Keys to victory for the Rams to beat the Cowboys in Week 8
In Week 8 of the NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams will face the Dallas Cowboys. The Rams will face a club coming off a bye week for the second week in a row. Many consider the Cowboys to be one of the best teams in the NFC, and they will be healthier than they have been at times this season. Dallas, like always, is vulnerable to an upset, and it will be up to the Rams to execute. Here are the five keys to success.
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1. Attack the Middle of the Field in the Passing Game
The middle of the field is where the Rams will have the greatest success against the Cowboys. The attack on the spine of the Dallas defense will be a major element in this game. The Cowboys are lacking in the middle of the field without Leighton Vander Esch. Three weeks ago, the San Francisco 49ers found the most of their success in this area.
This season, Jourdan Lewis has allowed the second-highest quarterback rating from the slot, with nine receptions on 13 targets and two touchdowns. At safety, Malik Hooker has also given up a lot of yards. Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua might be found in the middle of the field by the Rams. They must capitalize on their opportunities.
2. Win in the Red Zone on Defense
This, like last week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be decided in the red zone. The Cowboys have struggled in the red zone this season, ranking 27th in red zone touchdown percentage. The Rams let the Steelers go 3-for-3 in the red zone last week. That cannot possibly happen twice in a succession.
Prior to this week, the Rams defense was ranked in the top ten in red zone defense. It was most likely a concentration during practice after a rough week. Prescott is only completing 55% of his red zone passes and has four touchdowns to one interception inside the 20. The Rams will be in good shape if they can keep the Cowboys under 50% in the red zone.
3. Get Off to a Fast Start
The Cowboys are a squad where things can quickly snowball into an avalanche. The Cowboys fell behind 9-0 early against the Arizona Cardinals and were never able to recover. San Francisco scored the game’s opening 14 points in Week 5 against the 49ers. Are the Cowboys capable of playing from behind? Mike McCarthy tends to crumble when things go off script.
It will be critical for the Rams to score an early touchdown, gain a defensive stop, and then extend their lead. On offense, the Cowboys rank 20th with 0.24 three-and-outs per drive. Even when the defense is strong, the offense can be uneven. The Rams need to be able to take advantage of that inconsistency.
4. Take Away CeeDee Lamb From Dak Prescott
Aside from CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys are without a second threat at wide receiver. This season, Tony Pollard and Jake Ferguson are the team’s top two wide receivers behind Lamb. Lamb leads the Cowboys in receptions, accounting for only the wide receivers. Michael Gallup, the Cowboys’ next closest wide receiver, has 18.
Prescott had a passer rating of 121.7 while targeting lamb this season, which is greater than Gallup and Brandin Cooks combined. Prescott had a passer rating of 62.4 when targeting Gallup but only 43.8 while targeting Cooks. As the Cowboys target Pollard and Ferguson, Ernest Jones and Michael Hoecht will most likely be a focal point in coverage.
However, it will be up to Ahkello Witherspoon to take away Lamb.
5. Continue Using Tight Ends and Running Backs to Chip
Last week against the Steelers, the Rams employed their tight ends and running backs in pass protection more than they had all season. Tyler Higbee and Davis Allen combined for eight defensive snaps, while Royce Freeman and Darrell Henderson combined for fourteen. TJ Watt had two pressures as a result, his fewest since Week 13 of last season.
While McVay dislikes doing it, it may be necessary again against the Cowboys. That will be especially true if Rob Havenstein is sidelined with a calf ailment.The Rams must aim to limit the harm caused by Micah Parsons. The Rams will almost certainly attempt everything, whether it’s chipping him or sliding protection his way, or a combination of the two. Los Angeles, on the other hand, will win by chucking the ball. To maintain pass protection, they’ll need to get the running backs and tight ends involved again.
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