One of the only consistent Cowboys players this year explains what it'll take to bring down the Falcons
It's now or never for the Dallas Cowboys and it'll be the that way pretty much the rest of the 2024 NFL season after they dug themselves in a 3-4 hole with their future schedule ranking as the 10th hardest per DVOA. On Sunday, their efforts to save the season will take place at noon when […]
It's now or never for the Dallas Cowboys and it'll be the that way pretty much the rest of the 2024 NFL season after they dug themselves in a 3-4 hole with their future schedule ranking as the 10th hardest per DVOA.
On Sunday, their efforts to save the season will take place at noon when they hit the road and visit the 5-3 Atlanta Falcons and an offense that ranks seventh in EPA/play, per RBSDM.
Led by Kirk Cousins, the Falcons are made particularly dangerous by their playmakers, including the versatile running back Bijan Robinson, who can do a bit of everything.
Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who has been one of the only consistent players this season showing up every week, discussed the challenges the Falcons offense presents to them.
"Like I said, man, this is position-less football right now, so everybody can do everything," Lewis told reporters. "They have some athletes out there that can move around, and when they get in space, they're dangerous. I mean, I feel like this is one of the best offenses in the league right now, and they’re coming together and putting some games together."
The Falcons have earned a Top 5 grade by Pro Football Focus in running and receiving and a large part of that comes exactly from what Lewis is saying: They're good in space.
Robinson has forced 23 missed tackles, the 12th most in the NFL, while adding the third most catches by a running back this season.
Speaking of making damage in space, TE Kyle Pitts is putting together his best season since arriving in the NFL after being paired with Cousins. Pitts ranks third among tight ends in yards after the catch. Fresh off of allowing 146 yards to George Kittle, the Cowboys defense will need to come up with a better plan to slow down tight ends.
Perhaps that means a shakeup to the starting lineup, including the benching of Donovan Wilson, who was replalced by teammates in the task of covering Kittle late in the game.
That might mean involving Lewis somehow, who believes Dallas will need to get physical and disrupt the timing at the line of scrimmage.
"Just finding ways to affect the timing and rhythm between the tight end and quarterback that they have," Lewis said about facing Pitts. "I know that we're coming in, and Kyle Pitts has been having some good games with Kirk Cousins back there. We're just trying to disrupt Kirk, put our hands in there, and show different looks to Kyle Pitts."
Lewis will also have to deal with some of Drake London, who has excelled in contested catches this season as he ranks second in the league with 11 of them.
In general, it'll take more discipline, better tackling, and much more physicality for the Cowboys to walk away with the win on Sunday. Look for Lewis to be a big part of the matchup in several ways.
