Intriguing Game- Week Five
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams
Cowboys: After looking helpless in week one against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they’ve turned the corner and I mean that in a good way. When Dak Prescott went down with his thumb injury, Cooper Rush stepped in as the starting Quarterback and he’s handled his business. I always say when you’re replacing a big name, you just have to simply be yourself. Don’t try to be the guy you’re filling in for. Play your game and let it all come to you. In the 3 games Cooper has started, the Cowboys have been victorious. Their formula has been simple. Allow Cooper to manage the game meaning control things, hand the football off and most importantly, take care of the ball by not turning it over. The other half of the formula is playing strong defense. Now, let’s fast forward. The Quarterback has yet to turn the ball over and the defense has been one of the best in the league this year. What I like is how the unit is homegrown. Everyone was drafted and they’ve developed really well. I need to say this because I haven’t been able to give my thoughts yet. Micah Parsons is outstanding and in just a year, he’s become an elite defensive player in our league. Can we cool it with the comparisons to Lawrence Taylor though please?! Lawrence is the greatest defensive player ever to play this game. Let’s not put that type of pressure on this kid. Allow him to make a name for himself! On Sunday, the Cowboys will look to keep this ship rolling with a 4th consecutive win. They’ll take a trip to Inglewood.
Rams: If you said they’re a disappointment this year, I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with you. They came in with higher expectations considering they’re the defending Super Bowl champions and with that being said, the bullseye will always be on you when you’re the team everyone is looking to take down. I’ve been asked this a few times this season and now, I can finally answer it. What exactly is wrong with the Los Angeles Rams? Let’s break this down. I want to start with their offense. The Offensive Line is horrible primarily. Losing Andrew Whitworth to retirement is one thing, but they’ve been so inconsistent this year. Football is a game won in the trenches and they’ve been soft up front. I can’t think of another word to describe them. Next, they don’t run the football as much as I’d like them too. When they were on their way to the Super Bowl, they had a ground game to lean on and the offense relies on Cooper Kupp far too much to bail them out. Now that I’ve talked about the offense, let’s get to the other side of the football, the defense because I’m concerned about them. The 49ers bullied them and played a more physical style brand of football. My biggest worry about them is their pass rush. They don’t have it and it left with Von Miller when he left for the Bills. There is no excuse why Aaron Donald who’s an interior defender should be your best pass rusher. This is where Leonard Floyd needs to step it up. The Rams will look to bounce back on Sunday at home with Dallas coming to town.
Cowboys X-Factor: DeMarcus Lawrence– He’s still a key contributor to this Dallas defense. Remember, sacks aren’t everything. Yes, they look good on the stat sheet, but DeMarcus impacts the game in other ways. Pass rushing doesn’t mean you must sack the Quarterback. Applying pressure and making the Quarterback think twice means a lot and that’s exactly what DeMarcus does. He can get those hands up and knock the ball down and he can stop the run. Look for him to be active in this game.
Rams X-Factor: Allen Robinson– You signed him for a reason. To be that guy that can take pressure off of Cooper Kupp. could almost file a missing person’s report because he’s nowhere to be found, but I don’t blame him because the Rams aren’t making enough of an effort to get him the ball. You’ll see how much attention will be shown on Cooper. Look for Allen to finally get it going on Sunday. Lots of open, one on one looks where he can get the ball and create in space. He could spark the Rams offense.
Final Thoughts: Both these teams are heading in different directions. Dallas has won their last 3 games while the Rams are sitting at .500 right now. I’m not a fan of using the term “must win” this early, but this is a must win game for the defending champs because they’ve been everything but consistent. It’s key for the Rams to start quickly. Put the Cowboys in an early hole and make Cooper Rush press. Force him to have to make throws on top of throws early on. Get him out of his comfort zone. This Rams offensive line must be ready to play. When Matthew Stafford is sacked less than 2 times, the Rams have an 11-1 record. When he’s sacked how he was on Monday night against the 49ers, they have a tough time winning. This Dallas defense has yet to give up 20 points on the year and that’s impressive considering they’ve faced both Tom Brady and Joe Burrow. I look for them to mix it up and throw different looks at Stafford. Make him run and get those takeaways to set up your offense. This game comes down to which Stafford shows up.
Prediction: Cowboys 24, Rams 20
