Tag: 2023 Week 16

‘The Rams are our friends,’ for now: Cowboys Week 16 rooting guide

The Cowboys can still win the division and have the longest of shots at the No. 1 seed. However, even if they fail, the Rams could play a vital role in helping Dallas realize their ultimate goals. | From @KDDrummondNFL

An interesting thing has happened in the NFC playoff race. Without taking the field since being blown out by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, ending their five-game winning streak, the Dallas Cowboys got better. Mind you, they are the exact same caliber team they were before and after kickoff in Buffalo, but the goal-post movers lost a round of ammunition on Thursday. The Rams are now winners of five of their last six games after taking out the New Orleans Saints, improving to 8-7.

For those who have claimed Dallas is unable to win games against teams .500 or better, who are outside of the NFC East (which is high comedy how specific that knock is), they mitigated that the Week 2 win over the New York Jets (1-0) and the Week 6 win over the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) didn’t count, because they were no longer above .500. But now the Rams, who were 3-4 when Dallas roasted them 43-20, qualify and raise the tide on the Cowboys’ resume.

That’s silly, of course, but so is the original argument. Dallas is who they are, a quality team regardless of what their opponents do outside of playing them. But the Rams are a great example, and also may be of help to the Cowboys come playoff time as well. In more ways than one, the Rams are our friends.

After lackluster showing and amid injury concerns, here’s how Cowboys OL can bounce back

The Cowboys offensive line struggled last week in Buffalo here’s what they need to bounce back in Week 16 against the Dolphins, says @ReidDHanson.

They say games are won in the trenches and in many ways, that’s pretty spot on. Dominant offensive lines have a way of making things easy on the skill players. And dominant defensive lines have a way of erasing even the best QBs and RBs.

As the Cowboys offensive line gears up for their next big opponent, the pressure is on to get back on track and reclaim some of their midseason dominance.

The group is coming off what many consider one of their worst performances of the year. Aside from Tyron Smith at LT, every player seemed to struggle in some way. Terence Steele, Tyler Smith, Tyler Biadasz and even Zack Martin (before his injury sidelined him) struggled. They only faced seven blitzes on passing attempts, but pressure still came.

The offensive line saw gains in the running game but some of that yardage was essentially gifted. The Bills rarely crowded the line and decided they’d rather give up some yards on the ground, as long as it led to success stopping Dallas through the air. The plan worked out.

The crew faded down the stretch last season as well, and never seemed to recover. If one thing can help them through the next few weeks and into the postseason, it’s a rekindled offensive line.

With Tyron Smith’s and Martin’s status in question for Sunday, they may be at less than full strength. T.J. Bass could be called upon to man the RG position on Christmas Eve in Miami, meaning Steele and Biadasz will have to pick up the slack. But it’s not all on the linemen.

The playcaller also has a part in the offensive line’s redemption. Well-designed plays and an effective quick-game strategy will keep the pressure of sustaining blocks down to a minimum. On plays in which Dak Prescott was pressured last week, the average time to throw sat at 4.47 seconds. That’s a long time for anyone to maintain a block.

A quicker trigger doesn’t just apply to Prescott’s arm but also his legs. By being a threat to run, pass rushers will be more apprehensive in their attacks. They’ll maintain their lanes and try to contain. It’s a win-win for Dallas since Prescott will either get scramble opportunities or more time in the pocket. But he has to establish that run threat early.

Looking at the big picture, a better performance by the offensive line isn’t just on the five men up front, but on the whole team. Play design needs to be made with them and the defense in mind. QB play has to be smart and decisive. Even the defense plays a role since it’s on them to keep the score close so the offense doesn’t have to be one-dimensional.

There are a lot of areas the Cowboys have to improve in Week 16 but better outcomes on the offensive line would indicate things are going well all over the field. It’s a good week for redemption.

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Tyreek Hill the biggest wildcard in Cowboys-Dolphins Week 16

Tyreek Hill’s presence in the Miami lineup changes things significantly so the Cowboys must be ready for anything in Week 16

There’s arguably no player who strikes more fear in the hearts of a secondary than Miami WR Tyreek Hill. Hill, blessed with 4.29 40-speed, is nicknamed “cheetah” for a reason. He’s regarded as the fastest player in the NFL, and he has a highlight reel to prove it.

