jobberone
Kane Ala
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Seattle comes to Dallas with a 3-4 record which is not quite what they've been used to lately. However, they did come into game 8 last year with a 4-3 record albeit on the way to a 12-4 final record. Dallas was 6-1 going into last years 8th game. They lost that game to Washington in OT in part because of an injury to Tony Romo. They also lost their next game to the Cardinals without Romo. Dallas got Tony back after the Arizona game and won all but one game the rest of the season to finish at 12-4.
I mentioned the loss of Romo to lend perspective to the situation Dallas finds itself in today. Romo was injured in the second game of the year against Philly. The Cowboys promptly went on a 4 game losing streak they hope to stop today.
Most pundits have picked Seattle to win today and my guess that's in large part due to the absence of Romo. Tony will be out until Thanksgiving having been placed on injured reserve designated to return. So there will be no game winning drives or 4th quarter comebacks today; at least not from one Tony Romo.
Any comebacks by Dallas will have to engineered by Matt Cassel who was picked up by Dallas via trade with the Bills earlier this year.
Cassel started last week with an ok performance. He was 17-27 for 227 but only passed for one TD while giving up 3 interceptions one returned for a TD. But only one was purely a bad decision. Another was on a floating ball perhaps in part due to being rusty, and the pick six more due to the receiver who quit on the play.
Still Dallas missed a golden opportunity to win against a division opponent leading the division coming into the game at 3-3. Besides the pick six they also game up a 100 yard kickoff return and were unable to overcome the interceptions and 14 points given up by the offense and special teams. The Giants are not a good team but they are opportunistic and don't make a lot of penalties. As an aside look for them to lose to the Saints today in NO.
Keys for Dallas on Offense:
Dallas rushed for over 200 yards last week on 41 attempts and a 5.5 YA. That was against the then 29th rushing defense in the NFL but still that's encouraging. Dallas will need to protect Cassel and again win the TOP to win the game. Seattle has the number 3 defense in the league and a stout defensive line and front seven. They play a very aggressive defense pressing the LOS and play some interesting schemes. Their DBs are capable tacklers so their run defense will be a challenge.
Cassel obviously needs to protect the ball but is still going to have to make throws down the field. The Seattle defense often plays a pressing man under which can leave room for some big plays if the receivers can get off the LOS and gain separation. Cassel will just have to get the ball to them while avoiding staring down the receivers. Whether in a one or two deep coverage, Seattle's safeties can ballhawk.
Dez will need to make some plays. Don't bet against it. Witten should have a good game and if he gets some intermediate passes Dallas may get Seattle to back off the LOS some. Williams can usually be counted on for at least on big play. And Street can get some separation if he can get off the LOS.
McFadden needs another big game. Expect some small gains with some gashes it he gets some daylight through that defensive line.
Keys for Dallas on Defense:
Seattle has the defense but their offense in near the bottom of the league. Wilson has completed over 60% of his passes averaging over 200 yards per game. And he's thrown for a TD in every game; but only in one game has he had more than one and that was two. His AY/A is not quite 7 which is decent but not good. He's also not been rushing successful this year so perhaps teams are playing that read option well.
Dallas will need pressure but will also have to contain Wilson who can hurt you with his feet.
Seattle may not be passing well (hence the 3-4 record) but they have the number two rush offense in the league. While it may seem Dallas hasn't played good defense this year, that is what has kept them in the last four games. They have the number 7 rush defense. So it will be the #2 rush offense against the #7 rush defense. Since Dallas has the number 20 pass defense against the #28 pass offense, then perhaps this game isn't a slam dunk for Seattle.
Interesting matchups:
Dallas OL vs Seattle DL. This is likely the biggest key to the game.
Wilson's run ability vs our DEs and OLBs
Lynch against the Dallas run defense. This is another main key to the game.
Cassel against the Seattle pass defense. Matt has to look off their safeties.
I mentioned the loss of Romo to lend perspective to the situation Dallas finds itself in today. Romo was injured in the second game of the year against Philly. The Cowboys promptly went on a 4 game losing streak they hope to stop today.
Most pundits have picked Seattle to win today and my guess that's in large part due to the absence of Romo. Tony will be out until Thanksgiving having been placed on injured reserve designated to return. So there will be no game winning drives or 4th quarter comebacks today; at least not from one Tony Romo.
Any comebacks by Dallas will have to engineered by Matt Cassel who was picked up by Dallas via trade with the Bills earlier this year.
Cassel started last week with an ok performance. He was 17-27 for 227 but only passed for one TD while giving up 3 interceptions one returned for a TD. But only one was purely a bad decision. Another was on a floating ball perhaps in part due to being rusty, and the pick six more due to the receiver who quit on the play.
Still Dallas missed a golden opportunity to win against a division opponent leading the division coming into the game at 3-3. Besides the pick six they also game up a 100 yard kickoff return and were unable to overcome the interceptions and 14 points given up by the offense and special teams. The Giants are not a good team but they are opportunistic and don't make a lot of penalties. As an aside look for them to lose to the Saints today in NO.
Keys for Dallas on Offense:
Dallas rushed for over 200 yards last week on 41 attempts and a 5.5 YA. That was against the then 29th rushing defense in the NFL but still that's encouraging. Dallas will need to protect Cassel and again win the TOP to win the game. Seattle has the number 3 defense in the league and a stout defensive line and front seven. They play a very aggressive defense pressing the LOS and play some interesting schemes. Their DBs are capable tacklers so their run defense will be a challenge.
Cassel obviously needs to protect the ball but is still going to have to make throws down the field. The Seattle defense often plays a pressing man under which can leave room for some big plays if the receivers can get off the LOS and gain separation. Cassel will just have to get the ball to them while avoiding staring down the receivers. Whether in a one or two deep coverage, Seattle's safeties can ballhawk.
Dez will need to make some plays. Don't bet against it. Witten should have a good game and if he gets some intermediate passes Dallas may get Seattle to back off the LOS some. Williams can usually be counted on for at least on big play. And Street can get some separation if he can get off the LOS.
McFadden needs another big game. Expect some small gains with some gashes it he gets some daylight through that defensive line.
Keys for Dallas on Defense:
Seattle has the defense but their offense in near the bottom of the league. Wilson has completed over 60% of his passes averaging over 200 yards per game. And he's thrown for a TD in every game; but only in one game has he had more than one and that was two. His AY/A is not quite 7 which is decent but not good. He's also not been rushing successful this year so perhaps teams are playing that read option well.
Dallas will need pressure but will also have to contain Wilson who can hurt you with his feet.
Seattle may not be passing well (hence the 3-4 record) but they have the number two rush offense in the league. While it may seem Dallas hasn't played good defense this year, that is what has kept them in the last four games. They have the number 7 rush defense. So it will be the #2 rush offense against the #7 rush defense. Since Dallas has the number 20 pass defense against the #28 pass offense, then perhaps this game isn't a slam dunk for Seattle.
Interesting matchups:
Dallas OL vs Seattle DL. This is likely the biggest key to the game.
Wilson's run ability vs our DEs and OLBs
Lynch against the Dallas run defense. This is another main key to the game.
Cassel against the Seattle pass defense. Matt has to look off their safeties.
