Every week, we gather to discuss the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have David Howman, Tom Ryle, Jess Haynie, and Sean Martin.
What was more impressive about the victory against the Jets, the offensive efficiency or the defensive improvement?
Mike: On the offensive side, Dallas strung together a pair of 90-yard touchdown marches and rattled off 30 unanswered points despite missing four starting linemen and playing without CeeDee Lamb, as well as KaVontae Turpin and Miles Sanders. Dak Prescott diced the Jets for
four scores, two to Jake Ferguson, while Javonte Williams stacked 135 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. Doing that on the road, behind a taped-together front, screams portable, bankable efficiency.
That doesn’t erase what the defense did. The Cowboys defense had been underwhelming so far this year, yet they totalled five sacks on a mobile and elusive Justin Fields, and Marist Liufau caused a brilliant fumble that flipped the script and really became the pivot point of the game. The lasting takeaway is simple, the Cowboys defense dictated the pace and ended drives through adversity with so many people being pessimistic about the defensive unit. That’s the part you can count on week to week.
Tom: It has to be the defense. While the way the offense functioned with so many missing pieces deserves a ton of praise, that was to a degree a continuation of what we’ve been seeing. But the pressure on Justin Fields was a quantum leap. Keep that up, and this is a dangerous team.
Sean: I’m going with the offensive efficiency, and I don’t think it’s particularly close although the defense changing things up was a very welcome sight as well. I have no idea how this isn’t a bigger storyline around the league, other than the narrative around Prescott already being what it is and not budging. Greg Olsen mentioned during the broadcast that most teams would struggle to move the ball down one starting lineman, and we’ve seen the Cowboys be completely hamstrung by one or more in the past. On Sunday they were down four and it never once seemed to matter. They called the same plays, got the same movement in the run game, and let Dak operate at an MVP-level once again. It was truly insane and hopefully a sign of more unstoppable things to come for an offense that will not only get healthier up front, but also out wide with Lamb waiting to return as well.
Howman: I’m sticking with the offense. I was encouraged by the defense, for sure, but Dallas was missing four starters on the offensive line and both CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin, and they still came a field goal away from a 40-burger. That’s a level of offensive efficiency we haven’t seen in quite some time.
Jess: I just finished an article about how special that offensive performance was given the o-line situation. We better enjoy Klayton Adams and Conor Riley while we have them, because I bet they’ll be getting attention from other teams next January.
How much of the offense’s identity should flow through Javonte Williams after his big day?
Mike: Javonte Williams just put a stamp on a game the way true lead back does by finishing runs, keeping the offense on schedule, and punishing light boxes. That’s exactly the kind of identity Dallas has lacked the past couple of years. But the sweet spot isn’t feed him till the wheels fall off, it’s feature him intelligently and let his success be the on-ramp for everything else. In the red zone, he’s the hammer and it’s clear his home is when the offense is playing from the ten-yard line. Pair his downhill looks with tight end leaks on a short field, and this offense has suddenly found the perfect recipe to find regular success.
If Dallas’ offense is a house, he’s the foundation right now. Sturdy enough to build on and strong enough to add more pieces as the season draws on.
Tom: His threat to break a big gain opens up the offense, so they need to keep him a big part. Teams will have to keep more in the box and that gives the passing game more space to cook. He has been such an important addition.
Sean: Williams continues to look like the perfect fit to mesh with this blocking scheme and offensive identity as a whole. When the blocking is there for him, Williams can get the tough yards or hit a home run like he did at the end of the half. When its not, like on a third and short on the first touchdown drive, it still doesn’t matter as Williams can make people miss in tight spaces. The Cowboys will need to find some way to keep him fresh by continuing to work either Miles Sanders or Jaydon Blue who made his debut at the Jets, but Williams is such a breath of fresh air compared to what they’ve had in the backfield before him.
Howman: Javonte Williams is the man in the running back room. All due respect to Jaydon Blue, who fans love, but this is Williams’ show. Not only is he running great, but his threat opens up so much in the play-action passing game, which is exactly what Brian Schottenheimer said he wanted to do back when he was hired.
