Welcome to week 17, a quick turnaround after the Dallas Cowboys' Christmas eve win over the Eagles Saturday.
The Cowboys are on the road this week as they head to Nissan Stadium to take on a 7-8 Titans team that has nothing to play for THIS week.
The Titans play the Jaguars in week 18, no matter how this game unfolds, and it will be for the AFC South title. I will touch on the importance of that in a minute.
The Cowboys (11-4), on the other hand, are pretty much looked into the 5th seed for the playoffs, they have a very slim chance of winning the NFC East and becoming the one or two seed. It would take nearly a perfect two weeks for that to happen.
With this matchup tomorrow night, the Cowboys should attack it just like they did a week ago and light up the scoreboard. Keep their foot on the gas, continue gaining confidence as the playoffs near, and make the Eagles win one final game.
For the Titans, there have been reports of maybe the best running back in football not suiting up for tomorrow's matchup.
Derrick Henry missed practice Monday and was limited on Tuesday for Tennessee, and he will probably be a game-time decision. Still, with nothing to gain this week for the Titans, I have seen plenty of people saying they should keep him out and rest him for their winner take all matchup in week 18.
For #Titans:
🔑 Derrick Henry (hip) one of only four who returned to practice — all four being listed as limited.
🔑 No one on the Titans injury report has been a full participant so far this week. pic.twitter.com/mByD37gmx7
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) December 27, 2022
Henry is the biggest concern for the Cowboys' defense, with a sprinkle of Malik Willis. They run the football a ton. Willis has struggled to throw the football this season. In their loss to the Texans last week was 14-for-23 for 99 yards and two interceptions.
As odd as it sounds, this might be the game for the Cowboys defense to regain confidence and get off the field on third downs. We all can agree that even with the turnovers they have been creating, they have not been good the last two weeks. They can't get off the field on third down. They are feeling the injury bug, but giving up way to many big plays. The worst part for me is they only have ONE sack in the last two games… Yikes.
I see this as a ‘get' right game for the Dallas defense.
As for the offense, The Cowboys are averaging over 30 points a game since Dak Prescott returned from injury, and he was dialed in Saturday against the Eagles defense that had yet to let up a 300-yard passer until Prescott.
The Cowboys should be fine moving the chains and finding their way into the endzone again this week. The injury bug has also hit the Titans' defense. Tennessee has allowed 10 red-zone possessions over the past three games. Tony Pollard is on the injury report for the Cowboys this week, so, If he can't go, expect a big day from Zeke and Malik Davis running the football.
The Cowboys will take care of an unstable Titans team this Thursday night.
Dallas wins 31-16.
