskins a better chance to win. I know Skin Patrol and others disagree.

Oh, and the TradMed responds to the question, where the hell is Rocky McIntosh? My quick take: he's not ready for Williams' complex schemes. And by 'complex,' I mean mostly ineffective.

This is the game, this is the tipping point. Win and get a full game on a division rival. Lose and fall to 2-6, so let's go Redskins. I'll be liveblogging here and at Hogs Haven as I can.

Hogs Haven preview. Blogging the Boys preview. Hog Heaven preview. Running Redskins preview (his lead starts with Curly R incidentally). Redskin Report preview (Lee is having problems, so I can't link right to the piece).

This is a gameday open thread.