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By Matt Williamson
Scouts Inc.
Oakland at Dallas
When: 4:15 PM ET
Watch: CBS
Preview
More scouting reports: Week 12
Scouts Inc. Position Advantage
QB RB WR OL DL LB DB ST Coach
After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Raiders-Cowboys matchup.
1. Travel well: This is a Thanksgiving game that the country will be watching. Oakland is outmanned, but it should play with a lot of pride. Dallas has only one home loss this year and has scored at least 31 points in three of those five contests, but the team's showing against Washington last week left an awful lot to be desired.
2. Create turnovers: The Raiders are among the league's worst in turnover differential (minus-9), but they did create four against the Bengals in Week 11. Dallas has not excelled in the turnover department either. Cowboys QB Tony Romo does not handle the blitz particularly well and his offensive line is a heavier, slow-footed group that is slow to react in protection. Another concern for Dallas is Romo's bruised back, which could hamper his accuracy. The Cowboys' opponents blitz Romo very frequently.
3. Protect the quarterback: The Raiders are allowing too many sacks, and clearly their offensive line is better in the run game than in protection. That could be a real problem this week. Everyone knows DeMarcus Ware is an incredible playmaker, but his counterpart on the opposite side, Anthony Spencer, is also playing quite well. Both outside linebackers have major advantages over the Raiders' offensive tackles and the same can be said for NT Jay Ratliff in getting interior pressure.
4. Don't give up the big play: Romo can be erratic behind center and isn't the most disciplined quarterback around, but one thing he does very well is create big plays. The Raiders will play a lot of man coverage, which could result in big plays. Oakland is not a good enough team to overcome several explosive plays by Dallas.
5. Matchup to watch: Raiders C Samson Satele vs. Ratliff: Ratliff is not the ordinary massive-bodied nose tackle, but rather an extremely disruptive player who is remarkably quick off the snap. He is a penetrator who gives most centers fits. Although Ratliff surely has the one-on-one advantage over Satele, the Raiders' center is quicker and more athletic than most pivot men. It should prove to be an interesting battle between two quicker, lighter men for their respective positions.
6. Run the football: Too often, the Cowboys have gotten away from the running game, even though they have an exceptional stable of running backs. The Raiders' run defense has been atrocious, and this is an ideal situation for the Cowboys to dictate the game on the ground at home in a game that they are expected to control.
7. Utilize TE Jason Witten: Witten's role as a pass-catcher has been reduced from a year ago, but he remains a very reliable target and a vastly underrated run-blocker. The Cowboys need to run the ball more and doing so in Witten's direction should work out very well. Somewhat surprisingly, though, Oakland has been rather stingy against opposing tight ends, and former first-round pick Michael Huff looks to have rejuvenated his career to some degree. But ignoring what Witten can bring to the table would be a mistake.
8. Account for Richard Seymour: Seymour is still playing at a very high level and is one of the rare defensive linemen who can be very productive at any spot along the defensive front and no matter the scheme. Seymour will have an advantage against any single member of Dallas' offensive line. However, the rest of Oakland's defensive line has been less than impressive, with DT Gerard Warren being the most guilty.
9. Try to take away WR Chaz Schilens and TE Zach Miller: Neither is a big-play option, but in all reality, they are all the Raiders have in terms of reliable pass-catchers. Miller was Oakland's leading receiver in Week 11 and his intermediate route-running skills favors QB Bruce Gradkowski's below-average arm strength. Many offenses test Cowboys CB Mike Jenkins, but it is actually Terence Newman who has been easier to move the ball on.
10. Matchup to watch: Cowboys WR Miles Austin vs. Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha: Austin's production has fallen off dramatically in recent weeks. Many defenses are rolling coverage to Austin's side of the field and the young receiver has found out that being the target of opposing schemes is not an easy thing to overcome. Oakland might choose to put Asomugha on Roy Williams, whom Asomugha should dominate. However, Asomugha would have a distinct advantage over Austin in one-on-one situations as well.
