The Cowboys have a straightforward task tonight against the Tennessee Titans. Stop the run.
With Derrick Henry doubtful, and Ryan Tannehill out for the season, stopping Malik Willis and whomever takes the handoffs should be the primary focus for Dan Quinn's defense.
They run the football a ton, and Willis has struggled to throw it this season. Their loss to the Texans last week he was 14-for-23 for 99 yards and two interceptions. In week nine against the Chiefs, Willis completed only FIVE passes for 80 yards.
Passing the football is not something they do well, and with the Cowboys secondary beat up by injuries, they may get a bit of a rebound-type game tonight.
The Titans typically play teams close because they can chew some clock and sustain long drives, but if you jump on them early, it is challenging for them to hang around.
The Cowboys' defense has only ONE sack in the last two games and still ranks third in football. They may struggle to contain Willis by keeping him in the pocket, but this feels like the type of matchup this defense needs to get some stops.
The only way the Cowboys defense got off the field last week was if they turned them over. They have given up a ton of yards and points the last couple weeks, and it hasn't looked pretty.
As I write this and you read this, I'm sure we are both thinking this will be a typical Thursday night football game, and both offenses will struggle, and we will see a tight game throughout.
The Cowboys will dominate from start to finish. The offense will continue to put up points against a very injured Titans secondary.
This is the game we will see the defensive line get its pass rush back. We will see Willis running for this life and making it hard for a team that just lost to Houston to do anything.
We will have to wait and see who suits and plays for them, but what a matchup for a struggling defense in terms of yards and points to bounce back and get some momentum right before the playoffs.
Dallas didn't allow 20 points in six of its first seven games. Since that juncture, teams have crossed that threshold six times, with four opponents scoring 29 points or more.
For the Cowboys to make any run, if the defense could find even a sliver of what they had in the first part of the year, now with Prescott back averaging 34 points a game, this is a scary group moving forward.
I will keep it honest and say the Cowboys have been playing to level of every team this season even when they have been clicking. It would be nice to have a enjoyable night this evening and see the Cowboys take care of business pretty easy.
Keeping control of Willis could be perfect practice for them as they have a chance to face the Eagles against in the second round of the playoffs. Hurts is a better thrower than Willis, but they both run the ball well.
If the Titans don't play any of their starters with only needing to win next week against the Jags for the division title, this game may have no meaning and the Cowboys will blow them out.
