The Dallas Cowboys moved on from losing to the San Francisco 49ers by taking care of the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium last week as they entered the bye week in a confident mood.
The Los Angeles Rams come to AT&T Stadium as the Cowboys look to gain further ground in the NFC playoff picture by going on a run post-bye.
With a chance to beat both L.A. teams in consecutive weeks and move to 5-2 on the season, how does Mike McCarthy’s team ensure they don’t come out of their bye week sluggish and avoid what would be a big upset? By doing these five things. But first, the captains and the inactive list. … low-lighted by Tyron Smith and his neck issue.
- OT Tyron Smith
- WR Jalen Brooks
- RB Deuce Vaughn
- CB Noah Igbinoghene
- CB Eric Scott Jr.
- DE Viliami Fehoko Jr.
- quarterback Trey Lance.
Now, to the five keys. 1. Stop the Rams’ dominating trio: If the Cowboys are to win their fifth game of the season, then stop the trio of Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, and rookie Puka Nacua.
Donald hasn’t been the game-wrecker we know him to be through seven games (just 2.5 sacks), and Dallas won’t want him to find his rhythm by living in the Cowboys’ backfield.
Kupp and Nacua present a serious challenge for Dan Quinn’s defense. Nacua has been borderline unguardable (58 receptions, 752 yards), while Kupp is still Stafford’s go-to guy in a tough spot and, if allowed to be fed, is nearly impossible to stop.
2. Convert third downs: The Cowboys currently rank 4th for third-down conversions, and the Rams defense ranks 16th in stopping those conversions.
With Dak Prescott using his legs to pick up crucial third downs against the Chargers and extending drives, that might be an avenue to use again against the Rams. The Rams have trouble stopping teams on third down, and teams have trouble stopping Dallas from picking them up. It’s called the “money down” for a reason.
3. Get CeeDee Lamb the ball: The Rams defense hasn’t been able to stop other star receivers Deebo Samuel (9/63), A.J. Brown (6/127), Dallas Goedert (8/117/1 TD), and Ja’Marr Chase (12/141) this year, so Lamb could again be a focal point. The Rams’ defense only gives up an average of 220 passing yards per game, which is serviceable.
But they simply can’t stop the other team’s star receivers. In short, get 88 the ball.
4. Get the run game going: The Rams give up, on average, 117 rushing yards a game (which is serviceable), but twice, they have given up over 150 yards (both losses) and over 130 yards.
The Dallas run game has been poor over the last two games, only managing 57 yards vs. the 49ers and 96 against the Chargers.
The Cowboys have only had one 100-yard rusher all season (Pollard 122 yards vs. the New England Patriots), and even more worrisome, in the last three games, no player has more than 47 rushing yards. That could change against the Rams, and in truth, it needs to.
5. Knock down Matthew Stafford: The Rams’ offensive line has allowed 18 sacks through seven games (8th in the league), with Stafford being knocked down by pressure 20 times (10th).
Through seven games, he has been the fourth-most blitzed quarterback (87 times); he can be got at.
With Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Osa Odighizuwa, and Dorance Armstrong, the Cowboys’ defense needs to make life uncomfortable for Stafford. If they do, this will also help them achieve the No. 1 key of stopping Kupp and Nacua from dominating the game. … which might lead us to the Mike Fisher prediction: Cowboys 24, Rams 16.
