The Dallas Cowboys may have dropped the ball last week losing to the Detroit Lions, but don’t expect that to happen in Week 15 against the Minnesota Vikings. They are motivated to get back to their winning ways and are playing with their backs against the wall moving forward to keep their playoff hopes alive.
This Week 15 matchup with Minnesota is a must-win and with home-field advantage as well as the better roster, Dallas is the favorite to be victorious this week. And although this is a team game, there are certain players who will play a more important role in this week. Below are the ones we believe will shine.
Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott currently leads the league in passing yards (3,637) as well as 300 passing yard games (5). He is also currently riding a three-game streak of 300 passing yard games and has a really good chance to extend that streak to four this week against the Vikings, despite them ranking fourth in the league in passing yards a game (172.3).
Vikings DC Brian Flores loves to blitz and Minnesota currently leads the league in blitz percentage (49.2%). Prescott has excelled against the blitz this year throwing for 1,123 passing yards, the third-highest mark in the NFL this year, and has a 106.2 passer rating against the blitz. Because of that we should expect a big game from No. 4.
Javonte Williams
Javonte Williams hit the 1, 000-yard rushing mark (1,022) last week, the fourth Cowboys RB to do that in five seasons. He’s also scored double-digit touchdowns (nine rushing, two receiving) so far this season and has a really good chance of improving all of those numbers this week against Minnesota’s defense, who is currently allowing 126.8 rushing yards per game (22nd in the league).
Not only should Williams to have a good game toting the rock, quite possibly rushing for his third 100+ yard game of the season, but he will also be an important part of Dallas’ aerial attack as a pass protector. No. 33 has been amazing this year in pass protection, allowing Dak Prescott extra time to do his thing. That will be important in this week against the blitz happy Vikings defense.
Quinnen Williams
Vikings RB Aaron Jones has been a thorn in the Cowboys side dating back to his days in Green Bay. In three regular-season games and one postseason one, Jones is averaged 122 yards per game and two touchdowns and scored a total of nine touchdowns. Even though he’s not having his best season, he has enough juice left in the tank to be dangerous.
Fortunately, Dallas has just the player to contain Aaron Jones, Quinnen Williams. Since arriving, Williams has much improved the Cowboys run defense. He’s also been surprisingly effective as a pass rusher as well. In four games in Dallas he’s averaged five QB pressures and has a total of 24 since Week 11. Only Micah Parsons (30), Aiden Hutchinson (27), and Josh Hines-Allen (26) have more.
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