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[Dallas Cowboys]

10 thoughts on the Cowboys thrilling 40-40 Sunday night tie against the Packers

The Dallas Cowboys didn’t pull out the win on Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers, but they didn’t lose either. It was a crazy back-and-forth contest that featured many opportunities for the Cowboys to come out on top, but they just couldn’t pull out the win. After 70 minutes of football, both teams finished with 40 points, with the game ending in a tie. It was the first time in 56 years that a Cowboys game ended in a tie (1969, 24-24 against San Francisco). Here are 10 thoughts on the Cowboys’ tie-game thriller against the Packers.

1. The defense just can’t make stops​

It’s hard to describe the frustration felt by how this Cowboys’ defense plays. They were not terrible all the time, but in a game where their offense did everything in its power to win, the defense couldn’t come through with a single stop in crunch time. Five times the Packers possessed the ball in the second half or overtime, and five times they scored. Even when the defense made plays on early downs, they’d falter on the money down. The Packers were 10/14 on third down and converted their only fourth-down attempt on a crucial play in overtime. In total, the defense surrendered 489 yards. It was terrible. Just one second-half stand would have been enough to give the Cowboys the victory. And that is because…

2. The offense caught fire​

As bad as it was to watch the defense repeatedly cave, it was equally satisfying to watch the offense take off. It didn’t start great as the Cowboys punted on their first three possessions of the game, but then strung together six scoring drives on their next seven possessions, five of which went for touchdowns. Dak Prescott was incredible in this game, converting on 78% of his passes for a total of 319 yards. He threw three touchdowns and ran one in as well. He made clutch throw after clutch throw, including a 34-yard heave downfield that was hauled in by Jalen Tolbert thanks to some great sideline footwork. It was an impressive 40-point effort by the Cowboys’ offense that was squandered by a terrible defense.

3. Parsons was just enough of a factor​

In a game that many expected Micah Parsons to wreak havoc against a banged-up Cowboys offensive line, the team’s former star pass rusher was held in check almost all night. Dallas did a great job game planning against him, providing help with blocking that included double teams from their tight ends and running backs. Despite a mishmash of tackle arrangements that sometimes included Nate Thomas on either side, the Cowboys did a great job not only against Parsons but the entire Packers pass rush. Prescott was sacked once according to the official stat sheet and that was by Parsons. That proved costly for Dallas as it forced them to settle for a field goal instead of Prescott running it in for a touchdown for the second time in the game. Even though the Cowboys couldn’t seal the deal with a win, the Parsons “factor” serves as a big win for Jerry Jones in how one player isn’t enough of a difference maker when more talent is needed. Speaking of that talent.

4. The WR1​

With no CeeDee Lamb in this one, the Cowboys relied on George Pickens to help pick up the slack in the passing game. And boy did he deliver. Pickens had several key catches in this game. He finished with eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns, but also hauled in a remarkable contested catch near the sideline that set up another Cowboys’ touchdown. Not only that, but he caught a crucial catch on the team’s only fourth-down play that extended the drive and helped the Cowboys go up 30-27 with less than five minutes to go in the game. It was an amazing performance by a receiver who showed that he is every bit a WR1 when asked to be.

5. The blocked PAT of consequence​

The first big play for the Cowboys came on a weird play. After Green Bay scored its second touchdown of the game, it looked like they would go up 14-0, but Juanyeh Thomas was able to block the extra point. The ball bounced into the arms of Markquese Bell, who took it the distance. It didn’t seem like much at the time as the Cowboys still trailed 13-2, but it was a three-point swing that proved extremely relevant in the final score.

6. A big-time takeaway​

Just when the Cowboys scored their first offensive points of the game to make it a 13-9 game right before halftime, the defense struck, and it struck big. Pass rusher James Houston came around the edge and knocked the ball out of Packers quarterback Jordan Love’s hand, falling into the arms of Jadeveon Clowney. Suddenly, the Cowboys had the opportunity to take the lead before halftime, and they didn’t squander it, all of which was made possible by a rare takeaway by the Cowboys’ defense.

7. Schotty was in his bag​

Credit head coach/playcaller Brian Schottenheimer for some creative plays where he did a good job getting the Packers defense going in the wrong direction. Whether he rolled KaVontae Turpin in motion for a fake reverse to spring Javonte Williams for a good run or a misdirection play to Ryan Flournoy out of the backfield, the Cowboys were trying different stuff. Several times, the offense resorted to these little misdirection plays just to get the Packers’ defense leaning the wrong way. It was a good way to get other players involved with their biggest offensive playmaker out of action. It was an impressive 40-point performance against a Packers defense that entered the week with the fewest points allowed in the league.

8. Can’t defend the screen pass​

Okay, we get it. The league gets it. The Cowboys’ defense doesn’t know how to defend a screen pass. After being burned last week against Chicago, teams have taken notice, and the Packers wasted no time exploiting this weakness. Several times, Green Bay would employ some type of screen pass or swing play to catch the Cowboys’ defense out of position or to force them to make good tackles. And most of the night, the Cowboys obliged. It was frustrating to watch.

9. The Liu-Foul​

The Cowboys couldn’t afford to have self-inflicted wounds and still expect to have a chance in this game, but that’s exactly how things were playing out. Early on, it felt like every time they made a good play, it would be negated by a penalty. The offense makes a good passing play. It’s called back because right tackle Nate Thomas didn’t line up close enough to the line of scrimmage. Donovan Ezeiruaku makes a great tackle behind the line of scrimmage for a seven-yard loss. Nope, it was washed away by a personal foul penalty. The defense makes a great stop late in the fourth quarter, forcing an incomplete pass, but then linebacker Marist Liufau decides to just ram the empty-handed running back for no apparent reason. There wasn’t a long list of great defensive plays made on this day, so it’s super frustrating when boneheaded mistakes overturned the ones they had.

10. Ezeiruaku was everywhere​

The personal foul penalty will be what many remember the most, but it should also be noted that the rookie edge rusher was flying all over the game. He did a great job eluding blocks and sniffing out running plays. The stat sheet will only show five tackles (four solo), but his play awareness, relentless effort, and strength to finish plays were on full display. It was a very good showing by the team’s rookie edge rusher.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ughts-packers-game-micah-parsons-dak-prescott

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys 2025 rookie report: Two rookies take steps forward in wild Packers game

The Dallas Cowboys’ rookie class just got tossed into the deep end against the Green Bay Packers. Here’s the list of rookies who got involved and how they performed in the lengthy tie game. Let’s dive in.

OG Tyler Booker ​

Currently out with a high ankle sprain.

