Blogging The Boys
This Week 14 matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions is an important one for both teams in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. Add in the fact that they become bitter rivals in recent years and have a natural hate/dislike for one another, and this game shapes up to be a physical slugfest.
The Detroit Lions may have the home field advantage this week, but it hasn’t exactly served them too well in their last two home games. They narrowly escaped the Giants with an overtime victory in Week 12 and then pretty much got dominated on Thanksgiving by the Packers. So maybe it’s not much of an advantage after all.
For the Cowboys to secure their fourth victory in a row they need to be on top of their game and probably need to win a few important matchups to help sway the game in their favor. Below are the matchups we will be keeping a close eye on in this Week 14 matchup.
The Cowboys run defense was one of the worst, if not the worst, in the league prior to the trade that brought Quinnen Williams to Dallas. His addition to their defensive line has been the catalyst that has dramatically improved the run defense for the better. Since Williams’ arrival opponents have only rushed for 204 yards, averaging 68 yards per game. While it’s definitely encouraging, they haven’t faced a RB duo like Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Containing these two RBs will be paramount to securing the “W” this week.
Aidan Hutchinson could be a problem for the Cowboys offensive tackles. Terence Steele has struggled in the past to keep him at bay in pass protection, and could do so once again this week. And with Tyler Guyton potentially missing his second game in a row with an ankle injury, Hutchinson will likely also try his luck against Dallas’ second-year LT Nate Thomas. Thomas played well last week as an injury fill-in and will need to be at the top of his game this week as well. This matchup could help sway the game one way or another.
The Cowboys secondary may have caught a break this week with the possible return of Trevon Diggs and the fact the Lions will likely be without their top receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown, due to an ankle injury. That means Jameson Williams went to step into the No. 1 WR role like he did last week after St. Brown’s injury. In the loss to the Packers last week he had seven catches for 144 yards and a touchdown. He will need to be contained and with Dallas’ secondary potentially at full strength for the first time all season, that should be doable.
