Scout’s Eye: Raiders’ Run Game Is A Bad Matchup For Cowboys

[Doomsday101]

I always laughed when coaches would try and build up an opponent when their record wasn’t quite what it should have been. For the Oakland Raiders, they come into this game against the Cowboys with a 4-7 mark and to be honest, they are a much better team than that.

On tape, this team has a feel of much like what the Cowboys faced against the Minnesota Vikings. Young quarterback, hard running back, size along the defensive line and finding ways to lose games. With that being said, this will not be the layup of a game most folks might expect. If the Cowboys come out and sleep walk early, then there are going to be some problems.

Dennis Allen was forced to start rookie quarterback, Matt McGloin against the Texans three weeks ago, after Terrelle Pryor suffered a knee injury. McGloin led the Raiders to a victory that day but suffered a setback last week against the Tennessee Titans after the defense gave up the game winning score in the final minute of the game. Allen will stick with McGloin despite the fact that Pryor is healthy and available for this game.

What you have in McGloin is a quarterback who is not the most physically gifted but who uses his abilities to his advantage. He is extremely tough and will hang in the pocket to the bitter end. There were plays where things around him were breaking down around him, but he stood there and delivered the ball.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...-Cowboys/3f7c985a-9ef1-4989-bb28-b9fb52b3da53

 

[Corso]

Remember the last couple of years when Rob Ryan's defenses would repeatedly let rookie QB's tear them up?

I hope we don't see a repeat...

 

[JD_KaPow]

This article is silly. The Raiders have a poor defense and a terrible passing offense. And they're bad on special teams. None of which he mentions. Yeah, their rushing offense is pretty good, but that doesn't make them "much better" than a 4-7 team.

Now, McGloin had a nice second half against TEN and our pass D is pretty awful, so I don't doubt it'll be a challenge. But it doesn't make Broaddus any more right.

 

[Direwolf63]

This article is silly. The Raiders have a poor defense and a terrible passing offense. And they're bad on special teams. None of which he mentions. Yeah, their rushing offense is pretty good, but that doesn't make them "much better" than a 4-7 team.

Now, McGloin had a nice second half against TEN and our pass D is pretty awful, so I don't doubt it'll be a challenge. But it doesn't make Broaddus any more right.

I agree. Broadus really overstates the positives and ignores the negatives.

The Cowboys defense is awful, so they will move the ball and score some points. Their running game will be a problem to manage, much like the Giants game. I easily see them getting 150+ yards on the ground.

But they have a poor defense. Romo and the receivers should have a field day. And if they can pass to set up the run, Murray should have a good game as well.

I think the Raiders will score in the 20's. But the Cowboys will score in the 30's.

 

[Teague31]

Monte should be loading the box 90% of the time

 

[Chocolate Lab]

This article is silly. The Raiders have a poor defense and a terrible passing offense. And they're bad on special teams. None of which he mentions. Yeah, their rushing offense is pretty good, but that doesn't make them "much better" than a 4-7 team.

Exactly, the Raiders are a very bad team. They're probably overachieving somewhat to even be 4-7. Early in the year they looked like maybe the worst team in football.

The only slight concern I have is I read that Pryor should be healthy and they might put a package of option type plays in for him.

But really, if we don't turn the ball over a bunch or let them score on special teams, we should win easily.

 

[Eddie]

We play down to our competition. This will be a repeat of the Minny NYG games. It's going to end on the final drive ... hopefully, one engineered by Tony Romo.
7-5 would make a nice Thanksgiving present.

 

[percyhoward]

McGloin in his two starts vs. Texans and Titans:
vs Hou 18 of 32 197 3 0 105.9
vs Ten 19 fo 32 260 1 1 82.8
total: 37 of 64 457 4 1 94.3

Defensive Passer Ratings, 2013
Texans 92.4
Titans 80.8
Cowboys 92.9

 

[OhSnap]

Rashad Jennings has put together some solid running. If he get's all happy about playin on TV for Thanksgiving he could keep this defense on it's heels. If he breaks a few runs the rest of the team will feed off of it and make it a long day. They are better now than they were when they lost some of those games.

 

[Venger]

"Cowboys Should Win This Game" doesn't get the same number of clicks...

 

[Hawkeye19]

Romo has a good record on Thanksgiving, we have a distinct advantage playing at home on a short week, and Dallas is emotionally "up" after a HUGE win-- while Oakland is "down" following another frustrating loss.

ALL of the intangibles are in Dallas' favor. No game is ever a guaranteed win-- but Dallas is not just the better team on paper at this point-- they're playing better football overall.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Not having Harris available will impact this game. That is, if he is not available. I hope his pulled hammy was minor.

 

[NickZepp]

Our defense is bad enough to make nearly any offense look good.

 

[ghst187]

For us, no game, no matter whom it's against and how bad they may be, is a gimme. We find ways to make games hard even when they shouldn't be.
Hopefully however our offense will kick it in gear at home and put them down early to have to abandon the run.

 

[TrailBlazer]

I watched McGloin play at PennState. He's not good. I have no idea why he would start over T. Pryor. Pryor can actually run and probably give us some problems. But McGloin isn't very accurate, can't run, and his decision making is sub par. I don't see them scoring more than 14 points. I say 28-14 cowboys. Should be easy win. But we like to play down to competition so we'll see what happens. Should be a great Thanksgiving!

 

[conner01]

harris could be huge in this game. they have bad special teams. hope he is well and ready. they will be tougher than some think mostly because the running game is solid. but our secondary for all their flaws is better than the texans.

 

[NickZepp]

For us, no game, no matter whom it's against and how bad they may be, is a gimme. We find ways to make games hard even when they shouldn't be.
Hopefully however our offense will kick it in gear at home and put them down early to have to abandon the run.

I don't know if that's true or not. Our offense is good enough to blow teams out sometimes. But yeah our defense is a serious issue and why we aren't going to win a playoff game this year.

 

[DFWJC]

Oakland's defense is nothing great, but most would says it is better than (or at worst the same as) Dallas'
Without Harris, special teams could be even
Oakland's run game is better
Dallas' passing game is much better

Dallas is at home

Dallas wins 27-20

 

[Blackspider214]

I hear this all the time. Team A is much better than *insert record*.

They are who they are.

 

[SportsGuru80]

harris could be huge in this game. they have bad special teams. hope he is well and ready. they will be tougher than some think mostly because the running game is solid. but our secondary for all their flaws is better than the texans.

Harris is out with a hamstring injury...