The last time the Washington Redskins played the Dallas Cowboys, about six weeks ago, Clinton Portis was a non-factor. In fact, Portis had such a minute role in the game’s outcome that Hillary Clinton might as well have been in the team’s backfield. (And let’s face it, if she eludes tacklers as effectively as she dodges tough questions, she probably could have done the team some good.)

Portis, the NFC’s third-leading rusher, had only 12-carries and just 36 rushing-yards in that forgettable match-up in Dallas last month. A sixth-year tailback who compiled three 1,500-yard seasons before he was even 25-years-old, Portis is way too dangerous a back to post numbers like that.

Only once this season — in an embarrassing 52-7 shellacking at the hands of the New England Patriots — has the former Miami Hurricane standout had fewer carries or yards than he did in Dallas.

The fourth-year Redskins’ lack of production wasn’t necessarily his fault. The Redskins threw the ball 54-times that day, losing despite a potent effort from quarterback Jason Campbell, who set career highs in completions (34) and yards (348).

With Dallas in town for a rematch this afternoon and Campbell still sidelined with a knee injury, the Redskins are going to need more than a dozen touches and 30-something yards from Portis this time around.

Portis and his teammates need no extra motivation today. When the burgundy-and-gold strap on the pads this afternoon they’ll be playing to honor a murdered teammate. They will play this afternoon for a ravenous fan base, which has supported the team through its most trying season in history. And finally, Washington will play today for a playoff-birth.

The scenario couldn’t be any simpler for a Redskins team that was left for a dead less than a month ago. A win earns the Redskins a playoff birth, and a loss will likely end the team’s season.

Washington was last in this situation, playing a must-win week-17 game against a division-rival, on January 1^st two-years ago. The Redskins beat the Philadelphia Eagles that day, thanks in large part to a 27-carry, 112-yard, two-touchdown effort from Portis.

If the Redskins are going to avenge November’s setback in Dallas, they will need replica of that performance from Portis, who’s nine-touchdown and 1,158-yards are both on par with the players headed to Hawaii for the Pro-Bowl.

It shouldn’t surprise you though that Portis, a 26-year-old who often wears costumes around the Redskins’ training facility as a way of keeping his teammates loose, isn’t feeling any pressure.

“I think having fun is the key,” Portis said. “If you look on the field the past three weeks, that is what guys have been doing, having fun. “[It] gets the offensive line going, the receivers, the quarterback, yourself and everybody wants to contribute.

A tailback’s idea of fun is running-room and gaping holes at the line of scrimmage, something Portis didn’t see the last time Washington slugged it out with the Cowboys.

The Redskins’ offensive line has improved mightily since that meeting though, which was evidence by the unit’s ability to manhandle a revered Minnesota Vikings’ front-seven last week.

One other thing the Redskins have on their side today – aside from Portis’ lethal abilities on the ground — is history. Way back on December 12^th, 1976, Washington played Dallas in a final-weekend situation much like today’s. A Redskins win meant the playoffs and a loss equaled the end of the season.

Washington thumped its rival, punching itself a ticket to the postseason with a 27-14 win. Thanks to four forced-turnovers and a defense that yielded just 54 passing-yards, the Redskins were able to win for the 10^th time that season.

The 2007 Redskins won’t win 10-games this season. They don’t need to. They just need to win today, and after everything the team has been through, why not pull for them?