The Dallas Cowboys are running out of opportunities to turn their season around. After another embarrassing loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Dallas enters Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts at 3-5, still searching for the consistency that has eluded Brian Schottenheimer as a head coach.
Fortunately for the Cowboys, Indianapolis has its own problems. The Colts have lost four consecutive games, fired general manager Chris Ballard and begun dismantling their roster ahead of the trade deadline. They
enter Sunday’s matchup at 2-6 after a 42-7 loss to Jacksonville, giving Dallas a chance to take advantage of a team that seems focused on the future.
There are reasons to believe some Cowboys can capitalize on the matchup, particularly in the trenches. However, there are also players whose recent performances and questionable usage have become increasingly difficult to overlook. Here are two buys and two sells heading into Sunday’s matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Buy: Javonte Williams
After delivering the best performance of his career against Philadelphia, Javonte Williams came crashing back to earth against Arizona. But one disappointing afternoon shouldn’t erase the need to keep the offense balanced. Williams finished with 56 rushing yards on 24 carries against the Cardinals, averaging just 2.3 yards per attempt. His longest run went for six yards, and the Cowboys’ rushing attack managed only 93 yards on 39 attempts. It was a dramatic reversal from the previous week, when Williams rushed for a career-high 155 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles.
The difference was the blocking. Against Philadelphia, Dallas consistently created running lanes and allowed Williams to build momentum. Against Arizona, those opportunities largely disappeared, leaving him fighting for yards before he could get going.
Despite the setback, Williams has rushed for 528 yards and eight touchdowns on 134 carries through eight games. His 3.9 yards per carry isn’t impressive, but his scoring production has been one of Dallas’s few consistent positives this season.
Indianapolis presents an opportunity to get back on track. The Colts have allowed 1,054 rushing yards through eight games, an average of 131.8 per contest. Opponents are averaging approximately 4.9 yards per carry against them, and the defense has surrendered eight rushing touchdowns.
The departure of defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to San Francisco also leaves Indianapolis without one of its most established interior defenders. That could give Dallas an opportunity to establish control at the line of scrimmage and recreate some of the success it enjoyed against Philadelphia.
Of course, Williams cannot do it alone. The offensive line must block better, and Schottenheimer needs to stay committed to the ground game without becoming predictable. The Cowboys cannot afford another afternoon of repeatedly running into a crowded defensive front without making adjustments.
Sell: DaRon Bland
At some point, we may all, the Cowboys included, have to start accepting that DaRon Bland is virtually unplayable. His struggles have been an issue all year for a secondary that has already struggled to contain opposing passing attacks, and Sunday’s collapse against Arizona only reinforced those concerns.
Bland finished with three tackles and two passes defended against the Cardinals, but those numbers tell only one side of the story. Cardinals receivers repeatedly found opportunities against Dallas’ secondary. The two pass breakups were positive contributions, but they were not enough to offset the coverage problems that helped Arizona erase a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit.
The Cowboys need their cornerbacks to do more than occasionally contest passes. They need consistent coverage, sound tackling and the ability to prevent opposing receivers from making explosive plays in critical situations. That has not happened nearly enough.
The situation is even more concerning because Dallas has begun generating more pressure up front. The Cowboys recorded five sacks against Arizona, including two from Quinnen Williams, yet the secondary still allowed Gardner Minshew to enter the game and throw three touchdown passes in a half.
When a defense can pressure the quarterback and still surrender 27 second-half points, something is fundamentally wrong with its coverage and execution and Bland is at the forefront of those issues.
Yes, fine, it’s not all on Bland and coordinator Christian Parker deserves plenty of criticism for the unit’s inability to adjust, but Bland has been flat-out terrible in virtually every moment that Dallas has put him in.
Indianapolis’ passing attack has struggled, and Jones has been prone to turnovers, so this should give the secondary a chance to regain some confidence. Until Bland demonstrates he can consistently win his matchups, however, there is little reason to trust him and the reality may be he just doesn’t belong on the field any longer.
Buy: Quinnen Williams
If one player on the Cowboys’ defense deserves recognition amid the team’s recent struggles, it is Quinnen Williams. The defensive tackle has been playing his best football of the season, and his recent production suggests he could be in line for another disruptive performance against Indianapolis.
Williams recorded seven tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss against Arizona, providing one of the few bright spots in a defense that completely collapsed after halftime. His ability to generate pressure from the interior was evident throughout the afternoon, even as the Cardinals found ways to exploit the rest of Dallas’ defense.
The performance continued an impressive stretch. Over his last three games, Williams has generated 15 quarterback pressures and four sacks, along with three run stuffs and 14 tackles. He now leads Dallas with five sacks this season.
Williams has become increasingly disruptive as the season has progressed, giving the Cowboys a legitimate interior pass-rushing threat who can collapse the pocket and force quarterbacks into uncomfortable situations. The matchup against Indianapolis should provide another opportunity.
The Colts recently traded All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to the Chicago Bears, leaving an already struggling offensive line without one of its most important players. Rookie left guard Jalen Farmer allowed three pressures, including two quarterback hits, in his first start, while center Tanor Bortolini has struggled with consistency and penalties.
Indianapolis has allowed 23 sacks through eight games, and quarterback Daniel Jones has thrown nine interceptions against just five touchdowns. The combination of poor protection and questionable decision-making could create opportunities for Williams to take over the game.
Sell: George Pickens
Selling George Pickens might seem strange given his talent, but this is less about Pickens’ ability and more about the Cowboys’ continued failure to make him a consistent part of their offensive game plan.
Against Arizona, Pickens caught just two passes for 48 yards on four targets. One of those receptions went for 37 yards, demonstrating that he remains capable of creating explosive plays whenever Dallas gives him the opportunity.
The problem is that those opportunities are becoming too infrequent. Pickens has been one of Dallas’ most dangerous receiving threats since his arrival last season, but his involvement has fluctuated significantly from game to game. Against Tampa Bay, he caught nine passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Against Philadelphia, he found the end zone again. Yet against Arizona, he was largely an afterthought despite the Cowboys desperately needing offensive production.
The Cowboys had a chance to put the game in the hands of their most talented offensive players and end it against the Cards. Instead, Schottenheimer chose a conservative approach that ultimately led to that horrific loss. That is the larger concern with Pickens.
Dallas has a receiver who can stretch defenses, win contested catches and change games with explosive plays, yet the coaching staff has not consistently found ways to maximize his talent and, in fact, appears to be actively keeping him from making a difference.
The Cowboys should make defenses account for Pickens on every down, especially when Lamb commands extra attention. Instead, his involvement can disappear for extended stretches, leaving Prescott without one of his most dangerous options.
Indianapolis has allowed 14 passing touchdowns through eight games, and its secondary is dealing with injuries. Cornerback Justin Walley has been ruled out, while safety AJ Haulcy is also unavailable. Those absences should create opportunities for Dallas’ receiving corps.
But favorable matchups mean little if the coaching staff refuses to consistently feature its best players. Pickens is not a sell because he lacks talent. He is a sell because Schottenheimer has given Cowboys fans little reason to trust that he will use that talent properly. Until Dallas demonstrates it can keep Pickens involved throughout an entire game, his week-to-week production will remain frustratingly unpredictable, and thus a likely sell.
