Cowboys coach reveals important aspect of team’s game plan vs Jets in Week 5 that will lead to feisty matchup
The Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets will have a fun WR-CB matchup in Week 5.
The Dallas Cowboys offense needs wide receiver George Pickens like never before. Not only is CeeDee Lamb expected to be out Sunday versus the New York Jets but KaVontae Turpin’s status is also up in the air as he navigates a foot injury that’s caused him to miss back-to-back practices.
Last weekend, Pickens delivered in a time of need with a two-touchdown, 132-yard game against the Green Bay Packers. But now, Pickens is in for a bigger challenge as the Cowboys are expecting him to be guarded by Sauce Gardner, one of the league’s best cornerbacks. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer admitted they’re expecting the All-Pro cornerback to travel with Pickens.
“Sauce is a great player, he’s long, great speed, I’ve got a lot of respect for Sauce and his game,” Schottenheimer told reporters Friday. “George is pretty good, too. It’ll be a fun a matchup, I’m sure there will be some cameras focused on those two guys and we do expect him to follow George.”
Schottenheimer’s comments could say a lot about Cowboys’ gameplan for Sunday
Expecting Gardner to travel with Pickens will lead to tough decisions for the Cowboys and Jets. Will Sauce get help from a safety? Or will they try to isolate Gardner with Pickens and bet they’ve got the best man? At the same time, will Dallas play Pickens more in the slot to keep Gardner on his toes? In seven of eight catches last weekend, Pickens was lined up as the outside receiver.
What was made clear last week and I wrote in detail about it is Schottenheimer had a great plan to get the ball to Pickens against the Packers. This time, however, he’s facing a very different defense and one that will challenge Dak Prescott to make throws targeting one of the best corners in football.
If they’re expecting man, get ready for a lot of man-beater concepts that get Pickens running more crossers or horizontal routes. He’ll need to bring his A-game to beat Gardner. For now, the Cowboys wide receiver is excited about seeing a man-to-man matchup.
“I most definitely get excited when I see man coverage because it’s just one-on-one,” Pickens said earlier in the week. “They play some zone too—every defense does—but I definitely get excited to see man.”
Pickens and Gardner’s matchup could get feisty
In today’s NFL, fun WR-CB matchups are rare. I’m expecting a banger out of Pickens vs. Gardner, who have feisty personalities. Last year, the Jets cornerback showed his discontent weeks after playing Pickens in Week 7 when the then Steelers wide receiver had five catches for 111 yards, though only one reception (and one drawn defensive passive interference) versus Gardner.
“George Pickens, he’s running around, he pushes off,” Gardner said on The Richard Sherman podcast in 2024. “I talked to that ref before the game. I don’t know his name. I’m like ‘Ref, just know, this is going to be a physical matchup. He likes pushing off,’ ref says, ‘We watch film too. I know he’s a huge push off guy. We’re going to let y’all play.”
Pickens has drawn three defensive pass interference calls for 79 yards, the second most in the NFL per Sports Info Solutions. Gardner’s two pass interference calls in the year tie him eight other players for the most in the league.
I expect an intense matchup between these two but one I’m betting on the Cowboys winning. Prescott and Pickens have been on the same page all year long, with the latter ranking second in the league in contested throw catches (7) per PFF.
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