Cowboys vs Commanders Preview (11-23-24)
By: Jaden Golding
Headline Photo Credit: Washington Commanders
Landover, MD – Week 12 of the NFL, and the Washington Commanders welcome in the NFC East division foe Dallas Cowboys to Northwest Stadium.
Washington (7-4) and Dallas (3-7) are coming off week 10 losses to the Eagles and Texans respectively.
The Commanders are looking to get right against the Cowboys, after tough losses against two top teams over the past two weeks in four days from one another. Jayden Daniels and the offense will look to get back to form against a defense that ranks 26th in the league.
On the other hand, the Cowboys’ 2024 season has been a rough sight for the organization. Dallas is the loser of five straight, with four of their seven total losses this season coming by 20 or more points. To make matters worse the team has dealt with its fair share of injuries to their roster. Starting quarterback Dak Prescott is out for the season, Micha Parsons & DeMarcus Lawrence have missed time, Brandin Cooks has been out nearly the entire season, and the offensive line, secondary, and defensive line depth has had people moving in and out of the lineup the whole year.
Keys To Victory
● Run The Ball: The Commanders’ offense over the past two weeks felt as if they kinda went away from a running game that was key in their early season success. No, that doesn’t mean solely drawing up designed plays for Daniels to run. Feeding Brian Robinson Jr. and letting him move the chains on first and second down. Throwing in Austin Ekeler who has been incredibly efficient with the ball in his hands on 5.1 yards per carry. Take some pressure off the passing game and get back to the dynamic aspects of the RPO and power running game.
● The D-Line Needs TO Dominate The Trenches: Dallas’s running game has been all but non-existent this year with no running back on their roster finding success on the ground. Washington’s guys up front must continue that trend, while also drawing up pressure against Cooper Rush and forcing him into bad decision-making. Last week, Rush was sacked five times and had two fumbles and one interception in a game that saw the Dallas offense put up just 10 points.
● Attack The Secondary: In recent years, this probably wouldn’t be a smart game plan going against the Dallas secondary. But Dallas’s defense has only forced nine turnovers all year with six of them being interceptions. Starting cornerback Treyvon Diggs will miss Sunday’s contest as well, so enter in DaRon Bland who’s making his season debut after surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. Opposite of him will be rookie Calen Carson and Nickleback Jourdan Lewis. The Commanders have to draw up plays to open up their receivers down the field and make sure Terry McLaurin gets his fair share of looks throughout Sunday’s contest.
Dallas and Washington Player To Watch
● WR CeeDee Lamb: Lamb is the engine that drives the Dallas offense. He’s one of the best in the league and has an all-around game where he can line up from anywhere on the field using his speed, and athletic ability to make plays. If the Commanders’ defense wants to have smooth sailing they must neutralize him from the game plan and make Rush look elsewhere.
● Ex-Cowboys Players: Anytime you get to play a former team of yours, there’s an extra spark when you are out on the field. This ties into the next part below….
Quinn and Co. Revenge Game
When Dan Quinn joined the Commanders in the offseason, he was leaving Dallas as its defensive coordinator that saw his defense allow the Green Bay Packers to score 48 points, in a 48-32 loss in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. To say he took heavy scrutinizing from the media and fans is an understatement. I’m sure he’d like no better to send a message Sunday now leading this Washington team.
Quinn brought with him from Dallas to Washington, defensive end Dorrance Armstrong, linebacker Dante Fowler Jr, center Tyler Biadasz and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene. With Fowler Jr., Biadasz, and Igbinoghene all being the team captains of the game for Washington. Coincidence…. Not at all.
History vs. Dallas
Sunday’s meeting will be the 129th of all time between the two arch-rivals. Dallas leads the series 78-48-2 (including two playoff matchups). The Cowboys have dominated the series in the 2010s and 20s, with the Dan Quinn era looking to open a new chapter into the book.
Final Verdict
Washington needs to take care of business on Sunday, especially with a lighter schedule coming up in the next few matchups before their second meeting against the Eagles on December 22. Rivalry games are never a given, and history favors the Cowboys anytime these teams meet. Time to change the narrative.
