Game Overview ::
By mike johnson >>
- The “game of the week” on the main slate, this should live up to the billing.
- The Dallas defense looks better in most season-long metrics than how they have performed recently.
- Likewise, the Dallas offense is rounding into form as they get healthy in the passing game and turn the running game over to Tony Pollard.
- The combination of explosive players on both sides of the ball and defenses that have shown the tendency to get burned give this game massive upside.
How dallas Will Try To Win ::
The Cowboys offense has shifted into high gear since the return of Dak Prescott, averaging 34.7 points in their last three games after averaging only 21.4 points in his absence. This week they face an inconsistent Minnesota defense that ranks 5th worst in the league in yards per play allowed, one of the more predictive metrics we can find. The Cowboys passing offense continues to get healthier and more in sync, while the Vikings pass defense has given up 300+ passing yards in three of the last four weeks – the one exception being against Taylor Heinicke and the Commanders. The Cowboys rank 26th on the season in pass rate at 54.2%, driven primarily by Dak Prescott’s five-week absence. Since his return, the Cowboys had an easy win over the Lions, a highly efficient passing performance against the Bears, and a pass-heavy game against the Packers.
Looking at how the Cowboys will approach this game, they are likely to be aware of the need to score a healthy amount of points in this matchup to win due to their defense’s recent struggles and the prowess of the Minnesota offense. If Ezekiel Elliott is active, it will allow the Cowboys to lean on their running game more, as they will have two highly trusted RB’s to rely on. On paper, the Vikings pass defense is worse than their run defense, but they are by no means a scary unit against the run. Expect a game plan built first around their running game, which sets up their passing concepts and allows them to attack the intermediate and deep areas of the field. Now that their receiving corps is fully healthy, they can move Ceedee Lamb around the field more, and Dalton Schultz has returned to a high-usage role as Dak Prescott’s security blanket. Expect an efficient performance from the Cowboys as they play at their usual fast pace and attack a defense that has been bailed out by their offense on multiple occasions this season.
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