Sparking a debate in the nation's capital last week that had nothing to do with health care or immigration was the deft running of Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright, as they stacked up 174 yards against the Denver Broncos.
Whereas once, not a long time ago, Clinton Portis's absence as he recovered from a concussion was bemoaned in DC as another something gone wrong in this much maligned season, many wondered aloud after the win if Portis should remain the starter at all, when he returns.
Ah, but that's another debate for another time in another city; for our purposes here in North Texas, let's just take it as a sign that these boys can run the ball alright.
"They are a running team," said linebacker Bradie James. "As far as [Betts] compared to Portis, I don't know because we haven't played them this year, it's just different. It's just week to week, year to year, but [Betts] is doing a great job. They are running the ball."
In stopping the newly made-over Washington run, Dallas hopes to right the ship after last Sunday's 17-7 loss to Green Bay, which snapped a four-game winning streak. James continued to say that familiarity between the two teams lends another aspect to an important game for the Cowboys' season.
"This is another team we know real well and there's no need for us to sit here and sugarcoat it and act like they won't come in and be fired up," James said. "This is a game we definitely need to have, we need to have it right now so we won't be in a pickle or in a bind later on. So it's a big game."
