Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football this week as they attempt to keep their season alive. The Vikings had been on a four-game losing skid before ending that streak with a 31-0 win over the Washington Commanders last week. The Cowboys, on the other hand, had a three-game winning streak snapped as they were outdueled by the Detroit Lions. The Cowboys currently have a three-game winning streak going against the Vikings, and would love to make it four. Here are five things to watch under the AT&T lights on Sunday night.
While it’s satisfying to watch the Cowboys dig themselves out of a hole, it would be more enjoyable if they could just start off with the lead. But that is not how this team operates, as they are notorious for falling behind in games. Would you believe the Cowboys have trailed at some point in the first half in every single game this year? That’s crazy. Even in their three blowout wins this season against the Jets, Commanders, and Raiders, they trailed at some point in the first quarter.
Even when the Cowboys finally get their act together, slow starts lead to close games, and they just don’t have the margin to handle coming up short in any more games. They must avoid that by coming out fast, getting the lead, and keeping it. The Vikings have a good defense and have the ability to keep this contest close, and that could be the recipe for disappointment for a Cowboys’ team that can’t afford to let one get away.
The 2024 NFL Draft was a great draft for quarterbacks. Six quarterbacks were taken within the first 12 picks. That has never happened before. Many of those teams are enjoying their QB selection as most of them have either already led their team to the postseason or will do so this year. However, the Vikings are not one of those teams. J.J. McCarthy was selected 1oth overall last year, two picks before Bo Nix. McCarthy missed all of last year with a knee injury and started this season by throwing interceptions in each of his first six games of his pro career. That’s not ideal.
The good news for McCarthy is that he had his best game last week against the Commanders, where he threw three touchdowns and didn’t have a pick for the first time in his career. The Cowboys have served as a good “get right” game for many quarterbacks this season. A couple of fellow 2024 first-round QBs, Caleb Williams and Bo Nix, have had big games against Dallas. Even Jacoby Brissett and Russell Wilson found ways to exploit their defense. McCarthy will beat himself if you give him enough opportunities, but a poor showing by the Cowboys’ defense could allow this young quarterback to build on the solid showing he had last week.
Very...
