Right now, the Dallas Cowboys are leading the NFC East with an 8-4 record. Maybe we could be talking about a slightly higher win record, but the month of November was fatal for the franchise. Out of four matches, they lost three and two of them consecutively. While another team in the division took advantage of the situation and keeps winning.
That franchise in question is the Washington team. They already have four consecutive victories against some rivals including those that the Cowboys could not. Specifically, we are talking about the Buccaneers and the Raiders. Plus, they’re running a great defense the past couple of weeks. Since they managed to reduce the production of both the Seahawks and the Raiders to just 15 points per team.
Another great advantage they have is that the offense knows very well how to keep time in games. His quarterback Taylor Heinicke has been throwing for 881 total yards, with seven touchdowns and just two interceptions. So their numbers have radically improved favoring the rival. It’s something the Cowboys will have to take into account at FedExField.
Raiders have a coverage bust and Logan Thomas runs free in the back of the end zone. Heinicke sails the throw, but Thomas does a terrific job going up to make a 1-handed grab for the TD pic.twitter.com/xfxSOWvsiC
– Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) December 5, 2021
Now, analyzing in detail the situation in Dallas, they know that they have a tough opponent in front of them and whom they will have to see twice. Of the rest of the schedule they have left, four of their five games are against division rivals, and two of them are against Washington.
Therefore, it is vitally important that the Lone Star team can come out with a positive result as visitors. If they win, they will easily be left with a 9-4 record. While a loss would leave them 8-5 and their rivals with a 7-6 record, coming extremely close to the top spot in the NFC East.
Fortunately for the Cowboys, DeMarcus Lawrence’s return to the Saints went very well to pressure rival quarterback Taysom Hill. While rookie Micah Parsons continues with his good results and a different result is not expected for week 14.
10th sack of the season for rookie @MicahhParsons11! ???? #DallasCowboys
????: #DALvsNO on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
????: https://t.co/LMzEctbvnL pic.twitter.com/rbJmbvMoOv— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2021
Along with producing them on defense, we will also have the return of Neville Gallimore and Randy Gregory. In short, there are many elements that could bring Heinicke to life as paintings. Especially since Gallimore has yet to see action in the regular season and Gregory already had five sacks by the time he was injured before Week 10’s game against the Falcons. Therefore, great emotions are expected in the Cowboys’ defensive game.
On the other side of the coin, the offense is expected to be able to respond a little better than what they did against New Orleans. Although the game ended in victory, it was only in the third offensive series against the Saints that the three star receivers for Dallas were seen. Otherwise, Dak Prescott was not as shiny as in previous times and the rushing game practically disappeared. Except for a 58-yard Tony Pollard individual play that ended in a touchdown. But Zeke Elliott has still been in debt for several weeks and the passing game could be better this Sunday.
Theres goes Tony Pollard ????♂️????
Down the sideline for a 58-yard touchdown! @Tp__5
????: #DALvsNO on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
????: https://t.co/LMzEctbvnL pic.twitter.com/a997wSA6QS— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2021
By the time Dallas reached their bye week, there was talk that they were strong contenders for the Super Bowl. However, come November those comments have been decreasing although the team has not stopped achieving positive results. They will have a golden opportunity in the five remaining games they have on the schedule. If everything goes well and they manage to overcome at least the divisional duels, everything will be fine. But what they cannot afford is failing this ordeal against Washington. Otherwise, the alarms will go off again and the team could absurdly complicate its playoff aspirations.
