Dallas Cowboys: Matchup with Eagles could mirror strategy versus Bucs
The Dallas Cowboys are 1-1 after its first two games of the 2021 season. Dallas could easily be 2-0 or even 0-2, that is how close and competitive each of the two games have been. Despite some similarities between the Cowboys' first two games — both games coming down to a field goal — the […]
The Dallas Cowboys are 1-1 after its first two games of the 2021 season. Dallas could easily be 2-0 or even 0-2, that is how close and competitive each of the two games have been.
Despite some similarities between the Cowboys' first two games — both games coming down to a field goal — the game plans have been extremely different.
The Cowboys aired it out and allowed Dak Prescott to take the game over against the Buccaneers. It made no sense to run into the strength of the Buccaneers defense, so Kellen Moore opted to attack Tampa Bay's secondary. Prescott threw for 403 yards and three touchdowns, and Dallas took a 29-28 lead with less than two minutes.
Versus the Chargers, however, the Cowboys leaned on its ground game in the win. The duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard had its way with the Los Angeles defense, rushing for a combined 180 yards and two touchdowns.
Los Angeles likes to play two deep safeties, which limits big plays in the passing game. Derwin James and Asante Samuel, Jr. are also two big-time talents. Therefore, Moore switched the game plan drastically from week one to week two.
The Cowboys could be sitting at 2-0 despite playing two different kind of offensive games in each of the first two games. That makes Dallas very dangerous. The Cowboys have proven that they can beat good teams in different ways.
GAME PLAN VERSUS EAGLES COULD MIRROR WEEK 1
Dallas takes on the Philadelphia Eagles in week three on Monday Night Football. Philadelphia, like Dallas, is 1-1 on the season and will be looking to grab a very important divisional victory on a primetime stage.
The strength of the Eagles' defense is along the defensive line — even despite Brandon Graham's season-ending injury. Fletcher Cox is still Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave is also a force in the interior. Josh Sweat has been playing well on the edge for the Eagles, too.
Therefore, it is logical to expect Kellen Moore and the Cowboys to follow a very similar strategy this week as the team versus the Buccaneers in week one. In that week one game, Prescott threw the ball 58 times. According to Moore, 28 run plays were called, but Prescott checked out of 12 of them based on the look from the defense.
Looking at this week, Darius Slay is a notable name in the Philadelphia secondary, but the Eagles don't have a secondary that strikes much fear into offenses. Therefore, it would be smart for the Cowboys to put the game in Dak Prescott's hands and allow Prescott to air it out against Philadelphia rather than running the ball into a fierce Eagles defensive line.
This does not mean to throw the ball every single play. However, it makes much more sense to attack the Eagles' secondary instead of the strength of Philadelphia's defense. Being stubborn and running the ball for the sake of running the ball ultimately does no good.
Passing is what the Dallas Cowboys do best. This week provides an opportunity where Dallas can take advantage of doing just that. Let Dak cook and Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb do damage against the Eagles' secondary.
Featured image via Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
