The Dallas Cowboys (6-7) are hosting the Los Angeles Rams (8-5) in a rematch of an August preseason game. Oh wait, that’s not the important matchup. That was actually January’s NFC divisional playoff round, when the Rams ran over and through Rod Marinelli and Kris Richard’s defense and embarrassed the Cowboys out of the tournament.
There is a big fear, thanks to Dallas’ three-game losing streak, that history is about to repeat itself on Sunday afternoon. To check in on things from the other side of the fence, we brought in Cameron DaSilva, managing editor of Rams Wire, to get the skinny on the Rams in a quick Q&A.
Cowboys Wire: The Rams offensive line has undergone major changes, how much of that is the reason for Goff’s regression?
Rams Wire: It’s a good chunk of it. It’s no coincidence that Goff has been playing much better in the last two weeks than he did in the month of November. He’s been getting excellent protection from his big men up front, and it’s giving him more confidence not only on straight dropbacks, but more importantly on play-action passes. He’s definitely had his share of overthrows, missed receivers and questionable decisions, but the offensive line has done him no favors. When he’s on, though, he’s one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. It’s just that he’s been off more than he’s been on this season.
Cowboys Wire: Has Jalen Ramsey been as good as advertised since joining the Rams?
Rams Wire: Not exactly, to be honest. Troy Hill has been the better cornerback since Ramsey was acquired, stepping up as an above-average starter at cornerback. Ramsey’s physicality and ability to match up man-to-man certainly elevates the entire defense and allows Wade Phillips to be more aggressive, but he hasn’t been a lockdown cornerback, per se. That being said, he is usually tasked with covering the opponent’s No. 1 receiver, which is a much tougher challenge than what Hill is asked to do.
Cowboys Wire: Do you feel the Rams are one of the NFCs best teams, overall?
Rams Wire: When they’re on, yes. But they just haven’t been consistent enough for me to put them among the best teams in the conference. Yes, they beat the Saints earlier in the season, but New Orleans is better now than it was then and Drew Brees missed half that game. At this point in time, the Saints and 49ers look like better teams in my eyes, but the rams are getting hot at the right time and their defense is one of the best in football. It’s just a matter of the offense carrying its weight.
Rams Wire: Where has Dak Prescott improved most this season?
Cowboys Wire: Prescott’s mechanics were the subject of plenty of microscopes over the last two offseasons. His lower-body work was egregious and he rarely had a consistent base to throw from. That’s been much improved under the tutelage of new QB coach Jon Kitna, who came in and corrected a few issues.
The result is a much more powerful cannon from Prescott, as he’s able to generate a lot of torque on his throws from his hips (queue the dance video memes and gifs. In fact, there’s some theories that the Dallas receivers lead the league in drops because of how much of a difference there is on his throw velocity and/or spin rate on the ball.
Rams Wire: Who’s an underrated defender the Rams have to worry about
Cowboys Wire: Nobody. This defense is trash if we’re being honest. OK, it’s not really trash, but you know the usual subjects. DeMarcus Lawrence, low sacks or not, has to be accounted for on every play and Robert Quinn is sharp on the opposite end, leading the team with 9.5 sacks. The linebacking corps has been subpar this season, and it will likely be without both Leighton Vander Esch and Sean Lee. (Update: Lee will play.)
That will open up the door for veteran Joe Thomas and rookie Luke Gifford to get plenty of snaps. If you’re looking for a possible surprise performance, that’s where your attention should be focused. Gifford was impressive in training camp and the preseason before a leg injury, but these will be his first regular season snaps on defense. With the way Sean McVay exposed Jaylon Smith to the world back in 2017, Dallas should expect to see a lot of a rejuvenated Gurley on pass patterns.
What’s your prediction for this game?
Cowboys Wire: Pain. The Cowboys are reeling, and it’s tough to see them getting back on track against a getting-hot Rams team. Los Angeles comes to Texas and gets a win, 37-24.
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