Dallas Cowboys face challenge with Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
The bye week is over, and the Dallas Cowboys are already preparing for one of the more difficult players to slow down in the National Football League: Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings. Fortunately, the defense has had a week to rest up, because Cook has the potential to make it a long Sunday afternoon […]
The bye week is over, and the Dallas Cowboys are already preparing for one of the more difficult players to slow down in the National Football League: Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings. Fortunately, the defense has had a week to rest up, because Cook has the potential to make it a long Sunday afternoon in U.S. Bank Stadium.
Dallas, 2-7 on the season, is coming off a valiant effort against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers in week nine that saw the defense turn in its best performance of the year. Pittsburgh was held to just 46 yards rushing on the day, averaging only 2.6 yards on 18 carries. It was a strong defensive effort on that front from a unit that has struggled to stop a nosebleed all season long.
That said, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did find success through the air: passing for 306 yards and three touchdown tosses against a porous Cowboys secondary that saw rookie Trevon Diggs go down with a foot injury in the second half. With Diggs down, the Cowboys will turn to Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, and Chidobe Awuzie for the foreseeable future.
The Dallas Cowboys will need to contain the run again in week 11 against the Minnesota Vikings.
As good as the Cowboys played the run against the Steelers, a lot of that had to do with the fact that Pittsburgh was more than happy to attack Dallas through the air. The trio of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, and Dionte Johnson are a problem for any defensive backfield to contain, much less one that has struggled to stop any passing game with a pulse.
The Vikings have some weapons at wide receiver in their own right — in the underrated Adam Thielen and the rookie Justin Jefferson — that have more than enough ability to do damage on Sunday. Minnesota's offense, however, goes as running back Dalvin Cook goes.
Cook has been a tear this season for the Vikings. The star ball carrier has been a force to be reckoned with in 2020 as defenses have struggled to slow the Florida State product down. The Minnesota back leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 12 and is averaging six yards per carry.
The Chicago Bears did a very solid job of containing the Vikings back on Monday Night Football, but the Bears also have one of the most talented defenses across the league — something the Cowboys certainly cannot say. The defensive front of Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and company held the star rusher to just 3.2 yards on 30 carries.
Despite struggling to get going against the Bears, Cook still finished with 96 yards rushing and 16 yards receiving on 4 receptions in the Vikings 19-13 victory.
The Cowboys will need strong play from its front seven.
When the two teams met up last season, Dalvin Cook accounted for 183 yards of total offense and a touchdown. Cook averaged less than four yards per carry against the Dallas defense in 2019's matchup, but his ability to move the chains helped close the game for the Vikings.
Cook and the Vikings offensive line wore down the Cowboys defense as the game went on in Minnesota's 28-24 win. Dallas will need its defensive line to hold strong and get some strong contribution from the linebacker corps in order to have success against the Vikings ground game this Sunday.
Jaylon Smith has yet to look like his 2018 self for the past two seasons, and Leighton Vander Esch has struggled at times while battling injuries. That said, having veteran Sean Lee back on the field is huge for this defense and making sure everybody knows their correct assignments.
The Dallas Cowboys defense has shown signs of life recently, but Dalvin Cook is as difficult of a matchup as any at the running back position.
Featured image via Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