It’s understandable if the Cowboys’ game prep looks significantly different game-planning for a Dolphins team with Hill vs a Dolphins team without Hill.

It’s not that Hill can just take the top off any defense, it’s that after years of playing under Andy Reid in Kansas City, he knows how to take a routine ball at or behind the line all the way to paydirt as well.

Hill is well versed in the screen game and has an uncanny knack for knowing when to follow blocks and when to turn on the afterburners. His start-stop ability allows him to cut on dime, making it often a team effort to stop the 5-foot-10 blazer.

At the moment, Tyreek Hill’s game status for Week 16 is still in question. He returned to practice on Thursday, but Miami coach Mike McDaniel stated his return was not indicative of his availability against Dallas.

After appearing to be full speed in individual drills, it’s hard to imagine Hill not playing against the Cowboys in Week 16. Given the standings in the AFC, and argument can be made Sunday’s Christmas Eve matchup means more to Miami than it does the Cowboys. They desperately want Hill on the field.

The Cowboys will have to prepare for both situations. Dan Quinn spoke of his desire to cage the Dolphins in and “build a wall” on the edges to limit their outside gains. but if Hill plays they also have to keep bodies back and make sure extra defenders are in place to limit the big plays.

Using press coverage against Hill is understandably a poor idea. He’s strong and quick enough to beat it with ease and based on EPA/play against press, only A.J. Brown is more deadly. Additionally, press against Hill is something Miami QB Tua Tagovailao appears to look for since Hill is the most targeted WR against it this season.

At 5.7 yards, Hill leads the NFL in yards per route against man coverage in 2023. For perspective, CeeDee Lamb is sixth in the league at 3.0 yards/route against man. Taking a passive approach to guarding Hill is out of character for Dallas but likely in the defenses best interest.

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Breaking down Cowboys’ offensive breakdown, how Dolphins will mirror Buffalo

After getting stonewalled last week by frequent 2-high looks, the Cowboys can safely assume they’ll see the same in Week 16 in Miami, says @ReidDHanson

If it wasn’t for the Cowboys’ horrific run defense against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the Dallas offense would be facing significantly more criticism than they currently are. They were stagnant offensively, and aside from a garbage touchdown late, they were held out of the end zone all day.

In some ways, the Bills took a page from the recently unemployed Brandon Staley and his 2-high scheme that slowed Dallas in Week 6. Buffalo pushed back the coverage and took away big shots downfield. Because their pass rush was routinely getting home, they didn’t need to blitz much. They were able to sit back in coverage and keep things thick in the secondary. They allowed the Cowboys to run the ball and dared them to throw it to the sticks.

And the Cowboys did well rushing the ball. Their success rate on early down runs was at 50.0%, which is well above their season average of just 36.7%. Unfortunately, the Cowboys defense had issues of their own and after falling behind rather quickly, the offense felt compelled to abandon the running game – thus playing into Buffalo’s hands.

Dak Prescott has been phenomenal for most of this season. While he’s played well against many different coverages in 2023, he’s at his best against middle of the field closed looks. He rates at the top of the NFL against those Cover-1 and Cover-3 coverages. It’s just when the safeties split, he slips back into average territory. Part of this is scheme and strategy, but part is also execution.

Absent in Buffalo were the middle of the field throws that he had been executing with precision all season long. It’s a great way to attack split safeties but Prescott only attempted two passes of 10+ yards between the numbers all day. He was pressured last week but all four of his turnover-worthy throws were without facing pressure.

After they watch the film, Miami will no doubt employ a similar plan of attack. When Nick Bosa declared the blueprint to beating the Eagles had been laid out by his 49ers defense, he did so knowing film is public information in the NFL and teams love to copycat and attack weaknesses once they’ve been identified. The Cowboys should expect the same treatment from their upcoming opponents.

