Need to Know: It's finally game day!

Here is what you need to know on this Sunday, December 30, the day that the Redskins and Cowboys clash at FedEx Fiel to decide the NFC East title.

It’s game day!

We’ve been pointing towards this game for weeks, ever since the Redskins beat the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy the day, there is nothing like the feeling of anticipating a big game like this.

If you’re going, get there early to start taking in the atmosphere. The parking lots will open up at 3:30. If you’re watching from home, check out the pregame coverage on Comcast SportsNet starting at 5:30. Our coverage will be free of pro-Cowboys bias.

Chat starts at 7:30, Minute by Minute going on now

Tarik El-Bashir, Jen X, and yours truly will be in the press box at FedEx Field tonight to bring you the Redskins’ biggest game in years.

But we already have wall-to-wall coverage rolling. The Minute-by-Minute blog is live, and it’s bringing you news and nuggets all day today leading up to the 8:20 kickoff.

The chat will crank up at 7:30. Pull up a second screen and join in and navigate the three hours on the path to the playoffs.

See you then.

Who to root for, Week 17

The list has been whittled down to the point where the Redskins hope that it’s irrelevant. Win tonight and get the division crown is the much preferred route to the postseason. But it never hurts to have a Plan B and that alternate path to the postseason needs to have two obstacles removed.

Lions over Bears, 1 p.m., FOX (@ Detroit, Chicago favored by 3)—Apparently you won’t be able to catch this game in the DC area without the DirecTV Sunday Ticket. According to the listings FOX 5 is going to show the Eagles-Giants game, a contest that has zero playoff implications for the Redskins. In any case, the Bears are 9-6 like the Redskins are but Washington would hold the tiebreaker over Chicago with a better conference record. That would make the Redskins the sixth seed.

Packers over Vikings, 4:25 p.m., FOX (@ Minnesota, Green Bay favored by 3)—This one is slated to be on FOX 5 so if the Bears do lose you can tune it to chant, “Go Pack Go” with rest of the Cheeseheads. The Vikings are also 9-6 and if they end up tied with the Redskins at 9-7 they would lose the tiebreaker based on losing head to head in Washington earlier this season. If the Bears win, this game becomes meaningless to the Redskins. If either the Vikings or Bears wins, or if both of them do, the Redskins lose their safety net and will have to win tonight to keep playing.

Today’s schedule

5:30—SportsNet Central, Comcast SportsNet
6:30—Redskins Kickoff, Comcast SportsNet
8:20—Cowboys @ Redskins, NBC 4
Immediately after end of game—Redskins Post Game Live, Comcast SportsNet

In case you missed it

Alfred Morris nears the team rushing record but he’s not concerned.

The Redskins’ 2013 opponents are nearly set.

Days until: 1^st round of NFL playoffs 6; Divisional round of NFL playoffs 13; Conference championship games 21; Super Bowl XLVII 35