The Dallas Cowboys finally have a spark after a big win on the road. They crushed the Philadelphia Eagles 38-21 last Monday night. Now the team must prove it can do it again on Sunday. Brian Schottenheimer knows the job is not done yet. He needs his squad to stay consistent to keep rolling.
Dallas sits at 3-4 on the season. This week brings a visit from the Arizona Cardinals. The Cowboys have not won back-to-back games in nearly a year and a half. That streak ended a long time ago. Schottenheimer said the team must fix their execution issues to stay alive in the race.
A Run Game That Actually Works
The offense found a new gear against Philadelphia. They ran for 204 total yards in that game. Javonte Williams led the way with 155 yards on the ground. That was a career high for him. Prior to this contest, the Cowboys possessed the NFL’s second-least productive rushing attack. They used traps and misdirection to create huge gains. Blogging The Boys noted the team finally showed a real commitment to the run.
The Cardinals defense is no pushover though. They rank sixth in the league for stopping the run. Dallas must keep their running game alive if they want to win. The offense cannot just sit back and hope for big plays in the air. They need to control the clock and keep Arizona off the field.
Defense Finally Getting Healthy
The defense has been a mess for most of the season. Entering Week 8, Dallas holds the bottom ranking for run defense. They also sit 24th in points allowed per game. But things look different now. DeMarvion Overshown is back on the field. His return changes the entire feel of the unit.
Schottenheimer told 105.3 The Fan he was happy to see the linebacker return. “You felt (DeMarvion Overshown) coming back, I thought that was great,” Schotty said. The coach believes health is the key to their success. “I think getting healthy is a big part of it,” he added. “Overall, I think the health of this defense is what’s getting us really excited,” he added. “We’re getting bodies back and that’s huge for us.”
Even with these improvements, the numbers are scary. Dallas ranks 20th in pass defense. They allowed 21 points to Philadelphia, which was their second-fewest this season. But the Eagles were missing their star quarterback Jalen Hurts and two top receivers. Saquon Barkley was also not fully healthy. The Cowboys cannot rely on a lucky break against Arizona.
The Cardinals have a strange history with Dallas. They have won nine of the last 10 meetings. Arizona is perfect in four visits to AT&T Stadium. They are 2-2 on the road this year. The Cardinals just broke a four-game losing streak by beating the Los Angeles Rams. They are dangerous and ready to strike.
Schottenheimer knows the danger of this opponent. He warned his team about the challenges ahead. “It’s a business where you have to be consistent with your execution, with your performance,” he said. “And I think we’ve been lacking that at times.” The coach wants his players to focus on the week at hand. “Where I always try to put my focus is that this is a week-to-week league,” said Arizona coach Mike LaFleur.
Dallas has four home games in the next five weeks.
