Running out of gas among 3 things Cowboys will love about Commanders
There’s no love lost between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders, but the Week 12 matchup doesn’t have the same feel when there isn’t much riding on the game for both teams. It hasn’t been that way in quite some time, as the Cowboys have been getting the best of their opponents recently.
That won’t be the case in this contest, as the Commanders are ahead in the NFC East standings at 7-4 and are inside the current playoff race. The Cowboys, on the other hand, are in a different race, for a top 5 draft pick. That’s something the fans want, but Jerry Jones shies away from.
The organic tank is on for the Cowboys, yet these are professional athletes who won’t back down from trying to win. Sadly for Team Tank, Mike McCarthy’s team does have a path to winning the Week 12 meeting, as there are things to love about playing the Commanders.
Can’t stop the run
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Here’s a rare place where the Cowboys and Commanders are actually competing in 2024; the race to see whose defense is worse against the run. Mike Zimmer’s defense currently holds the title, allowing 151 yards per game on the ground, while the Commanders give up 150.5 yards. That half-yard is all separates the Cowboys in 31st place in the league, just one spot ahead of their rivals in 30th.
The Commanders have given up 13 rushing scores this season, good for eighth-worst in the league, and they allow five yards a carry, third worst in the NFL.
If the Cowboys ever wanted to establish the run, this would be the game to do it. The offense hasn’t had much opportunity this season to run the ball efficiently, but the Commanders will give it up on the ground and it could be a big part of the Cowboys pulling off the upset in Week 12.
It’s a defense that’s struggled against the run, but the Commanders have been getting out to leads in the first half, making their weakness less of a factor. If that sounds familiar, it was the same script when Dan Quinn was the defensive coordinator in Dallas.
If quarterback Jayden Daniels and Quinn hadn’t won seven games, much more would be made of the team’s inability to stop the run. Perhaps McCarthy can make his old DC pay by beating him how Quinn used to get beat when he was with the Cowboys, by keeping the game close and attacking the Commanders with the run game.
Bad second half team
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The Commanders have been one of the best first half teams in the NFL through 11 games, but they have been fading in the last 30 minutes, especially on defense. In the first half, Joe Whitt’s defense has been allowing only 8.4 points a game, which is fourth best in the league.
However, that number jumps to 13.7 in the second half, 25th worst in the game. In the fourth quarter, it’s gotten even worse recently, where the Commanders are giving up 13 ppg in the last three games, which ranks 31st in the league over that span.
Offensively the Commanders have been steadier in their half splits, but they still have a drop-off in their scoring. In the first half of games, Kliff Kingsbury’s group is scoring 15.4 ppg, which is second-best in the NFL. During the final 30 minutes, Washington averages 12.6 points, which is tied for eighth.
In their last three games, however, the Commanders are scoring just nine points a game in the second half, so their offense is slowing down.
The Commanders look like a team that gets out to good starts and falters in the second half. If the Cowboys can stay close, they might have a chance at beating their rivals on the road.
Bad red zone defense
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The Commanders’ defense has been good enough to help the team get to 7-4, but they have one of the worst red-zone defenses in the league. Washington allows touchdowns on close to 67% on their opponents’ trips inside the red zone, which ranks 27th in the NFL.
Dallas’ problem has been their efficiency when getting the ball inside the 20-yard line. Their offense is next to last in scoring touchdowns when they get into the red zone, but the Commanders could be the elixir for the Cowboys’ red zone woes.
Playing against a defense that gives up touchdowns instead of field goals is a welcomed sight for the Cowboys. If they want to beat their rivals in Week 12, the Cowboys need to take advantage of any red zone trip.
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