The Dallas Cowboys host the Washington Commanders for a super-important Week 2 NFC East battle. Both teams are coming off a divisional loss last week to unsatisfyingly kick off the new season. It’s very early in the season, but the loser of this game will be subjected to a dreaded 0-2 start and enter crisis mode.
Hopefully, that team won’t be the Cowboys as they look to rebound and put positive vibes back into the universe. It won’t be easy as divisional games never are, but here are five things we
should be looking for when these two battle it out in AT&T on Sunday.
1. Striking first
The Cowboys need to start fast, start aggressively, and score early. They must come out with a lot of energy and play like they’re angry. Instead of sideline aggravation, they need to harness that anger and take it out on the Commanders. Last week was pitiful, and there’s nothing better than a hot start to help get that nasty taste out of their mouth.
The Week 1 sillies are over. They must be ready this time around. Brian Schottenheimer needs a well-designed opening script, and Dak Prescott and company need intense focus to carry it out. No playing with their food. No wimping out on fourth-and-short. Just be ready with a good game plan. Plenty of pre-snap motion, some quick passing concepts blended with the running game. Make it look easy.
2. Containing Jayden
Watching the Cowboys’ defense chase around Jaxson Dart was like watching Rocky Balboa chase a chicken. They eventually got him, but it took a while, and it was a little embarrassing. Dart shredded the Cowboys’ defense with designed rollouts and capitalizing on poorly read read options. It wasn’t pleasant.
Now, the defense is tasked with containing Jayden Daniels. While both quarterbacks are dynamic threats with the legs, Dart is a bit of a bruiser. He can eventually be caught, and when he is, you know contact is coming. Daniels is a different cat. He doesn’t want to be caught. He uses his short burst acceleration and nifty change of direction to evade defenders.
Last week, the issue for the Cowboys defense was mostly mental and all about making good decisions, which they didn’t do. This week, they’ll not only have to clean that up, but they’ll need to be quick and show some nimble footwork to match Daniel’s elusiveness. If the Cowboys defense makes stops on early downs and holds coverage on the money down, only to let the Commanders’ quarterback get loose, it will be another painful showing for this defense.
3. Unleashing big plays
The Commanders have an improved defense, but they are a hit-or-miss group. Their aggressiveness can help create negative plays, but if they don’t land the pass rush, they could be vulnerable to big plays. That’s exactly what happened last week against the Eagles, as they gave up three plays of 40 or more yards. Even when the Commanders held up for the most part, the big plays eventually bit them.
Last week against the Giants, the Cowboys didn’t have any big plays. A big old goose egg of plays of 20+ yards for the offense. With big-time receivers like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, this is just not acceptable, and the Cowboys offense must regroup and take some big shots downfield against a defense that is begging to make a mistake.
4. Safety valve
There weren’t a lot of things to be excited about with the Cowboys defense, but rookie safety Caleb Downs was one of them. He had a strip-sack of Dart, was running all over the field, and was one of the few defensive backs who held up in coverage.
The Commanders also have a new-guy safety in free-agent acquisition Nick Cross. Similar to Downs, Cross was everywhere doing everything. He had two tackles for a loss, flew by blockers, and blew up plays in the backfield. He was constantly putting pressure on someone and was a clear disruptor of the defense.
Both safeties have elite closing speed and can cause problems near the line of scrimmage. Watching them throw themselves into the ball carrier before they reach the first-down marker or use their outstretched hands to break up a pass at the last second could be the difference in helping their defense get off the field and avoid allowing the opposing offense to extend drives. Safety play may come up big in this one.
5. A dry run
The ground attack will be important for the Commanders, and they should employ a good dose of running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The second-year back is a little bulkier and offers a one-cut, shoot-through-the-middle attack. If he gains little momentum, he can be an effective grinder on Sunday and keep Washington out of third-and-long situations.
The Cowboys don’t want that. In fact, the last thing they want to happen is to allow the offense to slowly eat away at their defense. Dallas must have a better grip on the run game and use the strength of their interior with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark to redirect things outside. If they can be more physical inside and push things east and west, the Cowboys’ edge settings could be in line for a nice rebound game.