DE Donovan Ezeiruaku ​

(Game stats- Snaps: 40, Total Tackles: 5, Pressures: 0, Sacks: 0, TFL: 1)

Ezeiruaku buzzed around with relentless energy in the tie game against the Packers. The rookie edge rusher stacked five tackles and a tackle for loss, knifing downhill on stretch plays and shoving runs back into traffic. He didn’t own the marquee moment with the strip sack, but Ezeiruaku kept popping up in frame while both offenses traded haymakers.

The traits are already on tape, something we mentioned on the Rookie Battleground series here on BTB. He’s stacking sturdy reps, hunting that first NFL sack, and giving the Cowboys’ edge rotation a little extra caffeine.

Dallas and Green Bay combined for 80 points, traded overtime field goals, and exited with synchronized shrugs. In that kind of circus, every hustle tackle matters a beat more, which is exactly why Ezeiruaku’s relentless night plays bigger than the modest box score suggests.

CB Shavon Revel Jr.​

Non-Football Injury list

RB Jaydon Blue​

Inactive

LB Shemar James​

(Game stats- Snaps: 26, Total Tackles: 5, Pressures: 1, Sacks: 0)

James got into action for this first time this season and he didn’t tiptoe onto the stage. After a choppy game from Jack Sanborn, the rookie linebacker grabbed a slice of the rotation and gave the defense some action, racking up five tackles. No neon lights from him, just some solid linebacker work for the rookie. With Sanborn battling hiccups where his lack of speed failed him in coverage and poor pursuit angles, James’ assignment felt like fresh air. For a fifth-rounder making his first real appearance, that’s the kind of tape that will make the coaches circle twice on his name going forward.

OT Ajani Cornelius​

Inactive

DT Jay Toia​

Inactive

RB Phil Mafah​

Injured reserve

WR Traeshon Holden​

Practice squad

TE Rivaldo Fairweather​

Practice squad

LB Justin Barron​

Practice squad

CB Alijah Clark​

Practice squad

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...t-donovan-ezeiruaku-shemar-james-packers-game

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys survey: What should Dallas fans make of the Packers game?

A tie. How do you properly evaluate a tie in the NFL? Since there is no literal way to declare a winner and loser, you have to go to something a little more subjective. And for Cowboys fans, the outcome should feel like something along the lines of a qualified win. Not an actual win, but at least it wasn’t the blowout loss many felt was coming in the Micah Parsons reunion game.

The Cowboys were without CeeDee Lamb and two starting offensive linemen, and were coming off a dreadful game against the Chicago Bears. The consensus among almost everyone was that the Cowboys were going to get pummeled.

But that’s not what happened. Dak Prescott played out of his mind, George Pickens exploded, the offensive line did its job on Parsons (with help from the RBs and TEs), and the defense… well, let’s just say they were out there, and made Green Bay at least work for their points by forcing them to convert third down after third down.

So it was a weird week. But where should we be as Cowboys fans now? Do we have confidence things are starting to move in the right direction? Vote in the poll below and hit the comments.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cowboys fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...rvey-fan-confidence-packers-game-dak-prescott

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys analytics roundup: The tie doesn’t change the Jekyll/Hyde nature in Dallas

It’s a weird week when the most exciting football game the NFL had to offer featured two teams that walked away without a win. Yet, that’s the case after a thrilling tie (an oxymoron if there ever was one) between the Cowboys and Packers, one that’s prompting a sense of optimism in Dallas.

How warranted is that optimism? Let’s take a dive into the advanced data around this team, which reveals a sort of Jekyll and Hyde factor that’s marred the Cowboys’ season to this point.

DVOA	DVOA Rank	DVOA Rank Previous Week	DAVE	DAVE Rank
Offense	15.1%	5th	10th	3.8%	11th
Defense	29.7%	32nd	32nd	5.2%	27th
Special Teams	5.9%	5th	10th	0.9%	12th
Overall	-8.8%	22nd	23rd	-0.6%	18th

Offense and special teams are doing amazing. The latter isn’t the least bit surprising, as Brandon Aubrey and KaVontae Turpin are the best in the league at their respective roles, and a blocked extra point returned for two points boosts the efficiency numbers. The offense is perhaps a bigger surprise, but still encouraging.

The defense, though… woof. How bad is this defense? So bad that the Cowboys’ overall efficiency grade ranks them as the 22nd best team in the league despite their offense and special teams being fifth. That’s a step up from last week, so baby steps are apparently in order for Matt Eberflus.

Pivoting to the EPA-based team tiers, the story is pretty much the same. The defense saw a slight uptick in their EPA/play allowed, if you can believe it, but they’re still languishing at the bottom. The offense moves further to the right, establishing themselves as one of the league’s best even with CeeDee Lamb on the sideline.

Speaking of…

Offense​

Grade	Rank
Offensive DVOA	15.1%	5th
Pass DVOA	25.6%	11th
Run DVOA	11.2%	4th
EPA/Play	0.143	4th
EPA/Dropback	0.202	8th
EPA/Rush	0.026	5th

Who would have thought the Cowboys offense would actually improve in virtually every efficiency metric in their first game without Lamb, who’s sidelined with a high ankle sprain? That’s exactly what they did, with the passing game making a huge leap thanks to some really intuitive play-calling from Brian Schottenheimer.

Meanwhile, the run game is officially for real in Dallas. Javonte Williams is fifth in yards after contact per attempt and still leads the league in rush success rate. After years of the Cowboys never knowing when they could rely on the ground game, Schottenheimer has answered every question through four weeks.

Grade	Rank
QBR	74.2	4th
EPA/play	0.216	9th
CPOE	6.5	7th
EPA+CPOE Composite	0.163	8th
Success Rate	48.1%	16th

It’s officially time to start the Dak Prescott MVP train, y’all. Yes, it’s early, but Prescott is playing out of his mind right now. He currently leads the league in passing yards while sitting third in completion rate, and he’s tied with Matthew Stafford for most big time throws in the league. Just look at how he’s handling pressure versus the rest of the league right now:

Dak. Prescott. https://t.co/Cm8zuWFCoW pic.twitter.com/smN4j8AsLD

— Timo Riske (@PFF_Moo) September 30, 2025

This week, with Lamb on the sideline, he posted a 124.9 passer rating and a 0.536 EPA/play, both of which ranked third in the league for the week. Given the supporting cast he had, and the defense he was facing, that’s pretty darn impressive. If Prescott continues to play like this, he’ll be the MVP frontrunner in no time.

