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Sunday’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints presents an opportunity for the Dallas Cowboys to bounce back from their second-half collapse in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons. After jumping out to a 28-14 lead with 40 seconds left in the first half, the Cowboys surrendered 25 unanswered points and took a 39-28 loss at AT&T Stadium.
The breakdowns late in the game were systematic and widespread, as the offense was unable to move the ball or sustain possession, and the defense was rendered helpless against the run and pass. The Cowboys' ability to rebound against the Saints will go a long way in deciding whether the Week 3 loss was an outlier or a bit foreshadowing for the team.
Let’s get an idea about what the game plan could look like for the Cowboys on Sunday night.
Offensive Game Plan
The plan for the offense has to revolve around the offensive line winning the line of scrimmage against the New Orleans defensive front. As a team, the Saints have given up 126 yards per game on the ground this season, as opposing runners have been able to gain 4.2 yards per carry.
Overall, the Cowboys offensive line has failed to perform to the standard that it established in 2014, and getting left guard Ron Leary back from injury will allow the unit to be intact for the first time in two weeks. If they can retain their 2014 form in Week 4, the Cowboys will establish a running game that the Saints defense won't be able to handle.
In addition to their vulnerability against the run, the Saints could be exposed down the field and on the outside. If the Cowboys can get Terrance Williams matched up against a corner such as Brandon Browner, and use formations or motions to allow him to have a free release into the route, Browner won’t be able to match Williams’ speed in the route down the field.
If offensive coordinator Scott Linehan can draw up some “shot” plays to Williams, quarterback Brandon Weeden should have some large areas to make throws into.
Defensive Game Plan
The Saints offense revolves around quarterback Drew Brees, and two of his skill fellow position players, running back Mark Ingram and receiver Brandin Cooks. Brees missed the team’s last game with a shoulder injury and didn’t look like quite the same player he had been in years past before the injury. In spite of this, he is still a very dangerous player because of his understanding of defensive schemes and how to attack them.
Ingram is averaging 93 total yards per game as a rushing and receiving threat and has been a consistent option for the Saints offense. Both he and Brees will have to deal with the absence of Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans, which will affect the interior running game.
Brandin Cooks is a second-year receiver with explosive quickness and lateral agility, which make him a threat after the catch. He’s not a complete receiver down the field at this point in his career but is still a dangerous player the Cowboys must account for on every snap, as the Saints will look to get him the ball in a variety of ways.
In addition to these three, the Saints will also feature C.J. Spiller, Khiry Robinson, Marques Colston, Willie Snead and Brandon Coleman.
If the Cowboys are going to stop the Saints, they will need another big performance from the interior players in the scheme, similar to the Week 2 game (a 20-10 Cowboys victory) against the Philadelphia Eagles. Tyrone Crawford, Sean Lee, Anthony Hitchens, Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox will all be vital in the Cowboys’ defensive efforts on Sunday night.
Prediction
This game should play out much more in the way that I predicted the Falcons game would. If the Cowboys can generate some pressure on Brees, especially up the middle, he has been known to throw an interception (an average of almost 17 a season over the last five years). If the Cowboys defense can generate a turnover or two, and the offensive line can win the line of scrimmage, the Cowboys will win the game.
Prediction: Cowboys 24, Saints 22
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The breakdowns late in the game were systematic and widespread, as the offense was unable to move the ball or sustain possession, and the defense was rendered helpless against the run and pass. The Cowboys' ability to rebound against the Saints will go a long way in deciding whether the Week 3 loss was an outlier or a bit foreshadowing for the team.
Let’s get an idea about what the game plan could look like for the Cowboys on Sunday night.
Offensive Game Plan
The plan for the offense has to revolve around the offensive line winning the line of scrimmage against the New Orleans defensive front. As a team, the Saints have given up 126 yards per game on the ground this season, as opposing runners have been able to gain 4.2 yards per carry.
Overall, the Cowboys offensive line has failed to perform to the standard that it established in 2014, and getting left guard Ron Leary back from injury will allow the unit to be intact for the first time in two weeks. If they can retain their 2014 form in Week 4, the Cowboys will establish a running game that the Saints defense won't be able to handle.
In addition to their vulnerability against the run, the Saints could be exposed down the field and on the outside. If the Cowboys can get Terrance Williams matched up against a corner such as Brandon Browner, and use formations or motions to allow him to have a free release into the route, Browner won’t be able to match Williams’ speed in the route down the field.
If offensive coordinator Scott Linehan can draw up some “shot” plays to Williams, quarterback Brandon Weeden should have some large areas to make throws into.
Defensive Game Plan
The Saints offense revolves around quarterback Drew Brees, and two of his skill fellow position players, running back Mark Ingram and receiver Brandin Cooks. Brees missed the team’s last game with a shoulder injury and didn’t look like quite the same player he had been in years past before the injury. In spite of this, he is still a very dangerous player because of his understanding of defensive schemes and how to attack them.
Ingram is averaging 93 total yards per game as a rushing and receiving threat and has been a consistent option for the Saints offense. Both he and Brees will have to deal with the absence of Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans, which will affect the interior running game.
Brandin Cooks is a second-year receiver with explosive quickness and lateral agility, which make him a threat after the catch. He’s not a complete receiver down the field at this point in his career but is still a dangerous player the Cowboys must account for on every snap, as the Saints will look to get him the ball in a variety of ways.
In addition to these three, the Saints will also feature C.J. Spiller, Khiry Robinson, Marques Colston, Willie Snead and Brandon Coleman.
If the Cowboys are going to stop the Saints, they will need another big performance from the interior players in the scheme, similar to the Week 2 game (a 20-10 Cowboys victory) against the Philadelphia Eagles. Tyrone Crawford, Sean Lee, Anthony Hitchens, Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox will all be vital in the Cowboys’ defensive efforts on Sunday night.
Prediction
This game should play out much more in the way that I predicted the Falcons game would. If the Cowboys can generate some pressure on Brees, especially up the middle, he has been known to throw an interception (an average of almost 17 a season over the last five years). If the Cowboys defense can generate a turnover or two, and the offensive line can win the line of scrimmage, the Cowboys will win the game.
Prediction: Cowboys 24, Saints 22
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
Continue reading...