Monday Night Markets: Hot Redskins Roll Into an Inspired Big D

The Washington Redskins (2-0) head down to Texas to take on the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) in an NFC East rival matchup for week three. The surprising Redskins, 2-0 for the first time since 2007, come in behind resurgent QB Rex Grossman who in two games has made a solid connection with receivers Santana Moss and Jabar Gaffney, while the running game is averaging 123 yards per game behind Tim Hightower..

Defensively, the Redskins are going to be blitzing the Cowboys all night and are currently fourth in the league with seven sacks. QB Tony Romo has a broken rib and pressuring him will likely force him into some bad throws he would not normally make. Safety LaRon Landry is listed as questionable but his return could help keep the Cowboys receivers in check.

The headlines for the Cowboys have been mostly about their injuries. In addition to Romos rib, WR Miles Austin is out and WR Dez Bryant, C Phil Costa and RB Felix Jones are all banged up and listed as questionable. The Redskins are sure to get a full dose of Romo favorite TE Jason Witten. WR Jesse Holley, whose journey from phone salesman to NFL player via reality TV captured fans imaginations with a 77 yard reception against the 49ers and could be another target for Romo. One of the keys defensively will be getting at Grossman, who is prone to mistakes while under pressure. Keep an eye on OLB DeMarcus Ware who leads the league with four sacks. The other key matchup will be the Cowboys rush defense, second in the league allowing only 59.5 YPG against Redskins RBs Hightower and Roy Helu.

FOX Business has evaluated the win/loss and stock market statistics over the past 20 seasons of Monday night NFL games and come up with a Monday Night Markets (MNM) score for each team based on their record and the prior weeks market activity. Lets take a look at what the markets have to say.

The Dow Industrials closed out the week down sharply, falling 6.4%, and the S&P 500 was down as well, slumping 6.5% with both indexes down seven of the past nine weeks.  The markets were pressured by the ongoing concerns over Greek and European debt sending investors into safer havens such as the dollar and Treasuries.  Stocks were also pushed downwards after the Fed unveiled its controversial Operation Twist by which it will boost its holdings of longer-term Treasuries by $400 billion in an effort to lower consumer interest rates even further.

Over the past 20 years, the Redskins have played 24 Monday night games and based on our calculations have a Monday night rank of .357 when the Dow closes the prior week down and .308 when the S&P 500 is down, giving them a MNM rank for this week of .333.

During the same 20-year period, the Cowboys have played 37 Monday night games and have a rank of .438 when the Dow is down and .533 when the S&P 500 is down, giving them an MNM rank this week of .486.

Monday Night Markets picks the Cowboys in their home opener over the Redskins.

FBN STAFF PICKS - WEEK 3

Robert Gray (2-1)

The Cowboys are banged up but will use the homefield advantage to stave off the resurgent Redskins.

Sandra Smith (3-0)

Cowboys yall.

Chris Cotter (2-1)

Cowboys. Romo will inspire.

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