Grade	Rank
Pressure Rate	30.6%	8th
Adjusted Sack Rate	4.3%	7th
Pass Block Win Rate	66%	8th
Run Block Win Rate	73%	9th
Adjusted Line Yards	5.24	3rd

Going back to that graphic about Prescott under pressure for a moment, the quarterback has a 9.2% pressure to sack ratio. That’s fifth-best in the NFL and, considering Dallas has three starters in the top 10 at their position in pressures allowed, it displays how Prescott is bailing out his line from some truly dreadful pass protection.

Brock Hoffman, who made his second start of the season this week, is already second among all centers in pressures allowed. Only two linemen at any position have allowed more pressures than Tyler Guyton so far. The run blocking has been great, but the pass protection is a really big issue that Prescott is masking beautifully for now.

Defense​

Grade	Rank
Defensive DVOA	29.7%	32nd
Pass Defense DVOA	60.8%	32nd
Run Defense DVOA	-4.6%	22nd
Pressure Rate	32.2%	21st
Pass Rush Win Rate	30%	27th
Run Stop Win Rate	30%	19th
EPA/Play	0.261	32nd
EPA/Dropback Allowed	0.442	32nd
EPA/Rush Allowed	-0.014	25th

And then there’s the defense.

As mentioned before, the Cowboys got better this week in most defensive efficiency metrics, but not enough to release themselves from the cellar. Matt Eberflus saw brief glimpses of what this defense should look like, but the Packers were still able to move the ball at will far too often.

The pass rush, especially, is an issue. With four weeks of data to go off of, and the debut of Jadeveon Clowney, Dallas is 21st in pressure rate and 27th in pass rush win rate. Only Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa have generated double-digit pressures, and James Houston just became the first player to hit multiple sacks. Odighizuwa leads the team with a 16.8% pass rush win rate, which is good for 35th in the league. This unit simply has to be better.

Targets	Completions	Completion Rate	Passer Rating Allowed	ADOT When Targeted	Air Yards Allowed	Yards After Catch
Trevon Diggs	8	6	75.0%	156.3	22.8	118	18
DaRon Bland	10	7	70.0%	127.9	14.0	53	29
Kaiir Elam	20	17	85.0%	155.0	12.9	181	53
Reddy Steward	17	15	88.2%	98.0	3.0	4	124
Malik Hooker	4	4	100.0%	158.3	20.3	72	40
Donovan Wilson	12	8	66.7%	99.3	13.1	86	20
Jack Sanborn	11	10	90.9%	109.8	7.5	57	57
Marist Liufau	7	6	85.7%	108.9	3.4	6	64
Kenneth Murray	21	17	81.0%	98.2	2.6	24	135
Damone Clark	7	5	71.4%	84.2	4.7	17	21

DaRon Bland’s return did not magically improve the secondary, in case anyone was wondering. Green Bay actually went after Bland rather aggressively, targeting him eight times; Jordan Love had a ridiculous 130.7 passer rating when throwing at Bland.

Reddy Steward, who got the start over Trevon Diggs, also saw eight targets and gave up a completion every single time. There’s a lot to like about Steward’s physicality, but his pass coverage hasn’t quite lived up to the hype. Though, to be fair, nobody on this defense can say that right now.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ats-packers-tie-dak-prescott-javonte-williams

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Rookie battleground: Cowboys vs. Jets breakdown for draft picks

Each week we dive into each team’s rookie class and compare how they stack up against each other. (Grades for each player are the overall offensive or defensive grade handed out by PFF.com)

Dallas Cowboys​

Tyler Booker (OG)​

First Round

On injured reserve for the next month
Grade: 65.0

Donovan Ezeiraku (DE)​

Second Round

For Donovan Ezeiruaku, the plan this week is to take the next step. The open door against the Jets is the left edge. Olu Fashanu has sprung leaks this year and allowed 15 pressures in three games, fourth-most amount all offensive linemen. This is where you throw the kitchen sink when it comes to Ezeiruaku and give Fashanu some inside counters, and twist games that force him to sort fast. Give Ezeiruaku 20 or more true pass snaps on Fashanu’s side and he bags his first NFL sack.

For Ezeiruaku, the usage has been climbing since Week 1. The arrow is pointing up for him as each week continues, and with more trust from the coaches comes more chances, that means more likelihood of that first sack.

His biggest issue comes from Justin Fields. He’ll extend, he’ll improvise, he’ll also hold the ball for too long. The coaching point for Ezeiruaku will be don’t be a bull in a china shop here, it’s stay aggressive and then squeeze late when the chance comes. Close the exits and those off-schedule scrambles turn into long third-downs where he can then deliver the final blow.
Grade: 56.4

Shavon Revel Jr. (CB)​

Third Round

Currently on Non-Football injury list (NFI)

Jaydon Blue (RB)​

Fifth Round

With Miles Sanders’ injury from the Green Bay game, there’s a real chance we get to see Blue get called to action this week. Keep an eye on the injury report here at BTB and any updates that follow this week.
Grade: N/A

Shemar James (LB)​

Fifth Round

In his debut, James came off the bench and logged five tackles against Green Bay. He was fairly assignment-clean with 26 defensive snaps that didn’t look too big for him. That’s the tape that gets a rookie more work the following Sunday, so here we are.

The Jets are a top-10 rushing team, so beating split-zone and fitting inside-out matters more than the blitz for James this week (although this Cowboys defense could do with some blitz packages to help). Next, spy work, and James has the speed and agility to fit the role. That would mean James not looking to sprint to nine yards and create lanes, stay patient and let Fields’ long clock work against him. With James there spying and mirroring Fields movement that will make him hesitate a little more and allowing more time for the pass rush to get where. Finally, find Breece Hall and chase him down quickly, he has the tackle radius to match any stretch plays or screens that go Hall’s way. This is not the game to be playing Jack Sanborn with his lack of speed, this linebacker needs juice, something James has plenty in the bag.
Grade: 49.8

Ajani Cornelius (OT)​

Sixth Round

Inactive
Grade: N/A

Jay Toia (DT)​

Seventh Round

Inactive
Grade: 30.2

Phil Mafah (RB)​

Seventh Round

Inactive

Grade: N/A

---

Green Bay Packers​

Armand Membou (OT)​

First Round

Rookie right tackle Armand Membou has come flying out of the tunnel. He’s living in the elite category for pass protection, checking in with a 96.7% pass block win rate which ranks 14th among all tackles, while keeping his sheet tidy with only one sack allowed and no penalties so far this season. For a first-month rookie, that’s not hype, that’s craftsmanship.

His power travels, too. Membou isn’t just a wall, he’s a snowplow. PFF grades slots him at sixth-best among tackles in run blocking with a 79.0 grade. For a Jets offense that wants to stay on schedule for Justin Fields and Breece Hall, pointing the run behind him is a perfectly good plan. He creates early-down creases, manageable thirds, and helps put play-action on the board for the offense.

