Go soap opera in Minneapolis last week, with a neophyte Cooper Rush stepping out.
Everything seems to indicate that Dak Prescott will be back at Kellen Moore’s offensive helm, against a Vic Fangio team that is the living representation of a team with a 4-4 record.
They began the season with three (3) consecutive victories against some ‘pagliachis’ in the league, doing enough against teams properly blurred in the person of the Giants, Jaguars and Jets. It was better for them to beat these teams.
But from there they were four (4) consecutive defeats against true protagonists, against the Magpies, Steelers, Raiders and the unpredictable Cleveland Browns. Last week they survived 17-10 against the capital in the city of the high mile, but in a game full of errors and bad offenses.
This Broncos team is what their brand says they are.
Just like last week, they play against an “uncommon” opponent, only the 13th time they have seen each other in the regular season, with the Broncos coming out victorious in the last six (6) meetings. In fact, the last victory of the Cowboys against this rival was in 1995 at the defunct Texas Stadium at 31-21. It has already rained again.
Part of the nostalgia for this rivalry was that 51-48 basketball game at AT&T Stadium in 2017 with the Payton Manning-Tony Romo showdown that was ultimately decided with a grisly interception by linebacker Danny Trevathan to put the stamp on it. to the game.
The Cowboys arrive with offense number one, two running the ball and three throwing the stone. The Broncos’ defense is the sixth overall, ninth against the carry and 10th against the pass.
The offense commanded by the nomad Teddy Bridgewater is the 21st total, 20 running and 17 passing, facing the defense number 19 total, sixth before the carry and these Cowboys continue dragging the blanket before the pass being the number 28 just before the ninth day .
With all this preamble it is evident that the Cowboys have everything to win, establishing their offensive game, controlling the tempo from the opening kickoff and releasing their defensive jacales on Bridgewater and company ….. if they avoid the errors and penalties that they were specters before the Patriots and the Vikings.
In search of showing your present divisional category, I pass on my 5 Keys of the Game for this ninth day.
Clave 1. Dak IS back. The sudden knowledge last week that Cooper Rush would start with Prescott’s injury made it clear that the goal was to survive Matchday 8 and hope that Rush could handle the package. Well, with some hesitation it was possible to the 20-16 sound where it became clear that the cowgirl offense has plenty of material. After watching the game from the bench and being another advisor to Rush, aside from Kellen Moore, Prescott will have a lot to test considering that the angle he had is only going to serve him against the Broncos in his own lair. The odds that they opened in a -9 jeans and that continue to rise in their favor is evidence that with a Prescott back at the controls and with an armed team, with some details, the streak of six (6) losses should end this Sunday in Arlington, Texas.
Key 2. A Clockwork Orange on the defensive. If Fangio’s pupils want to have any chance to beat Mike McCarthy’s pupils, it’s because the mile-high city defense is kicking it. Say goodbye to the 4.5 sacks of a total of 20 by Von Miller, who packed bags for his new home with the Los Angeles Rams. The prospect of reaching Prescott is more than key for defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, giving safeties Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson a chance to dole out justice to the offensive arsenal of Moore and company. With the cornerback Ronald Darby questionable, it will have to be Patrick Surtain who carries the slab before the pass in the pure style of Pípila. In a 3-4 defense, the lack of sacks among defensive linemen has to be a concern, where defensive end Shelby Harris has 2.5 with the others being split among linebackers mostly.
Key 3. Depth. The Cowboys have counted on their injuries, like any of the league’s 32 teams, but it seems they’ve been able to deal with this ever-present detail, evidenced by the solid performance of their backup quarterback last week. This week there will be no left tackle Tyron Smith, and even though veteran Ty Nsekhe came in after the main bodyguard left and did not do it all badly, it seems that the return of La’el Collins puts him in the spotlight. scale to reappear at right tackle with Terence Steele moving to the left side. On paper everything seems clear, but is moving Steele after his promptness just a good idea? You just have to wait until Sunday. Another one that was limited to not at all practical was CeeDee Lamb, and again depth has Cedric Wilson ready for assignment, along with Noah Brown, taking into account that Amari Cooper also practiced on a limited basis.
Key 4. You don’t have to run if you walk. Kellen Moore seems like a true genius at the controls of Jerry Jones’ offensive team. From his über-jumbo formations with both La’el Collins and Connor McGovern in diamond formation opposite Zeke Elliott, to Cedric Wilson’s surprise side-swing pass, it’s a very healthy combination of keeping the clock and moving the needle. The running combination is another genius for Moore, combining Elliott and Tony Pollard to control the line of scrimmage and keep the opposing defense honest. Part of this scheme has been the use of Dalton Schultz as a valve and with the note that Blake Jarwin also didn’t practice at all, Sean McKeon’s return to activation might be just in time. The truth is that the lack of Cooper and Lamb at 100% is going to require going back to the basics, which is to run the ball effectively.
Key 5. The arrival of a star. What a season for Micah Parsons, the rookie has been something sensational. Against the Vikings he scored 11 tackles, 10 listed as “solo” and four for loss of yards, ground gold for those who live near the line of scrimmage. The interesting thing is that his teammates seem to be feeding off his achievements, in particular people like Jayron Kearse and Trevon Diggs, who have been able to take advantage of the pressure from Parsons along with Randy Gregory, Osa Odighizuwa and Tarrell Basham, with the return of Dorance Armstrong being a great incentive. Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur brings the fans of the city of the high mile truly angry over the lack of cohesiveness of the offense, considering they have a good stable of running backs in Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams, both with healthy numbers. , and wide wings Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, who reappeared last week against Washington. They are going to miss their tight end Noah Fant, who entered COVID protocol this past week. Bridgewater has had some success at its various stops with various teams, but if pressed by the color orange it will return Colorado with a loss.
