Brian Schottenheimer makes bold statement about Cowboys vs Packers matchup in Week 4, here’s what’s needed to make it true
Brian Schottenheimer isn’t scared about Week 4 matchup, as Dallas Cowboys gear up for matchup vs. Green Bay Packers and Micah Parsons.
Brian Schottenheimer didn’t deliver a message of the magnitude of Jimmy Johnson’s infamous “We will win the ballgame!” line but he did provide a bold statement of his own ahead of the Dallas Cowboys’ clash with the Green Bay Packers.
“We’re good enough to beat the Packers without (wide receiver CeeDee Lamb) and (right guard Tyler Booker) and the guys that we could be missing,” Schottenheimer told reporters on Wednesday’s press conference.
The NFL world, specifically the betting markets, strongly disagrees with the Cowboys head coach. There’s no home team slated to play Week 4 that is a larger underdog than Dallas is at seven points. Not even the New York Giants, who were perceived as one of the worst teams in the league in the preseason. And well, the stats don’t exactly paint a promising outlook for the game.
Packers at Cowboys facts ahead of Week 4 showdown:
- The Cowboys rank 31st in defensive EPA/play, per RBSDM. The Packers enter the game with the eighth-best offense in EPA/play.
- Though the Cowboys rank ninth in offensive EPA/play, they’ll face the third-best defense in the NFL without CeeDee Lamb and down two starting linemen.
- The Packers rank sixth in pressure rate this season, while the Cowboys boast the 31st pass blocking grade by PFF. The Cowboys is dead-last in third down conversions allowed (percentage wise), while the Packers offense is the second best in that category.
What needs to happen for Schottenheimer’s statement to be backed up with a Cowboys win
As noted by the facts above, the Cowboys have a tall task at hand. For Schottenheimer’s team to deliver, the work must start now.
“The only way you do [win in this situation] is if you play well and you execute,” Schottenheimer added. “And if you don’t, you put yourself in a tough spot. So, we have to do that and that starts with today’s practice.”
Below are three things that I believe must happen for the Cowboys to upset the Packers.
- Cowboys must pressure Jordan Love: Easier said than done. But that’s how the Cleveland Browns upset Green Bay last weekend. Packers right tackle Zach Tom is expected to miss the game and the O-line in general is banged up. The Cowboys failed to take advantage of an injured OL in Week 2 versus the New York Giants. That can’t happen again or Jordan Love will punish Matt Eberflus’ defense for it. Perhaps Jadeveon Clowney surprises in his Cowboys debut, but I think the defensive coordinator needs to get blitz-happy for pressure to get home.
- George Pickens needs to step up big time: With Lamb out, Pickens is going to face double coverage frequently. The challenge is he’s different than Lamb, who primarily punishes defenses from the slot with sharp route running, speed, and a knack to create separation. Can Pickens show some of that to beat double coverage? His best work comes in isolated situations. Now he won’t have that benefit.
- Run game must dominate: I believe Dak Prescott is what gives the Cowboys the biggest hopes for a playoff run. However, with these many injuries, I think Schottenheimer and Co. will bet on running the ball with Javonte Williams. He boasts the second-best EPA/attempt, according to Sports Info Solutions. A lot of that has to do with scheme and blocking but Williams’ has forced broken and missed tackles at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL this season. The Cowboys have a chance at running the ball efficiently against Green Bay. If they do, they could drag out possessions and try to win the old school way.