Membou’s counter is technically sound and he’s put that on tape all month. He’s shown patient sets, heavy inside hands, and has rarely had to panic. If he holds up again this week, the Jets get to play their version of on-schedule football, and a first-year right tackle stays one of the safest bets on the field.
Grade: 76.6

Mason Taylor (TE)​

Second Round

The Jets didn’t draft Mason Taylor to be used lightly. They took a second round swing on the 21-year-old seam-stretcher with NFL bloodlines and look for him to stress safeties, not stand around. He’s answered by muscling his way into a real slice of the passing game on a thin depth chart last week, and the usage arrow is pointing north.

Taylor had a career-best five receptions for 65 yards against Miami, showing soft hands on the quick stuff and enough stride to tug the safeties inside. What that means this week for Dallas is if Taylor blocks with a hint of last week’s form and keeps finding those soft-zone perches, he can be the metronome this Jets offense needs. And if the Cowboys lose him near the pylon? Don’t be shocked when the rookie’s first score shows up in next week’s highlight reel.
Grade: 54.0

Azareye’h Thomas (CB)​

Third Round

Azareye’h Thomas showed up from Florida State looking like he was built in a lab for press coverage. He’s long, smooth, and unbothered. As a third-rounder he’s slid neatly into the Jets’ rotation behind Sauce Gardner and Brandon Stephens, mostly outside with a side gig in the nickel. The staff trusts the trajectory even if the stat line hasn’t caught a flight yet.

The fit against Dallas is why you draft his body type. Those limbs are made to smother slants and digs, the Cowboys’ key routes. He can win at the top of the route, not just the release and squeeze throws to the sideline. With New York leaning more into man since Thomas arrived, his skill set syncs with the Cowboys’ condensed splits. And if nothing else we get to see a brotherly hug when both him and Juanyeh find each other before the game.
Grade: 76.4

Arian Smith (WR)​

Fourth Round

The Georgia burner has slid into New York’s wide receiver rotation as the designated oxygen thief. Watch for him to open throttle and get wide-open down the seam. Early returns look exactly like the scouting report with quieter snap counts some weeks, but every target feels like a fire alarm. He doesn’t need volume to matter, he needs one step.

When the Jets use Smith as the speed decoy with jet motion or bunch releases, the Cowboys have to declare leverage or risk losing him past the numbers. Push the help to Garrett Wilson and double team him, and Smith gets the single he wants outside, or spin a safety late, and he’s already even on the post.

Smith is the sprint button in a Jets offense that wants to stress you horizontally with Hall and vertically with Wilson. If New York times the shots and Smith makes those important catches, Dallas’ secondary could be in trouble again this week.
Grade: 48.1

Malachi Moore (S)​

Fourth Round

The Jets grabbed Alabama’s field general and dropped him straight into the rotation with some strong safety and some nickel snaps so far this year. He’s looked the part taking clean pursuit angles and steady eyes while snuffing out the ball carrier. It’s not loud yet in the box score, but the coaching staff keeps handing him real responsibility. That tells you more than any early stat line.

Moore’s edge is that his compass doesn’t budge. Keep the roof on, keep the communication loud, and make Dallas earn it the long way. Do that, and the rookie walks out with a tape that plays in every meeting room on Monday.
Grade: 53.0

Francisco Mauigoa (LB)​

Fifth Round

The Jets dropped the rookie into the linebacker rotation and told him to hit the gas, then hit somebody. He’s brought the same see-ball, beat-block vibe from college to Sundays with fast feet and he’s already earned real defensive snaps while still doing the grimy special-teams stuff coaches love.

This matchup against Dallas is tailor-made for a downhill rookie with turbo legs. Keep the eyes honest on play-action, finish clean in space, and time the tackle right and Mauigoa walks off with solid tape, and Dallas walks off the field more often than they planned.
Grade: 58.9

Tyler Baron (DE)​

Sixth Round

The rookie edge Tyler Baron brings premium length, heavy hands, and versatility, with the ability to play all across the defensive line. The Jets traded up to get him, and his role has been creeping up in rotation. That’s exactly the arc you want for a Day 3 pass rusher who’s quite toolsy.

Baron is an athletic defender and will look to attack Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele, and finish when the pocket resets. His snap count is still modest at only 50 total snaps, and that means he’s only managed to get two total pressures this year. But that’s more a testament of the guys ahead of him on the depth chart, which is great place to be while learning the nuisances of the position.
Grade: 50.1

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ookie-battleground-jets-breakdown-draft-picks

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys at Jets: 2 players Dallas should use more in Week 5

For the seventh time in franchise history, a Dallas Cowboys game ended in a tie last Sunday. Dallas played one of the most exciting games in recent memory, ending in a 40-40 stalemate against the Green Bay Packers.

While the Cowboys did some great things in that game, mainly on the offensive side of the ball, there is plenty that needs to be cleaned up if they want to get back on a winning track this week against the New York Jets. With that thought in mind, today we take a look at two players Dallas should use more in Week 5.

1) DE James Houston

Back in late July, the Dallas Cowboys took a flyer on 26-year-old pass-rusher James Houston. The now four-year pro started his NFL career with a bang, totaling eight sacks in his rookie year. In the two following seasons, Houston was unable to replicate that performance, totaling just one sack in 13 games.

Despite his lack of recent production, Dallas believed it was a worthwhile gamble to sign Houston and see what he had left in the tank. Coming out of the preseason, there was a real question whether the former sixth-round pick would make the 53-man roster, but the Cowboys decided to keep Houston on the active roster. So far, that move has paid off in a big way.

Four games into the season, Houston has been Dallas’ most productive pass-rusher. The 26-year-old leads the team with a 78.7 pass-rush grade and two sacks. Last week against the Packers, Houston made one of the biggest plays of the game, recording a strip-sack on Jordan Love that led to a key Cowboys touchdown.

James Houston continues to shine when given the opportunity. He has consistently seen his snap count increase in the first four weeks, and this will help keep that trend going.pic.twitter.com/ubKdIQmvwv

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) September 29, 2025

James Houston, aligned super duper wide, attacks initially with speed to power, but note that once the LT attempts to anchor, Houston transitions to attacking the corner, which leads him to the strip sack. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/9F7tTKsrjW

— John Owning (@JohnOwning) September 29, 2025

Houston has performed nearly every time he’s been on the field. Despite this, he has not played more than 22 defensive snaps in a game this season. That absolutely has to change, and the Cowboys need to start giving Houston some of the snaps they are giving to Dante Fowler and Sam Williams.

