Key matchups: Stars Must Shine Brighter for a Cowboys Victory – Mario Herrera Jr., Inside the Star
For the Cowboys to beat the Packers, their prominent players have to step their game up.
The Dallas Cowboys face a defining moment this Sunday night when they host the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium. Recent history has not been kind to Dallas in this matchup. The Cowboys are 0-5 in their last five games against the Packers, with their last win coming all the way back in 2016 during Dak Prescott’s rookie season. If Dallas wants to end that painful skid and even their record at 2-2, they must find
a way to win the critical battles that will decide the game. Three matchups, in particular, stand out.
OC Klayton Adams vs GB Rush Defense
Klayton Adams has faced tough challenges since stepping in as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator, but Sunday night will be one of his biggest tests yet. Green Bay’s run defense has been elite through three weeks, ranking third in the NFL and allowing just 64.3 rushing yards per game. For the Cowboys to have any chance of moving the ball consistently, Adams must design creative ways to generate rushing lanes for RB Javonte Williams and the rest of the backfield.
Without a credible run game, Dak Prescott will be forced into obvious passing situations, playing directly into the hands of the Packers’ aggressive front seven. Establishing even a modest ground attack will help set up play-action opportunities, which Prescott has historically thrived on. Adams must use misdirection, motion, and multiple personnel packages to keep Green Bay off balance. If Dallas cannot run the ball, the night could turn ugly fast.
Dak Prescott vs Zone Coverage
Every defensive coordinator knows the blueprint for frustrating Dak Prescott: play disciplined zone coverage. Prescott has struggled at times against defenses that flood passing lanes and force him to stay patient. Instead of being able to push the ball downfield, Prescott is forced to make tight-window throws or take the check-down option. Green Bay’s secondary excels at disguising coverages and baiting quarterbacks into mistakes. For Prescott, the key will be quick decision-making and not trying to force the ball where it doesn’t belong.
With CeeDee Lamb unavailable, the margin for error is slim. Prescott must develop rhythm with his remaining receivers and keep the chains moving with efficient throws underneath the coverage. If Prescott remains composed and takes what the defense gives him, Dallas can slowly chip away at the Packers’ zone. If he presses and forces turnovers, the game could slip away just as it has so many times before against Green Bay.
Cowboys’ LB-in-waiting doesn’t just need more snaps, he needs a position shift – Reid Hanson, Cowboys Wire
Dallas’ young linebacker is in line for much, much more.
The Dallas Cowboys defense needs answers and they need answers fast. The unit ranks second-to-last in the NFL and is showing no signs of improvement or hope. Chronic dysfunction best describes Matt Eberflus’ unit with all levels of coverage failing in nearly every conceivable way.
Calls to change various personnel have been increasing by the day, with Marist Liufau serving as the campaign poster boy for these efforts. The second-year linebacker out of Notre Dame drew headlines in the preseason with his explosive play and game-changing ability. But the buzz quickly quieted when the regular season found him buried on the depth chart behind the veteran Damone Clark.
Liufau has generally been used as strong side and weakside linebacker in his pro career. His ability to pursue sideline to sideline and crash downhill makes him an ideal prospect in outside roles, so the logic checks out. The only problem is it might not be the best way to get him on the field.
Jack Sanborn has struggled mightily in the middle of the defense. The Cowboys MLB has been frequently exposed in in coverage. In coverages like the famed Tampa 2, the MLB is tasked with dropping back and covering the middle deep portion down the field. Despite the name, it’s more like a Cover 3 than a Cover 2 because it demands tremendous range from that MLB. It’s here where Liufau may be best suited.
Liufau isn’t a traditionally built MLB but his speed and quick processing skills make him a tantalizing alternative to Sanborn. He would replace arguably the weakest link in the LB corps and he’d instantly upgrade the range in coverage. Splitting snaps with Sanborn certainly offers more opportunities than splitting snaps at the outside LB spots. Strongside LB is generally just a part-time position since most offenses play out of 11 personnel and defenses respond with nickel personnel. As for the other outside LB spot, the weakside LB is soon to be occupied by DeMarvion Overshown.
Packers legend says what all Cowboys fans are thinking about Brandon Aubrey – Jared A’Latorre, The Landry Hat
Former Packers great advised Jerry Jones not to play with Brandon Aubrey’s money.
With his Week 2 heroics, Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey became the first player in NFL history to convert a successful game-tying field goal with no time left in regulation, and a successful game-winning field goal with no time left in overtime.
Aubrey is widely recognized as the game’s most dangerous kicker, and that includes Mason Crosby, the Packers’ all-time leading scorer. Crosby doesn’t want Jerry Jones to make the same mistake with Aubrey that he did with Parsons, going on 105.3 The Fan to tell Jones to quit fooling around and pay Aubrey what he’s worth.
“Jerry Jones, you get rid of Micah Parsons, but hey, you need to pay (Aubrey) because he’s going to set a new market for what kickers’ worth is just because his ability to shorten that field,” Crosby said.
Mason Crosby pleads with Jerry Jones to not play around to extend Brandon Aubrey
There’s not much doubt across the NFL that Aubrey has cemented himself as the best kicker in football. The 29-year-old’s accuracy, along with his logic-defying power, is a combination the NFL has never seen before, and it’s time for Jones to stop playing around.
Aubrey being who he is might already be enough to cement him as a Cowboys legend. But Crosby suggesting that the Pro Bowl kicker could reshape the market is even more significant. This is a golden opportunity for Jerry Jones to reset the kicking market on his terms, and he has to take advantage before it’s too late.
KaVontae Turpin could help pick up the slack during CeeDee Lamb’s absence – Brian Martin, Blogging the Boys
Without their top receiver, Turpin needs to ‘turn up’.
The Dallas Cowboys have a huge hole to fill with CeeDee Lamb sidelined for the next few weeks with a high ankle sprain. Someone needs to step up to help replace production, but who?
The obvious choice would be George Pickens, who Dallas traded a third-round pick for this offseason to acquire. He proved during his time at the Pittsburgh Steelers he can be a No. 1 go-to target in the passing game, but so far hasn’t established the kind of rapport as of yet with Dak Prescott. Now would be a great time for that to happen.
The next choice would be Jake Ferguson. He’s off to a hot start this season and has without a doubt become Prescott’s security blanket, especially last week after CeeDee Lamb’s injury. Seeing him frequently more targeted during No. 88’s absence wouldn’t be much of a surprise at all.
Even though Pickens and Ferguson will obviously be asked to pick up the slack more during CeeDee Lamb’s absence, KaVontate Turpin is someone who shouldn’t be overlooked. He is a dynamic weapon who has the ability to take it to the house any time he touches the ball.
This is actually the first season Turpin has been more involved in the passing game under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. To date, he has eight catches for 129 yards and a touchdown through the air and another 19 yards on five rushing attempts on the ground. Expanding his role just slightly could see those numbers increase.
We all know what No. 9 is capable of doing as a return specialist when he has open field in front of him. He can be the same type of game wrecker in the passing game if the Cowboys can get the ball to him an open space with room to run. Playing from the slot with CeeDee Lamb out could provide those types of opportunities.
