The Rams and Cowboys are set to square off for the third time in the last three seasons on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium. It’s a game with huge playoff implications as both teams need a win to stay firmly in the race in the NFC.
To learn more about the state of the Cowboys and their team, we talked to Cowboys Wire editor K.D. Drummond to gather some intel.
Where has Dak Prescott improved most this season?
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 are 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.
Who’s an underrated defender the Rams have to worry about?
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. 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.