With just how disappointing the Cowboys’ pass rush has been as a whole, there is zero reason James Houston should not play the most snaps of any pass-rusher on Dallas’ roster. This week against the Jets, the Cowboys should unleash Houston and see just how disruptive he can be with increased playing time.

2) OT Nathan Thomas

For the first time this season, the Cowboys made a non-injury induced move on their offensive line in Sunday’s game. Early in the first half, Dallas removed starting right tackle Terence Steele in favor of 24-year-old Nathan Thomas.

The former seventh-round pick played a few series at right tackle before switching over to left tackle when starter Tyler Guyton entered concussion protocol. Thomas ended up playing 17 offensive snaps and did not allow a single pressure on 12 pass-block opportunities.

Cowboys OT Nate Thomas had 13 snaps at LT and 4 snaps at RT last night and did not allow a QB pressure on 12 pass-block opportunities.

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) September 29, 2025

Here is every offensive snap by #Cowboys OL Nathan Thomas in Week 4 (No. 71)

What do you see? pic.twitter.com/s7izIC0mgD

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) September 30, 2025

With Guyton’s status in doubt this week, the Cowboys may be forced to start Thomas at left tackle as his replacement. Even if Guyton is ready to go, Dallas needs to find a way to get Thomas on the field. The easiest way to do so would be to give him Terence Steele’s starting job at the right tackle spot.

It may not happen this week, but there’s a very good chance Nathan Thomas is your Cowboys starting right tackle by midseason.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...-player-more-reps-james-houston-nathan-thomas

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys have fixed main issue on offense from last visit to Jets, defense to be determined

The Dallas Cowboys make their first of two visits to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this Sunday, looking for their first outright win since week two when they beat the other resident of said stadium, the New York Giants 40-37 in overtime. This time, the Cowboys will face a New York Jets team they certainly don’t have a deep history with compared to the Giants. They will play a winless Jets team with a first-year head coach in Aaron Glenn. Both sides are coming off primetime games, where the Cowboys tied the Packers 40-40 on Sunday night and the Jets lost at the Dolphins 27-21 on Monday night.

The most recent meeting between these teams came in week two of 2023 from AT&T Stadium, a 30-10 Cowboys win they controlled from the start. This win actually snapped a three-game losing streak for the Cowboys against the Jets. It was the first of a perfect eight home wins the Cowboys earned in 2023, by an average of 21.5 points.

In these team’s last road meeting for the Cowboys, the Jets beat the Cowboys 24-22. That three-game win streak for the Jets also included a 19-16 win in 2015 in Arlington and 27-24 home win in 2011. Three Cowboys losses decided by a combined eight points. That 2019 loss and most recent visit for the Cowboys to the Jets actually shares a lot of similarities to how Dallas is coming into this week’s game, against yet another 0-4 Jets team.

The Cowboys were also coming off of a game against the Packers at home, losing 34-24 to drop their second in a row after a disappointing road loss 12-10 at the Saints the prior week. Sound familiar to the Bears game in week three for this year’s Cowboys? The Jets loss ended up being their third in a row after starting the season with three wins against the Giants, Redskins, and Dolphins. The game was defined by wide receiver Amari Cooper only being able to play three snaps on the team’s opening drive, a three-and-out where Cooper caught one ball for three yards and then was targeted for an incompletion on third down. Cooper tried to tough things out and play, meaning he was in the Cowboys’ game plan throughout the week of preparation as well, but exiting so early sunk the Cowboys chances of moving the ball at all in this game.

The Cowboys only managed a field goal before halftime and another three points with the opening drive of the second half, which cut the deficit to 21-9. A pair of fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns from Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott sandwiched around a Jets field goal weren’t enough for the Cowboys to come all the way back, as their late two-point conversion attempt failed.

The backbreaking play that forced the Cowboys to play from behind all afternoon will also feel familiar to fans who have watched the team’s current defense coordinated by Matt Eberflus. Sam Darnold connected with Robby Anderson for a 92-yard touchdown to increase the Jets lead to 14-3 in the second quarter. It was the Jets’ longest offensive touchdown since 1985 when Ken O’Brien threw a 96-yard touchdown to Wesley Walker against the Bills.

On Anderson’s touchdown, safety Jeff Heath was the single-high defender and came up on the shorter route despite linebacker Leighton Vander Esch already dropping underneath it. Anderson got behind Chidobe Awuzie and gave the Jets the spark they needed to eventually get in the win column for the first time that season.

These exact type of miscommunications and busted coverages have happened too many times for the Cowboys this season, most notably against the other winless opponent they faced, the Bears. Coming off that loss, the Dallas defense did a slightly better job keeping the top on their defense against the Packers, but still couldn’t turn a 40-point performance from the offense into a win.

To potentially make matters worse for their matchup against the Jets, they will also see a rushing threat at quarterback again, similar to week one against Jalen Hurts who scored three touchdowns with his legs against the Cowboys. Jets starter Justin Fields has increased his rushing total in each game this season, had two rushing touchdowns in week one, and a 43-yard highlight reel touchdown last week at the Dolphins. It feels weird to say so going into a cross-conference road game against an uncommon opponent, but if there is a time for the Cowboys defense to show they can stiffen up against any of these things, Sunday is that opportunity to get back in the win column.

The more likely way for this early kickoff matchup to play out feels like the Cowboys offense needing another big showing. While the defensive issues may not be completely fixed, they at least proved in a huge way last week a repeat performance from that 2019 Jets game on offense is behind them. The years of the Cowboys not having adequate depth at wide receiver are behind them. The Cowboys will also have the slight advantage of knowing their top receiver CeeDee Lamb is unavailable ahead of time, for the second week in a row. Last week in this spot, George Pickens showed up in a huge way as a WR1 and caught eight of 11 targets for 134 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cowboys in the first year under Schottenheimer’s team building have come a long way from the days of Tavon Austin, Cedrick Wilson, and Michael Gallup getting the bulk of the targets like they did in that 2019 Jets loss. The Cowboys won’t visit the Jets without a new, lesser injury concern at wide receiver with Kavontae Turpin questionable with a foot injury, but last Sunday night against the Packers showed they are prepared on this side of the ball.

The availability of KaVontae Turpin is in question this week because of a foot injury coming off the Green Bay game, per sources. He was not on the field during open portion of practice today.

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 1, 2025

Add in the fact this current Jets defense has had the most rushing attempts against them this season, and confidence should be high the Cowboys offense can be effective again and do it’s part to help the team win on Sunday.

