The Dallas Cowboys defense must exploit a key weakness to win
It should be pretty obvious but the Dallas Cowboys need to apply pressure on Tom Brady to win. The defense got Brady on the ground only twice in Week one, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory. In fairness, allowing only 19 points, getting two sacks and even more pressures and an interception is […]
It should be pretty obvious but the Dallas Cowboys need to apply pressure on Tom Brady to win. The defense got Brady on the ground only twice in Week one, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory.
In fairness, allowing only 19 points, getting two sacks and even more pressures and an interception is usually enough to win. The offense didn't do its part.
That shouldn't stop the Cowboys defense from being aggressive. Especially when blitzing up the middle. An area they had success in the first game against the Buccs.
Good news is the defense will have every opportunity to do so.
The Bucc's have a number of offensive linemen listed on their injury report:
- Nick Leverett (knee and shoulder)
- Donovan Smith (foot)
- John Molchon (ankle)
- Robert Hainsey (hamstring)
Even with the potential return of Pro Bowl C Ryan Jensen, he hasn't played in a game in what will be 358 calendar days.
Likely to see plenty of pressure from up the middle, as well as from outside as well from the Cowboys defense.
But will Tom Brady give the Cowboys the chance? He is the least sacked quarterback in the league despite having been pressured on 100 successful drop backs.
A key reason for that is that he doesn't give opposing defenses opportunities. Understanding the health of his offensive line, he has the fastest time after the snap of getting rid of the ball (2.45 seconds), according to Next Gen Stats.
It may sound like a broken record. Applying pressure on Tom Brady is the best way to beat him. He knows it and so do the Dallas Cowboys.
The defense has been so dominant in games when they apply pressure and bring down quarterbacks. This season, the Cowboys control most of the games they're in when successful pass rush is applied.
Whether Tampa Bay's offensive line can hold up, or if Brady allows it to happen, will factor.
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj of USA TODAY Sports