The Dolphin’s defense has different strengths and weakness than Buffalo’s, but they’d be fools not to try the same thing that essentially stonewalled the Cowboys. Mike McCarthy’s task is planning for what surely lies ahead.

Dump offs and early down runs are fine if the situation warrants it and the offense is successfully executing such plays. The opposing defense wants Dallas in a third-and-long so there’s nothing wrong with the Cowboys taking some easy early gains so they can avoid bad third down situations.

The Cowboys also have to remember the middle of the field is a great way to get big plays against split safety looks as well. And when the defense plays 2-man like Buffalo often did, (man coverage with two safeties over the top), opportunities for scrambles open up.

In Week 15 the Cowboys appeared ill-prepared to play the Bills defense. In Week 16 they will have no such excuse because what’s coming is fairly obvious.

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Cowboys plan to ‘build a wall on the outside’ to stop Miami attack

Dan Quinn has a wall-building strategy in place to stop the Miami rushing attack in Week 16 of the 2023 season, says @ReidDHanson

Even though the Buffalo Bills passed for under 100 yards, their 266 yards on the ground was enough to easily beat the Cowboys by over 20 points last week. It was a simplistic, but extremely effective way to dismantle an opponent, and highlighted an Achilles heel Dallas had been hiding most of the year.

The timing of it couldn’t be worse. Week 16 features a trip to Miami to take on the Dolphins. Led by Raheem Mostert, Miami boasts the NFL’s fourth-rated rushing attack. As if he wasn’t enough, they recently welcomed back De’Von Achane, one of the league’s most explosive young rushers.

The situation at hand isn’t lost on the Cowboys. Dan Quinn broached the topic this week and vaguely outlined his plan of action.

“I think there’s a relentless nature in the way they can attack an edge,” Quinn said of Miami’s two rushers. “When you’re going up against a team with good speed, you really have to try to build a wall on the outside.”

In Buffalo, the Cowboys repeatedly lost contain and allowed rushers to run freely around the corner. Undisciplined play on the edge is something Quinn hopes to eliminate in Week 16. Of course, that’s easier said than done since Miami prides themselves on their speed, motion and ability to stretch a defense.

“There’s all sorts of weapons they have, but with the speed you can use at running back from out of the backfield, in motion, use them in the backfield in empty sets and bring it back quickly on jets – that’s the type of speed you better be ready for laterally.”

The Cowboys are known for their ability to bounce back after a loss. They haven’t lost back-to-back in 37 games. Part of that falls on the players’ ability to muster up and rally, and part of that is on the coaching staff who successfully assess and adapt.

But Miami isn’t just any old generic team after a loss. They are 10-4, owners of the second-best record in the AFC and on pace to claim the second seed in the postseason. The Dolphins are a really good football team and get the added advantage of playing at home.

If WR Tyreek Hill can play, they also have arguably the best pass-catching duo in the NFL. Hill appears to be the fastest man in the league and Jaylen Waddle is one of the best young pass catchers in the game. Quinn can’t sneak his defense up to stop the run because these Miami WRs can get over the top in an instant.

It’s a big test for Quinn and his defense and will take discipline and fortitude to see it through. It all starts with a wall.

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Track speed, home-field advantage among 6 things Cowboys should know about Dolphins

Elite speed and an explosive offense are among the six things to know about the Miami Dolphins, the Week 16 opponent for the Dallas Cowboys. | From @bengrimaldi

The Dallas Cowboys are coming off an embarrassing loss on the road, and to get back in the win column, they’ll have to beat a good team while away from AT&T Stadium. The team needs to move on quickly as they play another AFC East opponent, only this time its the division-leading Miami Dolphins hosting the Cowboys in Week 16.

This contest also provides the Cowboys an opportunity to stay on top in the NFC East after they got a gift on Monday night. Like the Cowboys, the Dolphins are 10-4 on the season, but Miami is coming off a blowout win and have won four of their last five games.

After a stretch of football where the Cowboys looked like one of the best teams in the league, they had their doors blown off last week. How they respond may say everything about Mike McCarthy’s team. Here are six things to know about the Dolphins ahead of their Week 16 matchup.

