After last week’s embarrassing performance against the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys return home this week to take on another division foe, the Washington Commanders. Hopefully playing in front of their hometown crowd will light the fire inside everyone that look to be lacking last week, because they can’t afford to start 0-2, especially with the division.
To help secure the “W” this week the Cowboys would be wise to try to exploit certain matchups to help sway the game in their favor. We’ve
identified the ones we believe could help the Cowboys secure the victory this week against the Commanders. Hopefully it pays off with their first win of the season.
WR George Pickens vs. Commanders’ secondary
George Pickens didn’t have his best season debut last week against the Giants, dropping several passes, but has a chance to rebound in a big way this week against the Commanders secondary. It’s somewhat of a patchwork unit right now with Trey Amos sidelined and the Cowboys would be wise to exploit that. Targeting Pickens early and often should help rebuild his confidence as well as help get the entire offense back on track after a ho-hum performance last week.
OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku vs. LT Brandon Coleman
The Cowboys traded for Rashan Gary and drafted Malachi Lawrence in the hopes of upgrading their pass rush along with second-year OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku, but you couldn’t tell from their Week 1 performance. The pass rush was pretty much nonexistent last week, allowing Giants QB Jaxon Dart to pick them apart. Expect that to change this week in the head-to-head battle between Ezeiruaku and Brandon Coleman, who is filling in at LT for an injured Laremy Tunsil.
LB Jaishawn Barham vs. RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Barham, the Cowboys third-round pick this year, will play a much bigger role for the next few weeks while DeMarvion Overshown is out with a hamstring injury. Hopefully his physical play will help improve what was an abysmal performance against the run last week against the Giants. Jacory Croskey-Merritt doesn’t run with the same type of physicality as Cam Skattebo, but he has the potential to be dangerous nonetheless. Hopefully No. 55 can help contain him.
