The Redskins (5-7) are coming off a 19-16 loss to the Cowboys that may haunt them down the stretch of the season. Faced with an opportunity to strengthen their playoff prospects, they failed to capitalize on turnovers and favorable field position, committed costly penalties and special-teams gaffes and, after a generally solid defensive performance, couldn’t stop the Cowboys when it mattered most. The result leaves them in a three-way tie atop the NFC East, with Dallas just one game out.
The Bears are also 5-7 but, unlike the Redskins, hold only the slimmest playoff hopes in the tough NFC North, with Green Bay (8-4) and Minnesota (8-5) ahead of them.