With the low point on this season for the defense being a shredding by the Bears, the Cowboys defense needs to at least be able to get a few stops against a Jets team that ranks below the Bears in total yards per game, well behind in passing yards, and nearly a field goal worse in points per game. If they’re able to do so, it will be the second season in a row the Cowboys beat a Justin Fields led team. Fields started the first six games of the season for the Steelers in 2024, which included a rain-delayed Sunday night game in week five in Pittsburgh. Of these six starts, Fields had his lowest completion percentage, second fewest yards, and was sacked three times against Mike Zimmer’s defense.

The Cowboys were also the only defense Fields threw two touchdowns against last year, but the Cowboys did win on a late Prescott to Jalen Tolbert touchdown. Fields also started 28 games between 2022-23 for the Bears, when Matt Eberflus was their head coach. Familiarity with the opponent in this way backfired horribly for the Cowboys directly against the Bears, and time will tell at the Jets – the team that gave Brian Schottenheimer his first NFL coordinator job in 2006.

The Cowboys can’t rely on the quarterback talent gap being as wide as it should be for nearly every game right now, with the way Dak Prescott has this offense at the top of the league. They will just need it to be wide enough to win a game they’re favorited to do so in on the road, take stock at 2-2-1, and look to remain road warriors against a losing team the following week at the Carolina Panthers.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...k-prescott-justin-fields-brian-schottenheimer

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys offensive line can control game vs. Jets

The Dallas Cowboys visiting the New York Jets this Sunday afternoon is a homecoming of sorts for head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Although Schottenheimer started his coaching career nine years prior to joining the Jets as offensive coordinator in 2006,his stop with New York became his longest to that point, and was his first NFL coordinator position.

When Cowboys ownership, and in particular Jerry Jones, talked about their pride in being the first team to make a coaching lifer like Schottenheimer a first-time head coach, his more recent history already being on Mike McCarthy’s staff, and before that his time with Pete Carroll and the Seahawks is often what comes up. Going way back in the archives to his days with the Jets feels less relevant, and even with the Jets being this week’s opponent, the time for Schottenheimer to reminisce on this past with his current team sitting at 1-2-1 feels short.

For the most part, the Cowboys have done a good job looking like an overall focused and prepared team under Schottenheimer’s guidance so far, and will need to do exactly that to avoid a potentially season-breaking letdown game against the currently winless Jets. The Cowboys already had one such game in a “homecoming” scenario for defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus against the Bears, who will call plays against another one of his former quarterbacks Justin Fields making his fourth start for the Jets (missing week three) versus the Cowboys on Sunday.

While this will be one storyline to watch for a Cowboys defense that would welcome signs of progress against any opponent right now, the bigger key to coming out on top for their first of two possible wins at MetLife Stadium in 2025 rests in the hands of Schottenheimer. This brings us to our weekly look at what the Cowboys must do to get their first win at the Jets since 2003, and what would cost them their third road loss of the season.

The Dallas Cowboys will beat the New York Jets if…​

the offensive line picks up where it left off against the Green Bay Packers.​

Fully appreciating what the Cowboys offense did last Sunday night against the Packers was made unfortunately difficult by their defense allowing 40 points, making it the first time in over a decade the Cowboys didn’t win a game by scoring 40 themselves. Even with another letdown defensively, there were things to read between the lines as slight signs of progress on defense, but the progress on offense, even without CeeDee Lamb was much, much more tangible. The Cowboys’ offensive approach bodes well for their matchup against this Jets defense which has lost to Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, and Tua Tagovailoa.

The Cowboys finding out that George Pickens is capable of stepping up as a WR1 against the Packers was one of the best things they did in the tie, but it was the offensive line that was even more depleted. Dallas had backups starting again at both center and right guard, and had to bring in backup tackle Nate Thomas for reps on both the left and right side. Still, the Cowboys were able to get a push in the run game and keep Micah Parsons off the stat sheet without a sack until late in the game when he chased down Dak Prescott right at the line of scrimmage. Most Cowboys fans would love to have a chat with both the official scorer that ruled that play a sack, as well as the time keeper that left one second at the end of overtime for the Packers to tie the score.

The Cowboys offensive line did it’s job to allow Prescott to have a masterful performance from the pocket, and Schotty’s play-calling equally did a job helping the line with misdirection plays and play-action. The Cowboys are still searching for a game they can take full control of and play on their terms this season, and Sunday against a reeling opponent could be that opportunity. The Jets defense ranks in the bottom ten in the NFL in first downs allowed per game, rushing yards allowed per game and yards per pass attempt against. They are dead last in the percentage of runs compared to pass plays they have seen against them, and have only six sacks this season.

None of these sacks came last Monday night for the Jets in a loss at the Dolphins, a game that looks closer judging by the final score than it really was. Tagovailoa was protected all game, had zero incompletions throwing to top target Tyreek Hill before he was injured, three incompletions targeting Jaylen Waddle, and only one to tight end Darren Waller. De’Von Achane averaged five yards a carry, and the Dolphins led this game 17-3 and 24-10 at different points in route to a 27-21 win. Also looking for their first win, the Dolphins clearly looked like the better team against the Jets, and shredded their defense on the second level with layered throws.

When the Cowboys put on this tape to prepare for Sunday, there should be plenty of things for Schottenheimer to really like about his matchups for Pickens, Jake Ferguson, Javonte Williams, and even rookie RB Jaydon Blue expected to be active for the first time.

Knowing that Prescott is capable of the heroics he pulled off against the Packers is one thing, but balancing the offensive effort more to not need the amount of clutch throws he’s been asked to make is another. This is an important thing the Cowboys need to find sustainable success in 2025. When Schottenheimer coached with the Jets, they were known for their physical run game. Bringing that back with the visiting team this time and opening up downfield throws to make the explosive plays would be a welcome sight here in week five.

Leaning on their offensive line against a Jets defense with all kinds of issues in the front seven is the way to do so and get in the win column for the first time since week two.

The Dallas Cowboys will lose to the New York Jets if…​

they cannot take away the rushing threat from Justin Fields.​

The offensive highlight last week for the Jets in their fourth loss was Justin Fields scrambling for an improv 43-yard touchdown. The third quarter score actually pulled the Jets within 17-10, threatening for a divisional win to right the ship, but they never drew any closer. It was Fields’ third rushing touchdown of the season after having two in his first start for New York in week one against Pittsburgh. Fields will be the biggest rushing threat from the QB position the Cowboys will see since week one, when Jalen Hurts ran in three touchdowns against Eberflus’ defense.

