Dallas Cowboys: Midseason predictions and playoff cautionary tales
By Richard Ball
Week 10 – Cowboys vs. Vikings
Week Ten will be a true test of the 2019 Cowboys maturation when the Minnesota Vikings visit the Metroplex. Dallas has not beaten a team with a winning record this season losing to the 7-1 Saints and Packers in Weeks Four and Five.
The Vikings are currently 6-2 and will bring a high-powered offense and defense to AT&T Stadium. Both units currently rank in the NFL.com top five as measured by yards per game.
A familiar foe at quarterback, Kirk Cousins, who is playing better football since wide receiver Adam Thielen called him out for missing open receivers, leads the offense. The offense features the NFL rushing leader, Dalvin Cook, and the fourth-ranked receiver, Stefon Diggs.
If there is an Achilles heel for the Vikings, it is their offensive line. Tackles Riley Reiff and Brian O’Neill are above average but the interior of the line is an area that can be exploited. Rookie center Garrett Bradbury and guard Josh Kline are the weak links along the line.
The key for Dallas to get the win will be the defensive line interior play. Tackles Antwaun Woods and Christian Covington need to be disruptive enough on the first two downs to allow Michael Bennett and Maliek Collins to pressure up the middle on third down.
The Cowboys offense will be evenly matched against the Vikings defense. As long as Dallas protects the ball, I see a confidence-boosting win to bring the record to six wins and three losses.