The Dallas Cowboys come into this matchup winning five straight games after losing their season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On the other side, the Minnesota Vikings have had an up and down season but are coming off back-to-back wins against the Detroit Lions and the Carolina Panthers. Both teams are also coming off a bye week.
The Cowboys have been red-hot all season long. Their offense looks unstoppable with quarterback Dak Prescott now in the MVP conversation through seven weeks. On the other hand, their defense is much improved from a season ago led by cornerback Trevon Diggs, who has seven interceptions on the season. These have contributed to Dallas’ early success leading them to a 5-1 record to start the 2021 season.
As a result, America’s Team is widely considered to be one of the best teams in the NFL. Their 5-1 record is the fifth-best in the league but is also the fifth-best in the NFC with the Arizona Cardinals (7-0), Los Angeles Rams (6-1), Green Bay Packers (6-1), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-1) all having better records. It’s important to note that none of these teams have had a bye week yet.
Nonetheless, this matchup between the Cowboys and Vikings could be the biggest game for both teams in recent weeks. The Cowboys are trying to push their record to 6-1 while the Vikings are trying to go above .500 for the first time this season.
There are many possible ways that the Cowboys win this game, but here are the keys to the game for Week 8.
Dallas Cowboys: 3. Establish the run early
The Cowboys play their best games when they run early and often. As a team, they rank second behind the Cleveland Browns in rush yards per game with 164.3. This is led by the two-headed monster, running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.
Despite the week off, both players rank in the top 16 this season in total rush yards. Elliott is fifth with 521 yards and Pollard is 16th with 366 yards. Additionally, both players rank in the top 10 in yards per carry amongst other running backs. Pollard leads the league with 6.0 yards per carry while Elliott is eighth with 5.1 yards per carry.
As a result, when the Cowboys get the run game going, it is a scary site for defenses. Running the football in this game is imperative if this team wants to come out on top. Additionally, if quarterback Dak Prescott can’t go, running the football would be how Dallas wins this game.
The Vikings’ run defense isn’t one of the best in the league either. Although they have some solid weapons in their front seven like defensive end Danielle Hunter and linebacker Eric Kendricks, they still struggle against the run. This season, they rank 26th in rush yards allowed per game with 128.0.
This can be the biggest advantage for the Cowboys in this game. The last time the Vikings faced a team with a running back duo like this was in Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns. Both running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt combined for 169 yards and a touchdown while averaging 4.9 yards per carry. If the Cowboys can average something similar or better than this on the ground, this can be the difference-maker in this game.
Dallas Cowboys: 2. Pressure Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins might be regarded as one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league especially this season. He has thrown for 1,769 yards, 13 touchdowns, two interceptions with a quarterback rating of 105.4. A solid season so far for the former Michigan State alum.
He has put the team on his back this season with running back Dalvin Cook missing some time with an ankle injury. Nevertheless, with Cook back, all of Dallas’ attention could be on the 26-year-old star, who is one of the games’ best. It might even be shocking to some that the Dallas Cowboys have to worry about Cousins, who has only made two Pro Bowls in his career.
However, the 6-foot-3 quarterback has been quite successful against Dallas in recent years. Over his career including with Washington, Cousins has played nine games against the Cowboys throwing for 2,453 yards, 17 touchdowns, five interceptions with a passer rating of 103.1. On average, he throws for 273 yards, 1.9 touchdowns, and 0.6 interceptions per game against America’s Team.
But, it’s his recent stats against Dallas with this Minnesota team that gives them some trouble. Over the last two seasons, Cousins has combined for 534 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions against the Cowboys. In 2019, the 31-year-old quarterback threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-24 victory. Then, last season, Cousins threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-28 loss.
Although Cousins has had success in his career under pressure including in 2019 when he was ranked the fifth-best quarterback under pressure with a 91.5 passer rating, the Cowboys can’t give him a clean pocket to throw.
This season, the two-time Pro Bowler is the highest graded quarterback (94.6) with a clean pocket, according to PFF. The Cowboys can’t let Cousins beat them through the air with a clean pocket. They have to get to him, make this game uncomfortable as possible for him, and force him to make bad throws.
Dallas Cowboys: 1. Defensive line has to stand their ground
The Cowboys’ defensive line has been surprisingly underrated this season even without star defensive end Demarcus Lawrence. Lawrence has been out since Week 2 with a broken foot. However, defensive end Randy Gregory has stepped up nicely in his place. The former Nebraska star is coming off a two-sack performance including a forced fumble in Week 6.
Not only has Gregory been impressive, but so has rookie defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. The former third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has fit in nicely in the starting role for Dallas. He has two sacks, eight quarterback hits, and 13 tackles this season.
However, the Cowboys’ defensive line will need to stand their ground in this matchup. Players like defensive end Tarrell Basham and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins likely have to step up in this game. Not only do they need to get pressure on Cousins, but they also need to stop star-running back Dalvin Cook.
Dallas’ defense has to step up big in this game and that starts with the defensive line. They have to cause havoc, get to the quarterback, stop the run and make the game as hard as possible for the Vikings.