The Jets’ passing attack being overly dependent on Garrett Wilson could play into the hands of the Cowboys’ zone defense, allowing them to keep defenders in his space without always turning and running in man coverage. This should allow them to keep better contain of Fields as well. When New York’s offense does have the element of Fields scrambling going for them though, it helps the likes of RB Breece Hall and TE Mason Taylor get more involved. Taylor’s targets have seen a sharp increase the last two weeks, so the much-maligned Cowboys linebackers will have to be prepared in coverage.

When the Cowboys lost to the Eagles in week one, they were beat by the legs of Hurts as a result of staying committed to stopping the interior run against Saquon Barkley. With the Jets rushing attack, Fields is not the only threat outside the tackles, as Hall can be more dynamic here. Dallas will need to have an edge to their defense, but not get their zone stretched too far vertically to allow the big plays over the top. Fundamentals of tackling and not committing penalties like they had against the Packers will also be critical.

The Cowboys need to handle business on both sides of the ball to get back on track at the Jets.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...3676/offensive-line-control-game-jets-defense

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

5 things to watch when the Cowboys play the Jets

The Dallas Cowboys will head to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Sunday to play the New York Jets. The Jets have yet to win a game this season, and the Cowboys are hoping that streak continues as they look for just their second win of the year, the first one came against that other New York football team.

The Cowboys need this win badly, as a loss to a winless team would send them down the path of what likely turns into a rebuild season. A win, however, keeps their season alive and allows them a chance to still make some amount of noise in 2025. What should we expect in this one? Here are five things to keep an eye on when they play the Jets on Sunday.

1. Ready to run​

The Jets don’t have a lot of offensive weapons, but they do have one very powerful one behind center. Quarterback Justin Fields is a huge threat with his legs. He takes off running at a league-high rate of once for every seven of his dropbacks. He is averaging nearly 60 yards rushing per game, the most of any quarterback this season, and it’s not even close.

Fields is going to be a problem for a Cowboys’ defense that has proven vulnerable to containing the quarterback as the pocket collapses. In three of their four games, they have surrendered a quarterback run of at least 15 yards, including last week when Jordan Love scampered for a huge 25-yard gain. The Cowboys have struggled with filling the gaps and taking good angles, which has led to some breakdowns when trying to chase down the quarterback this season. Jalen Hurts had 62 yards against them in the opener. If the defense isn’t able to limit the damage of the mobile Fields, it could lead to a frustrating day for the Cowboys.

2. Don’t let Wilson go wild​

The Cowboys’ defense is the absolute worst at stopping the deep ball. They have surrendered 11 receptions, 461 yards, and five touchdowns on deep pass plays, the highest in the league in each category. This week’s recipient is Garrett Wilson. Entering the week, the Jets’ star receiver has 38 targets, third-most for wide receivers. He’s the meat and potatoes of the Jets’ passing attack, as no other receiver on the team has caught five passes for the year.

It would be nice to see some adjustments in the secondary, as the heavy use of zone coverage has not been working for the new defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus. Expect Wilson to have some big chunk plays. The last time these two teams faced each other was a couple of years ago at AT&T Stadium. Even though the Cowboys won by 20, Wilson still had a 68-yard touchdown when he took a pass over the middle to the house.

This is my biggest fear on Sunday. A communication mix-up, poor angles, and Garrett Wilson taking off for a big play.pic.twitter.com/yToJJAqw3d

— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) October 3, 2025

3. Defense needs to get off the field​

One way to limit big plays is just getting off the field by making third-down stops. The Cowboys’ defense has been the absolute worst in this department, giving up a league-high 58% conversion rate on third down. It’s frustrating to watch, especially after the defense strings together some nice plays on early downs. That’s all for naught, though, as the defense continues to show the ability to cave when they need stops the most.

On Sunday, the defense might have a chance to show some improvement in this area as they face a Jets’ offense that is fourth-worst in the league in converting on third down at a rate of just 31%. It would be such a welcoming sight to see the defense show a little more discipline, create some pressure, and not cap things off with a bonehead penalty after making a nice defensive play. How the defense handles itself on the money down could go a long way in determining who comes out on top in this game.

4. Lay off the Sauce​

George Pickens had a breakout game last week against the Green Bay Packers. He hauled in eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns, and every single one of them was needed. It was nice to see as it showed that the Cowboys’ offense was still alive and breathing even without the services of their All-Pro wideout CeeDee Lamb, who remains out with an ankle injury.

This week, Pickens draws a tough opponent as he should see a lot of Sauce Gardner, who is likely to follow him around. Gardner has done a great job shutting down the opposing team’s WR1, and we might want to temper our expectations for an encore Pickens performance. Hopefully, the Cowboys have some backup options in the queue where they involve Jalen Tolbert and Ryan Flournoy more, especially since Kavontae Turpin is unable to go from a foot injury.

5. A takeaway would be nice​

There’s a laundry list of things the Cowboys’ defense is not good at, and taking the ball away is one of them. They have forced only two turnovers so far this season. Only two teams have forced fewer turnovers, and the Jets are one of them as their defense has yet to take the ball away this season. On the other side of the ball, the Jets’ offense loves to give the ball away as they have committed seven turnovers on the year, six of which have come on fumbles, the most in the league.

It would be nice if the Cowboys’ defense could come away with some splash plays and steal a possession or two from a Jets offense that has proven to be sloppy at times. Getting around the edge and stripping Fields would be great, or seeing a corner actually step in front of a route would be so satisfying. The Cowboys need to start righting some wrongs on defense, and it would be a good start if they came away with or turnover or two.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...me-garrett-wilson-justin-fields-sauce-gardner

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys at Jets referee report: A rookie ref looms for Dallas

The Cowboys are heading on a road trip up north, set to play in a stadium they’re very familiar with but against a Jets team they’re not as used to facing. Coming off last week’s tie, the Cowboys have to be feeling anxious to get back on the field and compete for a real outcome, win or lose. But they’ll run into a rookie head coach, in former Cowboys defensive back Aaron Glenn, as well as a rookie referee.

Before we dive into the man leading this week’s officiating crew, let’s take a look at how the Cowboys stack up in the penalty arena so far this year.

Cowboys Penalties	Penalty Yards	Opponent Penalties	Penalty Yards
at Eagles	4	42	9	110
vs Giants	12	106	14	160
at Bears	4	25	6	41
vs Packers	11	95	7	53
Total	31	268	36	364

Last week’s game marked the first time this season that the Cowboys drew more penalties than their opponent. Even still, Dallas is 12th in total penalties assessed to them. They’re now tied for the league lead in special teams penalties, while offense and defense are not even in the top 10.

The Jets, meanwhile, are 10th in penalties but fourth (!) in penalty yards, meaning that when they make a mistake, it’s a big one. Most of that yardage has come because of the defense, which has given up the third-most first downs due to a penalty this year. Get this: the Cowboys offense leads the league in first downs earned by penalty.

