Why's Michael Irvin Worried About Cowboys at Commanders in Week 18?

Why's Michael Irvin Worried About Playoff-Bound Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders in NFL Week 18?

FRISCO - Weirdly, Michael Irvin - the uber-confident unofficial President of the Dallas Cowboys Booster Club - is suddenly uncharacteristically worried about his beloved "America Team'' NFL Week 18 appointment at the lowly Washington Commanders on Sunday with major playoff implications on the line.

What, Michael worry?

“I’ve always been a little leary of this scenario when we get down to the end of the season,'' Irvin said this week on FS1, "and everybody’s thinking of resting or not resting. ...''

But Michael - what are we doing here? 

There is absolutely zero indication that the Cowboys are doing any such thing. All-Pro O-line leader Zack Martin has termed this a "must-win'' because the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs is at stake. The healthy guys are a go; even the not-healthy guys, like Johnathan Hankins and Tyler Smith, are working to push their way back into the lineup.

It's Washington, with its 4-12 record, that is thinking about resting, sitting and "tanking.'' A win for Dallas will clinch the NFC East and grant the Cowboys first- and second-round home games for the playoffs (should they keep winning.)

Meanwhile, the Commanders can grab the No. 2 pick in next April's NFL Draft with a loss.

Michael? Michael?

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“The Cowboys are the worst whenever they rest players,” Irvin said. “They come out sloppy, they can’t stay on task because they don’t have the pressing coach that pushes them through it. They really take the day off, the mental off, the time off, then they come back and I say, ‘Oh my God, we didn’t need that rest!''

“Whenever the Cowboys rest players, they come out sloppy. Mike McCarthy has to keep them motivated and win this game!”@MichaelIrvin88 is “leery” of the Cowboys resting starters in Week 18 pic.twitter.com/0q6G13GgbY

— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) January 2, 2024

It's quite a rant, and it's fun TV. But ... Our man Michael comes across like a Nervous Nellie here.

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Could Dallas lose? Hey, even with what is at stake, and even with the Cowboys as 13-point favorites, stuff happens. (Ask the Eagles, who were 10-1 a minute ago and are suddenly a playoff-bound mess destined to finish behind the Cowboys). But "stuff'' will "happen'' here not because Dallas guys rested.

The Cowboys will lose at Washington only if Dallas guys collapse like Eagles guys have.