The 4 best defenses the Dallas Cowboys will face in 2022
Despite everyone saying the Dallas Cowboys have the easiest strength of schedule, this team will have to face some incredibly tough defenses in 2022. The combination of the losses at receiver and questions about the offensive line puts more pressure on Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott to keep this offense on time and effective to keep them in games.
This will be a tall task against some of these defensive fronts, especially since the Cowboys’ offensive line has some young and inexperienced players expected to play at starting caliber. Some games this year will be a true test of whether the front office did enough to solidify a troubled O-Line this offseason.
Whether the Cowboys decide to start Tyler Smith or Connor McGovern at left guard, rest assured that these teams are going to send their better defensive tackles and pass rushers at them. Here are four defenses with the personnel to give this offensive line the most problems.
The 4 best defenses the Dallas Cowboys will face in 2022
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Week 1
2021 Defensive Ranking: 5th
Defensive Players Lost: Jordan Whitehead (S), Ndamukong Suh (DT)
Defensive Players Coming In: Akiem Hicks (DE), Keanu Neal (S), Logan Ryan (CB), Logan Hall (Drafted (DE)
We already saw in Week 1 last year how dominant this defensive front is. Now, with the additions of Akiem Hicks, and William Gholston, they will be even better. Those three get to team up with the always dangerous Vita Vea at defensive tackle and pass rushers Shaquil Barrett and Joe Tyron.
Vea alone is going to be a handful for Smith and McGovern. Then, you have Barrett who will be facing off against now full-time starter Terence Steele. The Cowboys will most definitely be focused on slowing these two down for the sake of the offensive game plan and protection of Prescott.
There are some ways to defend this front but that will all depend on how offensive coordinator Kellen Moore game plans against them. Last season, he did an excellent job of using the defensive fronts’ aggressive nature against them with quick screens, curl routes and outside zone runs. They should be able to do the same thing again, but you can expect this defense to be ready for that plan of attack.