Every week, we’re digging into the trenches, offense and defense, because that’s where the real action happens. In this installment, we’re shining a spotlight on the offensive line, who’s holding it down,
who’s opening holes for the running backs, and who’s keeping Dak Prescott clean. Let’s get to it.
Left Tackle
Tyler Guyton
(2025 Stats: 540 Total Snaps, 356 Pass Blocks, 29 Pressures, 6 QB Hits, 2 Sacks, 5 Penalties)
The Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive front is built around Maxx Crosby’s relentless, scheme-proof production. Crosby sits first among edge defenders in run-stop win rate (38%) and in the top-15 in pass-rush win rate (17%), which means Guyton will see a defender who wins both on early downs and when it’s time to hunt the quarterback. Las Vegas sits right at league average in pass-rush win rate, ranking 17th (37%), and much can be said the same against the run where they rank 15th.
Tyler Guyton’s individual card is encouraging. He’s 16th among offensive tackles in pass-block win rate at 93% and 10th in run-block win rate at 79%, and the Cowboys’ line as a whole ranks eight in pass block win rate (67%) and tenth in run block win rate (72%). That profile says he’s already sustaining blocks for 2.5+ seconds and creating movement on the ground, exactly what you need against Crosby’s long-arm-to-inside-counter game.
The problem for Guyton is the Raiders can easily photocopy the blueprint the Arizona Cardinals laid out during the team’s last game. The will Raiders look to isolate Guyton on true pass sets and make him handle a fast, two-way rusher without constant help. Against the Cardinals they did that to Guyton and he was charged with four pressures and a sack allowed. For Guyton, the fixes are technical for this game. Stay square in vertical sets to take away Crosby’s inside spin, maintain good hand usage to disrupt the arm, and always keep his feet set so he can re-anchor when Crosby converts speed to power. Expect Dallas to mix chips and nudges from the tight end, but because chips can slow routes, Guyton still has to win a high share of honest one-on-ones.
Left Guard
Tyler Smith
(2025 Stats: 547 Total snaps, 362 Pass Blocks, 11 Pressures, 0 QB Hits, 2 Sacks, 7 Penalties)
Tyler Smith’s week is all about handling power inside and chaos outside. Las Vegas sits in the bottom third in blitz rate (22.1%) yet still generates a solid 32.8% pressure rate and 31.3% pressure rate when they don’t blitz, which means Patrick Graham is getting home primarily with four while mixing games to stress guards like Smith in protection.
With Crosby leading all edge defenders in run-stop win rate and kicking inside on twists, Smith has to keep his eyes disciplined through stunts and keep the depth of the pocket flat so Prescott can step up. Las Vegas’ top rushers bring different problems. Crosby’s motor and inside counter (five sacks, 13 TFL) demands vertical sets, Tyree Wilson adds secondary pressure and has two sacks along with 17 pressures which is second-most on the team. Plus there’s interior rushers Jonah Laulu, who has four sacks, and Adam Butler who has put up 15 total pressures this year.
On the ground, the opportunity is there. Las Vegas is allowing 106.6 rushing yards per game, that ranks 14th, and ranks just 25th in defensive sack rate, so Smith can tilt this matchup by winning combo blocks on both Laulu and Fotu, creating clean angles for Dallas’ duo schemes and forcing the Raiders to call more run fits, which in turn slows down stunts. Smith will try to neutralize the Raiders’ four-man pressure, keep Dallas on schedule, and make Las Vegas’ low-blitz approach play into the Cowboys’ hands.
Center
Cooper Beebe
(2025 Stats: 201 Total Snaps, 143 Pass Blocks, 6 Pressures, 0 QB Hits, 0 Sacks, 0 Penalties)
Back from injury and back in the middle, Cooper Beebe returned to the lineup against the Cardinals and quietly stabilized Dallas’ interior, even as the unit cracked under Arizona’s pressure games. Beebe logged 67 snaps and finished as Dallas’ second-best offensive performer in PFF’s recap, with an 85.5 pass blocking grade, allowing zero sacks and zero pressures.
The Raiders don’t blitz much as previously mentioned, preferring to win with four while twisting and looping the front. Even when they don’t send extra bodies, their rush still gets home at an average rate. For Beebe, that means the week is about communicating with his two Tyler’s, staying solid in the A-gap when Laulu comes calling, and using firm hands to withstand any inside counters. What’s key from Beebe is his slide calls toward Crosby on passing downs, locating him and setting the line is absolute key here, and the good news is Beebe has the vision and football IQ to do that.
Right Guard
Tyler Booker
(2025 Stats: 432 Total snaps, 288 Pass Blocks, 12 Pressures, 4 QB Hits, 1 Sacks, 3 Penalties)
For the in-depth analysis on Booker, go to BTB’s Rookie Battleground article.
Right Tackle
Terence Steele
(2025 Stats: 593 Total snaps, 379 Pass Blocks, 25 Pressures, 3 QB Hits, 4 Sacks, 4 Penalties)
So let’s start with the rough stuff. Steele has allowed 25 total pressures this season, that’s the eighth-most among all offensive tackles in the NFL this season. But here’s what’s interesting, he ranks right below Guyton in pass block win rate at 93%, and his Total Disruption Percentage (which measures the percentage of plays where a tackle disrupts the defensive player’s ability to make a play) of 35% is one of the highest among offensive tackles this season. Expect Crosby, with help from Tyree Wilson and Malcolm Koonce, to test Steele’s with quick counters and inside spins to try and walk the right side back into Dak’s lap.
So the question every fan wants know beyond the stats and facts, is what’s going wrong for Steele this year? His worst reps are catastrophic, not incremental. The pass block win rate suggests he holds up for 2.5 seconds or more often enough, but when he loses he’s getting beat clean (Arizona being the best example), which tanks his PFF pass-block grade and drives the benching narrative. Add four drive-killing penalties and you get a picture of huge swings of inconsistency with Steele, and that’s a problem.
Injury update
Ajani Cornelius is the only offensive lineman currently known to be carrying any injury issues after the bye.
