Tyron Smith may not be available for the Cowboys Falcons game this weekend and that terrifies Cowboys fans. The last time that happened in 2017, his replacement Chaz Green made Adrian Clayborn famous after recording 6 sacks on Dak Prescott. Their right tackle La’el Collins is still out and the Dallas Cowboys offensive line struggled last week in the loss to the Rams. Winning this game is crucial for both teams after each starting 0-1. In order to do that, here are four keys to victory that I believe will help the Dallas Cowboys defeat the Falcons.
1. STOP THE RUN
The Dallas Cowboys got shredded against the Rams in the run game last week. The Rams dominated the line of scrimmage on the interior and controlled time of possession. Against the Seahawks in week 1, the Falcons tried to establish the run early and were successful doing so. They deployed a ton of 12 formation (two tight end sets) and used play action quite a bit. The Seahawks were much better equipped to handle that play action as well as designed screen plays with players like Bobby Wagner and Jamal Adams. The Cowboys however struggled mightily against the Rams in that area. If the Dallas Cowboys can avoid being overrun at the line of scrimmage without over committing on stopping the run it will allow them to better handle the dangerous passing attack the Falcons possess.
2. PRESSURE MATT RYAN
Matt Ryan is not the most mobile quarterback by any stretch of the imagination. Last week against the Seahawks he really struggled under pressure unlike his counterpart Russell Wilson who thrives in that situation. Several times Seahawks defenders were allowed to enter the backfield unblocked as the Falcons struggled with blitz pick-ups. The Dallas Cowboys can create pressure especially off the edge. The Cowboys also showed some promise last week when they started playing more aggressive and bringing pressure from their linebackers. This game presents a great opportunity for the Cowboys to really gamble defensively with some definite risk but potentially high reward.
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3. SCORE FIRST
Last week versus the Rams, it was very difficult for the Dallas Cowboys to generate any pressure on Jared Goff. This was not due to lack of ability but because Goff was able to get the ball out of his hands quickly and negate the effect of the pass rush. In order to avoid this happening again, the Dallas Cowboys need to get out to an early lead which will allow them to get pressure on Matt Ryan. Furthermore, playing with the lead will allow the Cowboys to establish their run game and control the clock instead of the other away around. With all the injuries on the Cowboys offensive line, being able to slow the game down and run block in the second half would be ideal. Playing with an early lead is imperative for that to happen. With that in mind, it might be a good suggestion for Mike McCarthy to take the ball if he wins the opening coin toss rather than defer as he stated was his preference.
4. PROTECT DAK PRESCOTT
Shades of the 2017 Cowboys Falcons game come to mind here with all the injuries on the Cowboys offensive line, specifically to Tyron Smith. The Dallas Cowboys simply cannot afford to have Dak Prescott sit back in the pocket and take a beating. The Falcons are no slouches when it comes to the pass rush either. With dynamic edge rushers like Tak McKinley and Dante Fowler and with Grady Jarrett on the interior, the Cowboys offensive line will have their hands full. The Falcons were able to generate pressure and get to Russell Wilson early last week for 3 sacks. But, Russ being Russ, he was also able to take advantage and make the Falcons pay on several occasions. The key was quick decision making and using his legs on occasion. Designed runs for Dak Prescott, screens, and quick slants executed well can really negate the pass rush and keep the pocket clean. The utilisation of play action and pre-snap motion are tools that the Cowboys should use to dissuade the Falcons from being too aggressive and expose them if they do. The Atlanta Falcons secondary is definitely a weakness but the current state of the Dallas Cowboys offensive line limits how they can attack that. One thing the Cowboys must try to avoid is committing to the run early and creating third and long situations. That happened frequently against the Rams and Dak came under a lot of pressure. If the Cowboys can get the ball out quickly, score early, and maintain a lead eventually they can lean on the run game. Once that happens, the Falcons will be more vulnerable to the downfield passes and the Cowboys can take advantage at that point. They will likely need to keep their foot on the gas as the Falcons have the ability to put up points quickly with their passing attack and their talented receiving corps. The Cowboys secondary is ill equipped to handle the Falcons air attack but I like the Cowboys chances in a shootout if they have an early lead.
PREDICTION
Despite the Cowboys underwhelming performance in week 1 against the Rams, I still have faith in this coaching staff. I am confident that they will adapt and build upon their week one loss. I also believe that unlike the Cowboys Falcons game of 2017, the new coaching staff will make immediate adjustments if things start to go sideways. The Falcons probably need this win more than the Cowboys do thanks to their superior division, however the Dallas Cowboys will prevail in this one. Final score: COWBOYS 30 FALCONS 24
*Photo by Joe Glorioso All-Pro Reels: //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/legalcode]