That will be an interesting factor to keep an eye on in this one, especially because the game will be called by a rookie referee:

Referee for Cowboys at Jets — Alex Moore
https://t.co/pMckAhCDtp #DALvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/DZStJFWpyf

—  Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Zᴇʙʀᴀs (@footballzebras) October 1, 2025

Alex Moore has had an ample career officiating college games, first working with the American Athletic Conference before migrating to the SEC. He then worked with the USFL in their inaugural year before getting the call to join the NFL, first as an umpire. Moore was then promoted to head referee ahead of this season.

This will mark just his fourth NFL game leading his own crew. As such, there isn’t a whole lot to go off of with Moore and his reputation, or even any real tendencies. Typical trends for first-time referees in the NFL see that crew being towards the top of the league in penalties, and as such, Moore’s crew leads the league through four weeks.

Before his promotion, Moore worked on crews led by both Bill Vinovich and Shawn Smith, both of whom have called a Cowboys game already this year. Vinovich called their overtime win over the Giants, one that saw plenty of flags fly both ways, and Smith called the season opener; interestingly, Smith has not called a game since that one, which featured him ejecting Jalen Carter for spitting on Dak Prescott.

While Moore has been a bit liberal with the penalty flag, he’s been fairly even between the home and road teams, with just two more total flags on the visitor thus far. Ironically, the home team has been the more penalized team in three of those four games, and the home team has also won all three of those games. The only road team to win a game with Moore on the call was the Patriots, who scored 10 unanswered points in the final seven minutes of their game with the Dolphins.

That game also marked the only one in which the favored team did not win outright. To that end, it bears mentioning that Dallas is favored by 2.5 points despite being the road team, and the general rule of thumb is that homefield advantage is worth three points in betting markets.

One trend that has certainly stuck out for Moore: he’s unafraid to penalize a team for sloppy play. Every single one of his games so far has seen at least one team hit 11+ penalties. As you can see above, the Cowboys have done that twice already; the Jets just did that for the first time this past week against the Dolphins.

That can’t bode well for the Cowboys. However, they’ve also had two games with just four penalties, and have routinely been the more disciplined team so far this year. It’s hard to know exactly what to expect from such a new referee, but the Cowboys will need to play clean football this week. They won’t get away with anything with Moore on the call.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...14/jets-game-referee-report-rookie-alex-moore

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys at Jets: Writer predictions for get-right game

It’s easy to talk about how a team might respond following a loss, but what about a tie? How does a team feel after pouring their heart and soul into a game for four quarters, and then overtime, just to come away with nothing to show for it? The Cowboys are about to find out.

They travel up north to face a winless Jets team, hoping to avoid a similar fate to when they traveled up north to face a winless Bears team. Like Week 2, Dallas is favored, but do our writers feel confident that this one will turn out different? Let’s take a look.

When New York has the ball​

Contain Justin Fields

The Jets turned a new page at quarterback, signing former first-round pick Justin Fields, who is himself looking to turn a new page. So far, he’s been the primary source of offensive production for the team: he’s tied for ninth in the league in yards per pass attempt, and he trails Jalen Hurts by just one yard for the lead in quarterback rushing. As a whole, Fields is seventh among quarterbacks in overall success rate.

Fields is at his best when using his physical traits – lightning fast speed and a cannon for an arm – to break defenses. The Cowboys haven’t mad much problem being broken by any quarterback this year, and they’ve been especially susceptible to mobile quarterbacks. Keeping Fields in the pocket and limiting big plays will be key to minimizing his impact, which would seriously hinder this offense.

When Dallas has the ball​

Stay ahead of schedule

So far, the Cowboys offense hasn’t had much trouble moving the ball. They’re in the top five in a ton of different categories, and they actually got better (statistically, that is) without CeeDee Lamb this past week. Now, they’re facing a Jets defense that has done little to slow any offense this year.

That said, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks is a tough man to scheme against. Brian Schottenheimer faced off against Wilks back in 2018, when it was Seahawks vs Cardinals, and his Seattle offense averaged -0.041 EPA/play in those games; they averaged 0.093 EPA/play the rest of the year. A big part of that is Wilks’ deep bag of exotic blitzes he likes to unleash on third downs. The Cowboys’ best bet is to avoid third down altogether by staying ahead of schedule and converting early in the series.

Now onto the predictions from your BTB writers…

Tom Ryle (2-1-1):

Which team will we see? I’m thinking they are a bit cautious but can still get it done on offense, while the defense gets just enough stops.

Cowboys 27 Jets 20.

Matt Holleran (3-0-1):

With all the injuries Dallas is dealing with on the offensive side of the ball, the Cowboys are going to need some unexpected heroes to step up if they want to win this game. To that point, I see Jaydon Blue and Ryan Flournoy doing just that, providing a much-needed spark for Dallas’ offense. Dak continues playing like an MVP, and Dallas’ defense, for the first time all season, makes a play when they have to.

Give me the Cowboys, 27-23.

Mike Poland (1-2-1):

Expect a scrappy game here. The Jets are 0-4 and hunting that first victory of the year so they’ll want to bring all the trick plays and RPO calls out on the field to get a home win. Sure, the Cowboys are missing pieces at wide receiver this week and on the offensive line. But the Jets front four aren’t getting home much, only four sacks this year. That goes in Dallas’ favor as they try to control the offense and also the clock to help its defense.

Cowboys win this one 31-21.

Brian Martin (2-1-1):

I think the Jets are a lot better team than their 0-4 record would suggest, giving me a bad feeling about this Week 5 matchup for the Dallas Cowboys. I think it’s going to be a really close, low-scoring game, but one Dallas manages to eke out the victory.

Score prediction: Cowboys 16, Jets 13.

Jess Haynie (2-1-1):

Cowboys offense keeps rolling against a struggling Jets D.

Cowboys 33, Jets 24.

David Howman 1-2-1):

I feel pretty confident about this one, until I remember the Week 3 game. I felt just as confident about the Cowboys, fresh off an overtime game, going on the road against a winless team led by a former Dan Campbell assistant. But this time, I think it’s real.

Here’s my hot take: the Cowboys defense will actually look good in this one. Justin Fields is a problem when he’s clicking on all cylinders, but I see the Dallas pass rush (or lack thereof) actually working in their favor and baiting Fields into his worst tendencies: holding onto the ball too long, forcing it into tight coverage, and otherwise stalling out his offense. As for the Cowboys’ own offense, I think they’ll continue to roll, especially on the ground.

Cowboys win 34-10.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...737/jets-game-score-predictions-justin-fields