Jess: Once Lamb is back, I still say your offense runs through Dak Prescott and the level at which he’s playing. But Williams is a huge part of that, so you definitely want to keep things fairly balanced. It depends on the week and the weaknesses of each defense you face.
It’s another road game next Sunday at Carolina, what’s the key to victory to get back-to-back wins on the road?
Mike: Back-to-back road wins hinge on a fast start and trench control so the use quick game, and under-center play-action to stay ahead. Lean into the ground game and neutralize Derrick Brown with slide-plus-chip help while moving the pocket when needed.
On defense, rush hard at Bryce Young and make him panic under pressure. Keep two-high with a robber to sit on crossers, tackle to cap those YAC yards, and win the turnover margin. Let’s not forget that hidden yardage with clean special teams game and minimal flags, then let Brandon Aubrey cash points.
Tom: Don’t let them sneak up. Keep the pressure on with both offense and defense. Avoid giveaways and this is a great opportunity to get above .500.
Sean: The Cowboys are strangely building a recent history with the Panthers, going there for the second season in a row this week. If they can win with Cooper Rush in 2024, there really should be no excuse with Dak Prescott playing with the confidence he is right now. The defense will have to continue to show they’ve shut the door on allowing big plays at will against a Panthers offense that isn’t afraid to push it, but after this Jets performance this is really a no excuse game for Dallas.
Howman: Ride the run game. That field in Carolina is bad, and teams – including the Panthers – often have trouble cutting and moving on it. That makes things especially hard on the passing game, but Javonte Williams just needs to run forward.
Jess: Keep doing what you’re doing. A strong run game and low turnovers will beat a lot of NFL teams, and particularly bad ones like Carolina.
Rapid fire section
Bigger coverage stress for Carolina, George Pickens or Jake Ferguson?
Tom: Pickens. Both a possession receiver and a legit deep threat.
Sean: Ferguson to follow up his two touchdown performance.
Howman: Pickens, he can burn you from anywhere.
Jess: Pickens for big-play potential, but that’s why Ferguson is feasting every week.
Who scores first for Dallas?
Tom: Ferguson. He’s becoming deadly in the red zone.
Sean: Javonte Williams short yardage TD. Butter.
Howman: Jalen Tolbert.
Jess: Brandon Aubrey.
Javonte Williams rushing yards, over/under 82.5
Tom: Over.
Sean: Over.
Howman: Is this a two-way radio? Because over!
Jess: Over.
Trevon Diggs interceptions, over/under 1
Tom: Under. This isn’t yet a ball hawking unit.
Sean: Diggs nearly had one against the Jets, but I don’t think that means he finishes one this week. Under.
Howman: Bryce Young takes good care of the ball, so I’ll say under.
Jess: Under.
Third-down king for Dallas, Jake Ferguson, Javonte Williams, or Ryan Flournoy
Tom: Flournoy is coming on strong, but they are going to be aware of him now. Ferguson is Dak’s go to guy still.
Sean: All in on Ferguson.
Howman: Third downs are Fergalicious.
Jess: Ferg until proven otherwise.
Dak Prescott total touchdowns, over/under 3
Tom: He’s in a zone. Over.
Sean: Over, let’s hear more MVP chants in a road game.
Howman: Under in this one, because I expect a very run heavy approach this time.
Jess: Push. Three sounds right.
First turnover from the Dallas defense comes from who?
Tom: Donovan Ezeiruaku is due.
Sean: I’ll say Marist Liufau forces another fumble.
Howman: Jadeveon Clowney strip sack
Jess: Juanyeh Thomas.
Which rookie shows up more, Donovan Ezeiruaku or Shemar James?
Tom: James is a force. 15 tackles against the Jets? Scary.
Sean: Donovan has played well all season, James had his breakout against the Jets. I’ll go with the consistency of Donovan.
Howman: Ezeiruaku is doing thankless work right now but Shemar James is really turning heads.
Jess: Too much competition for shining moments among the DEs, so I’ll go with James.
Rico Dowdle rushing yards, over/under 88.5
Tom: Forgive the recency bias, but I think the defense keeps him under.
Sean: Under as the Cowboys play from ahead again.
Howman: Chuba Hubbard is probably back next week, so under.
Jess: Under if Hubbard plays, over if not.
