Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Cowboys-Redskins matchup is pure comedy

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Oct. 12, 2001 | 10:30 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football column appears Friday. Reach him at sal@lasvegassun.com or 259-4076.

Apparently "Everybody Loves Raymond" must be pretty darn funny.

I'll admit I don't know a whole lot about the show, other than Ray Romano is on it and he's a talented comedian. But the CBS program must be quite a success, because competing ABC is premiering its own sitcom this Monday night, when the Washington Redskins play the Dallas Cowboys in what has tentatively been described as an NFL game.

With all due lack of respect for the Detroit Lions, the Cowboys and Redskins are the two worst teams in pro football. Monday's game may not be considered a comedy by the Nielsen folks, but sports fans would say it qualifies.

Just how bad are these clubs? Consider:

The 0-4 Cowboys have only one rushing touchdown this season. The team's only remaining star from its Super Bowl days, Emmitt Smith, isn't even the man who boldly ran the football across the goal line. Nor is it his backup, Troy Hambrick. Nor is it either of the two quarterbacks that have played this season, Anthony Wright and Quincy Carter.

Who has the Dallas rushing score? Tim Seder, the team's placekicker. He is averaging eight yards per carry, though.

The 0-4 Redskins have only one touchdown this season of any kind. They've scored 25 points all season.

The Saints, Dolphins, Ravens, Bears, Raiders, Jets, Bills and Rams each scored more points last week than Washington has compiled in its four crushing defeats. The Redskins lose by an average score of 34-6.

I suppose something has to give, and although a 0-0 tie is a possibility, somebody will likely record a win. But ABC certainly won't.

One possible bright spot: This could be the one week where Dennis Miller actually fits in.

It looks like KLAS Channel 8 meteorologist Kevin Janison can predict more than weather patterns. Janison, who must be on cloud nine after a second straight 3-0 mark, has stormed past the celebrity competition with a 9-3 season record.