Washington fans want this game. They would cheerfully accept the consolation prize of beating the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Many would then consider this a successful season.
This is the most vicious rivalry in the NFL. Even if one team is having a poor season, if they can't get to the playoffs then they will do everything in their power to prevent the other from going to the playoffs.
There have been several occasions where one team is dominant and the weaker team will win. Do you remember Jimmy Johnson's first season in 1989 when the Cowboys went 1-15? Try to guess who they defeated. That's right! That Washington team won the Super bowl two years before 1989 and again two years after 1989.
In 1995 Washington went 6-10. Two of those victories were both Cowboys games.....and this was the season the Cowboys won the Super Bowl.
A small collection of quotes regarding the rivalry:
"When you sign with Washington, you sign a contract to hate the Cowboys."-Charles Mann
"I mean, nothing but cold water. Dann R***kins. And you know they've got hot water. You know they're showering good."-Harvey Martin. Billy Kilmer later confirmed that Allen had ordered R***kins Equipment manager Tom McVean to turn off the hot water leading to the visiting locker room when Dallas was in town.
"George Allen never used to say 'the Dallas Cowboys', it was always 'the goddann Dallas Cowboys.' It's the Cowboys' uniform. It strikes hate and loathing in my mind, almost in a Pavlovian sense."-John Wilbur
"Losing to Dallas was the worst feeling in the world. You'd rather have your arm cut off."-Diron Talbert
"If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard R***kins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan."-Jim Lachey
"If you came out of the (Dallas) game and you weren't bleeding, you hadn't played."- Ken Houston
"We're standing there for the national anthem. When it's over, Joe (Bugel) looks over to the other sideline at Ernie Stautner, who's the Cowboys defensive line coach. Joe yells over to him and flips him off."-Joe Jacoby
"There are three great things in life: Winning the lottery, having a baby, and beating the Cowboys..."- Mark May, after a 41-14 route of Dallas in 1986.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUU..."-the Texas Stadium crowd on Sept 9, 1985, singing to Joe Theismann on his 36th birthday, after he had thrown five interceptions in a 44-14 loss.