Why Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, Jake Ferguson, Rico Dowdle should have field days vs Bengals

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Injuries and poor defense are shared character traits between the two teams meeting for Monday Night Football in Week 14. Not only do the Cincinnati Bengals have the 30th-ranked defense in the NFL but, just this week alone they’ve lost left tackle Orlando Brown, linebacker Logan Wilson and kicker Evan McPherson to injury.

Not to be outdone, the Dallas Cowboys boast a cellar-dwelling defense themselves, ranking 28th in EPA per play in 2024. Injures continue to be an issue on both sides of the ball with left tackle Tyler Guyton, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, and IR-bound Zack Martin all expected to miss action in Week 14.

The shared dysfunction between the two teams promises for an entertaining evening as the offenses roll in what could become a comedic shootout. The Bengals remain one of the top offenses in the NFL this season. Led by Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati passing attack is of elite variety and the Dallas secondary will have their work cut out for them limiting the damage. Pressure on the passer will be paramount to the secondary’s success.

Matchup winner No. 1: Micah Parsons

. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Since returning from injury in Week 10, Parsons has been on a tear. The Cowboys All-Pro has logged seven sacks and averaging 5.5 pressures/game according to Pro Football Focus tracking. And he is doing it all without a pass rushing counterpart opposite of him on the defensive line.

What has helped is the emergence of linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. Mike Zimmer has weaponized the explosive second-year playmaker and turned him into a blitz nightmare for opponents. It’s clear, Overshown is now drawing attention which only means good things for Parsons down the stretch.

The Bengals are without their starting LT on Monday so matchups will be there if Zimmer is willing to exploit them. This may also be the first game all season Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis all play together at the cornerback position. If this finally comes to fruition and the pass rush can do their part, the defense may shock some people against this highly feared Cincinnati offense.

Matchup winner No. 2: Jake Ferguson

Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

After missing the previous two games to injury, Ferguson has cleared concussion protocol and returned to the field. It’s been a disappointing season for the 2023 Pro Bowler and Ferguson is hungry to notch his first 100-yard game of the season. Week 14 might be his chance.

Not only is Cincinnati one of the worst TE-defending teams in the NFL, but they are now without star linebacker Wilson. Ferguson should see plenty of opportunity to make up for lost time against the sixth-worst TE-defending secondary, because the Cowboys are finally starting to trust their backup TEs, Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford, more in blocking assignments.

Matchup winner No. 3: Rico Dowdle

. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Dowdle has quietly become a legitimate starting running back in Dallas this season and the Cowboys couldn’t be happier. Once stuck in a timeshare with Ezekeil Elliott, Dowdle has separated from the pack and now demands the lion’s share of opportunities. Just last week Dowdle ranked sixth in the bellcow report meaning he’s becoming on the NFL’s most leaned on RBs.

Dowdle also broke free, so to speak, of his explosive play problem. After ranking near the bottom of the league in explosive play percentage most of the season, Dowdle found that extra shimmy and deployed that extra shake that’s needed to make the second level miss.

The Bengals lean on zone defense so they’ll be begging Cooper Rush to dink and dunk them to death, but this isn’t bad for Dowdle who should see plenty of action in both phases of the game.

Will it be enough?

. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-USA TODAY Sports

It’s hard to see this maligned Cowboys defense doing enough to slow the NFL’s passing leader and NFL’s receiving yards leader but if the Cowboys can get all three of their starting CBs on the field they may have a chance. A big day from Parsons should force some mistakes and with any luck the defense can help the Dallas offense score some points for a change.

Rush has been struggling in this 2024 edition of the offense and consistently rates as one of the poorest starting passers in the NFL. To expect him to carry his own in a shootout is probably just wishful thinking. The Cowboys really need this game to stay low scoring so Rush can play within himself and play the methodical type of attack this Cincinnati defense begs for.

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