Prediction
Oakland 10
Dallas 17
Scouts Inc.
Oakland at Dallas
When: 4:15 PM ET
Watch: CBS
Preview
More scouting reports: Week 12
Scouts Inc. Position Advantage
QB RB WR OL DL LB DB ST Coach
After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Raiders-Cowboys matchup.
1. Travel well: This is a Thanksgiving game that the country will be watching. Oakland is outmanned, but it should play with a lot of pride. Dallas has only one home loss this year and has scored at least 31 points in three of those five contests, but the team's showing against Washington last week left an awful lot to be desired.
2. Create turnovers: The Raiders are among the league's worst in turnover differential (minus-9), but they did create four against the Bengals in Week 11. Dallas has not excelled in the turnover department either. Cowboys QB Tony Romo does not handle the blitz particularly well and his offensive line is a heavier, slow-footed group that is slow to react in protection. Another concern for Dallas is Romo's bruised back, which could hamper his accuracy. The Cowboys' opponents blitz Romo very frequently.
3. Protect the quarterback: The Raiders are allowing too many sacks, and clearly their offensive line is better in the run game than in protection. That could be a real problem this week. Everyone knows DeMarcus Ware is an incredible playmaker, but his counterpart on the opposite side, Anthony Spencer, is also playing quite well. Both outside linebackers have major advantages over the Raiders' offensive tackles and the same can be said for NT Jay Ratliff in getting interior pressure.
4. Don't give up the big play: Romo can be erratic behind center and isn't the most disciplined quarterback around, but one thing he does very well is create big plays. The Raiders will play a lot of man coverage, which could result in big plays. Oakland is not a good enough team to overcome several explosive plays by Dallas.
5. Matchup to watch: Raiders C Samson Satele vs. Ratliff: Ratliff is not the ordinary massive-bodied nose tackle, but rather an extremely disruptive player who is remarkably quick off the snap. He is a penetrator who gives most centers fits. Although Ratliff surely has the one-on-one advantage over Satele, the Raiders' center is quicker and more athletic than most pivot men. It should prove to be an interesting battle between two quicker, lighter men for their respective positions.
6. Run the football: Too often, the Cowboys have gotten away from the running game, even though they have an exceptional stable of running backs. The Raiders' run defense has been atrocious, and this is an ideal situation for the Cowboys to dictate the game on the ground at home in a game that they are expected to control.
7. Utilize TE Jason Witten: Witten's role as a pass-catcher has been reduced from a year ago, but he remains a very reliable target and a vastly underrated run-blocker. The Cowboys need to run the ball more and doing so in Witten's direction should work out very well. Somewhat surprisingly, though, Oakland has been rather stingy against opposing tight ends, and former first-round pick Michael Huff looks to have rejuvenated his career to some degree. But ignoring what Witten can bring to the table would be a mistake.
8. Account for Richard Seymour: Seymour is still playing at a very high level and is one of the rare defensive linemen who can be very productive at any spot along the defensive front and no matter the scheme. Seymour will have an advantage against any single member of Dallas' offensive line. However, the rest of Oakland's defensive line has been less than impressive, with DT Gerard Warren being the most guilty.
9. Try to take away WR Chaz Schilens and TE Zach Miller: Neither is a big-play option, but in all reality, they are all the Raiders have in terms of reliable pass-catchers. Miller was Oakland's leading receiver in Week 11 and his intermediate route-running skills favors QB Bruce Gradkowski's below-average arm strength. Many offenses test Cowboys CB Mike Jenkins, but it is actually Terence Newman who has been easier to move the ball on.
10. Matchup to watch: Cowboys WR Miles Austin vs. Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha: Austin's production has fallen off dramatically in recent weeks. Many defenses are rolling coverage to Austin's side of the field and the young receiver has found out that being the target of opposing schemes is not an easy thing to overcome. Oakland might choose to put Asomugha on Roy Williams, whom Asomugha should dominate. However, Asomugha would have a distinct advantage over Austin in one-on-one situations as well.
Prediction
Oakland 10
Dallas 17
