The Dallas Cowboys head to Philadelphia for a Monday night divisional matchup that could have major implications for the NFC East. Dallas has lost two straight games, and while there are still plenty of playmakers on offense, the team has struggled to put everything together. The Eagles are dealing with their own offensive problems after losing Jalen Hurts for the season, and are hoping their defense steps up.
Buy: Javonte Williams
If the Cowboys want to make life easier for Dak Prescott, the best place to start is with
Javonte Williams. Dallas has leaned heavily on its passing game this season, but the offense has become increasingly predictable as the running game has struggled to find consistency. Williams deserves more opportunities to change that.
Through six games, Williams has carried the ball 85 times for 317 yards and seven rushing touchdowns, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt. He has also contributed 19 receptions for 103 yards and a receiving touchdown. Though his rushing average isn’t particularly impressive, his touchdown production shows Dallas has found a player it can trust when it gets close to the goal line.
There has been some discussion about Philadelphia’s susceptibility to I-formation, suggesting balance is the best way to attack this defense, but really Dallas needs to improve its rushing production, and Williams has already shown he can finish drives.
The Cowboys’ offensive line has struggled to create consistent running lanes, so this is not simply a matter of handing Williams the ball and expecting a breakout. Still, more carries would give Dallas a better chance to establish rhythm, keep the Eagles’ pass rush honest and avoid putting the entire offense on Prescott’s shoulders.
Williams is not guaranteed to have a huge game against a talented middle, but the Cowboys need to find out what their running game can do when they commit to it. Seven rushing touchdowns through six games is a good reason to keep feeding him.
Sell: The Cowboys’ passing game against Philadelphia’s defense
The Cowboys’ passing attack has plenty of talent, but this is a difficult week to expect a quick turnaround. Philadelphia has the personnel to make Prescott uncomfortable, especially if Dallas cannot establish the run or improve its protection.
Prescott has thrown four interceptions over the past two games, tied for the most in the NFL over that span. Against the blitz during those two games, he has completed just 52.6% of his passes without a touchdown, posting a 67.2 passer rating. Those numbers are a scary heading into a matchup against a defense that can challenge receivers on the outside and create problems in the middle of the field.
Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are important pieces of that secondary, and Jalen Carter can disrupt an offense from the interior. Philadelphia also has a deep group of defensive contributors, including linebacker Zack Baun and run-stopper Jordan Davis, but edge rusher Nolan Smith will miss the game.
The Eagles have not been overwhelming in every pass-rush metric, so Dallas should have opportunities if the offensive line holds up. But the Cowboys have not earned the benefit of the doubt after two consecutive losses in which the offense struggled to sustain its production.
Prescott’s recent turnovers are especially glaring because Dallas cannot afford to give Philadelphia extra possessions in a divisional game. Until the Cowboys show they can handle pressure and take care of the football, the passing game is a sell against this Eagles defense.
Buy: Joey Porter Jr.
While the Cowboys’ defense has struggled to create turnovers, Joey Porter Jr. has given the secondary a reason for optimism. His physical style of coverage and ability to stay tight to receivers make him an important piece of a defense that needs more consistent playmaking.
Porter is particularly valuable heading into Monday night’s matchup because Philadelphia’s passing game is adjusting to life without Jalen Hurts. With Tanner McKee taking over at quarterback, the Cowboys need their cornerbacks to challenge receivers at the line of scrimmage, contest throws and make the Eagles work for every completion. Porter has the size and physicality to make those matchups uncomfortable.
Of course, good coverage only goes so far if the pass rush cannot pressure the quarterback. The Dallas pass rush has left the defensive backs to cover for extended stretches. That has contributed to the unit’s inability to consistently finish plays, even when the coverage is competitive.
Porter is a buy because he gives Dallas a potential building block in the secondary, not because one cornerback can fix the defense by himself. If the Cowboys can pair his coverage with more pressure up front, they have a better chance of forcing McKee into mistakes and creating the takeaways that have been missing.
Sell: The pass protection
The Cowboys’ offensive line has to give Dak Prescott more time to operate, because the pressure he has faced over the last two games has helped derail an offense that was previously one of the team’s biggest strengths.
Dallas has scored just 29 points combined in its last two games, and Prescott’s protection has been a significant concern as opposing defenses have disrupted the passing game. The Cowboys have allowed six sacks through six games, but the bigger issue has been the pressure and hurried decisions that prevent Prescott from getting through his progressions and finding CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens downfield.
The matchup against Philadelphia offers a potential reprieve, but it is hardly a reason to relax. The Eagles have recorded eight sacks this season, and Jalen Carter remains a disruptive presence on the interior. Philadelphia hasn’t consistently generated pressure with its standard four-man rush, but Dallas still needs to communicate well up front and keep Carter from collapsing the pocket. If the Eagles bring extra rushers, Prescott must have enough time and reliable outlets to punish them.
Dallas’ tackles, Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele, need to hold up on the edges, while the interior must keep Carter from disrupting the play’s timing. Until the Cowboys show they can consistently keep Prescott comfortable in the pocket, the offensive line remains a concern heading into Monday night.
