ASHBURN -- The Dallas Cowboys say that any effects from Washington's bizarre 14-13 victory Sept. 19, in which Santana Moss caught two long touchdown bombs in the final four minutes, didn't linger.

"It went away pretty quickly," Dallas coach Bill Parcells said Wednesday. "Every game we've played this year but two seem to have come down to the last play. That game really turned out to be the rule rather than the exception."

Dallas has played eight games that have been decided by four points or less.

Moss caught touchdown passes of 39 and 70 yards, each time running post patterns that got him behind the secondary supposedly playing for the deep ball.

"Playing 58 minutes doesn't get it done, that's what we learned that week," receiver Keyshawn Johnson said. "Give the Redskins credit: They kept playing hard from the time the game started until it ended and even though they looked out of it, they walked away with a big win."

Parcells was asked if it wouldn't be all but impossible for Moss or any other Redskins receiver to blow deep past his secondary Sunday.

"I don't know," the coach said. "I wish they sold insurance for that. I'd buy some."

Harsh postseason reality

Even if the Redskins, who have won two straight, finish the season by running that streak to five, they still may not make the playoffs.

With wins over Dallas on Sunday and New York and Philadelphia after that, they would finish 10-6, 10-2 in the NFC.

The Redskins would beat out Dallas by virtue of their season sweep. But if the Giants defeat Kansas City on Saturday and Oakland on New Year's Eve, the Giants would capture the division with an 11-5 record.

That would leave Washington fighting for a wild-card berth. If Minnesota wins out, including a game with Chicago, the Vikings would be 11-5. If the Bears win their other two -- against Atlanta and at Green Bay -- they will finish 11-5. One of them would win the division, the other would gain a wild-card berth.

As for the NFC South, Tampa Bay and Carolina are 9-4, Atlanta 8-5. If each wins two of its final three games, the Buccaneers and Panthers would finish 11-5. One would win the division and the other would grab the remaining wild-card berth.

Injuries mount

Missing practice Wednesday were cornerbacks Carlos Rogers, Shawn Springs and Walt Harris, safety Matt Bowen, offensive tackles Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen and receiver Santana Moss.

Rogers tore his left bicep Sunday against Arizona and spent the week with his arm in a sling. Springs is nursing back and groin ailments. Harris has a bruised calf and Bowen a tender knee.

Moss was held out to rest and was not listed on the official injury report.

Returning to practice were LB LaVar Arrington (bruised thigh), WR James Thrash (hamstring), and DTs Joe Salavea (foot) and Cedric Killings (knee).

All are listed as probable, and Bowen, although there is enough concern about depth in the secondary that S Sean Taylor may play some at cornerback. In addition, CB Dimitri Patterson, a rookie from Tuskegee, could be elevated from the practice squad.

"There are going to be some things we adjust and work our way through as we get guys back," Gibbs said.

The Dallas injury report listed only Chris Canty, a rookie DE from Virginia who leads all Dallas linemen with 35 tackles.