Cowboys Initial Week 15 Injury Report: Tyron, Zack sit, Dolphins say 32% of roster is hurt

The two teams listed a whopping 29 players on the initial practice report for Week 16, with the offensive lines looking worn and battered for each club. | From @KDDrummondNFL

At this time of year, virtually every NFL player is nursing something, but what the Miami Dolphins reported on Wednesday is a little bit crazy. Almost one-third of their entire 53-man roster was listed on the initial Week 16 injury report, ahead of their matchup with the visiting Dallas Cowboys. Make no mistake, the Dolphins have several real injury concerns, though. Of those 17 players, five of them actually missed last week’s game and another two suffered injuries in their win over the New York Jets.

Meanwhile for the Cowboys, the primary cause for concern is the areas where they were dominated in a humiliating loss to Buffalo. They entered the game without DT Johnathan Hankins and got run all over and around. They lost Zack Martin to a quad injury in the middle of being a turnstile unit and now have to worry about Tyron Smith’s back. Dallas came close to matching the Dolphins’ number, with 12 of their own on the Wednesday report. Here’s a look at what’s ailing each team as they began their week of practice for the crucial matchup on Sunday at 3:25 pm Central at Hard Rock Stadium.

Justin Houston? Micah Parsons? Cowboys have obvious solution to run-stopping woes

The Cowboys need to get better at LB but is moving Micah Parsons or signing a free agent like Justin Houston really the best solution? | From @ReidDHanson

Following the Cowboys’ embarrassing 31-10 loss to Buffalo in Week 15, the defense’s run-stopping ability immediately fell under scrutiny.  Not only did Buffalo’s top runner James Cook enjoy a career day, but the running game as a whole forced 12 missed tackles on the Dallas run defense.

The Bills dominance on the ground was so significant, their all-star QB, Josh Allen, only needed 15 dropbacks and seven completions to easily secure the victory. It was a display of dominance not seen in quite some time and an indication the same old tired ending might await them in the postseason once again.

Buffalo found that by playing larger personnel groups like 12, 21 and even adding an extra offensive lineman for a jumbo look, the Cowboys would be unable to match up in personnel. And they were essentially right. Based on player tracking, Dallas used 3-2-6 and 4-1-6 personnel on defense 79% of their snaps. In those personnel groups the Cowboys gave up +0.24 EPA/play and +0.21 EPA/play respectively.

The only personnel group worse than Dallas’ light look was their bulkier 4-3-4 group. When the Cowboys answered Buffalo’s big personnel, going light in the secondary and adding more in the front seven, they gave up a staggering +0.53 EPA/play.

Dan Quinn prefers to lean into the strengths of his personnel and it’s easy to see why. Removing a good DB for a LB of far lesser quality is bad business. In the case of Week 15, the Cowboys’ lowest LB on the depth chart, Rashaan Evans, scored the lowest defensive score of the game. His run-stopping grade of 33.1 wasn’t just lower than any DB on the Cowboys, but lower than any single player.

Of course, the alternative to using an extra LB like Evans is allowing the extra lineman to openly bulldoze a defensive back. That’s not exactly an ideal situation either. This dilemma in which we speak is causing many to think of alternative solutions.

NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Cowboys, Eagles plummet, 49ers and Ravens tussle for No. 1

Things didn’t go according to plan for several teams in Week 15; at least not according to their plans. While most of the top-10 teams in the league were able to secure victories, the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars ended up on the …

Things didn’t go according to plan for several teams in Week 15; at least not according to their plans. While most of the top-10 teams in the league were able to secure victories, the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars ended up on the disappointing end of blowout defeats, that certainly did damage to the confidence either can do much once the playoffs come around.

For Dallas, the biggest issue is they’ve been Jekyl and Hyde at home and away, dominating at home against everyone and looking lowly against good teams when traveling. Fortunately for them, Monday night brought the Philadelphia Eagles’ third consecutive defeat. Meanwhile there were some big wins by several top teams, as Detroit, San Francisco and Miami all won by 16 points or more, helping boost their stock as the playoffs come near. Here’s a look at how all of the action shook up the power rankings heading into Week 16.