Dallas Cowboys vs Indianapolis Colts: Week 13 Keys to Victory

What We’ve Seen from Colts/Possible Offensive Gameplan Against Dallas

Points Per Game: 15.8

Passing Yards Per Game: 245.5

Rushing Yards Per Game: 99.7

Total Yards Per Game: 345.2

Third Down Conversion Percentage: 36%

Red Zone Conversion Percentage: 45.5%

Colts Offensive Strategy

The Colts are coming off a tough loss against the Steelers on Monday night, and on a short week, they have to turn around and play a red hot Dallas Cowboys team with a high-powered offense and an aggressive defense that leads the league in sacks. This offense that scores an average of 15.8 points per game can’t get off to another slow start the same way they did against the Steelers. The primary issue for the Colts is that their best offensive player is running back Jonathan Taylor, who’s running behind an offensive line that hasn’t been as dominant as we’ve seen them over the last few years.

We know the Colts are going to try and establish their running game in order to get Taylor going and take pressure off quarterback Matt Ryan and this offensive line. The Cowboys have been better against the run the last few weeks, but there’s no doubt the Colts will try to attack their shaky run defense and try to control the clock and keep the Cowboys’ high-powered offense off the field.

Cowboys Defensive Strategy

For the Cowboys, the goal is simple: stop Jonathan Taylor. If you can stop him and force Matt Ryan to win the game, you win. Outside of Tom Brady and Kirk Cousins, Ryan is the one of the least mobile quarterbacks the Cowboys will face all season. Forcing the football into his hand plays right into Dallas’ strength — their pass rush — and behind an underperforming offensive line, pressures and sacks should be easier to come by in this game. That will lead to more possible turnovers from a quarterback who has thrown 10 interceptions and had 14 fumbles this season.

But for all of this to happen, the Cowboys’ defensive tackles need to win at the point of attack and hold their blocks to give the Dallas linebackers and safeties the opportunity to make a play before Taylor can get to the second level. At that point, he can use his 4.3 speed to break away from defenders.