Dallas Cowboys vs Jacksonville Jaguars: Know Thy Enemy

The Dallas Cowboys did something we haven’t seen them really do late in the season and that was avoiding a loss in a trap game against a bad opponent. In the past, we’ve seen this team lose these games and leave us with more questions about their mental makeup.

This time around against Houston, the defense made a goal line stand, and the offense, led by Dak Prescott, was able to put together a 98-yard drive for a game-winning touchdown.

This week, the Cowboys aren’t going to have the luxury of going up against a bad defense. They’ll be facing a good Jaguars defense, and an offense that isn’t as one-dimensional as the Texans were last week.

The Cowboys can’t take this Jaguars team lightly, so let’s take a look at a few reasons why they can’t be overlooked (and how Dallas can combat them) in this week’s “Know Thy Enemy”.

Cowboys vs. Jaguars: Week 15 Know Thy Enemy

Jacksonville Jaguars at a Glance

Overall record vs Cowboys: 3-4

2022 Record: 5-8

2022 Offensive Ranking: 15th out of 32 teams

2022 Defensive Ranking: 15th out of 32 teams

Current Injury List: OG Brandon Scherff (abdomen), S Andrew Wingard (shoulder), CB Darious Williams (abdomen), QB Trevor Lawrence (toe), LB Chad Muma (ankle), DE Travon Walker (ankle), CB Shaquill Griffin (back), S Andre Cisco (shoulder)

Most Notable Offensive Players: QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, WR Christian Kirk, WR Marvin Jones Jr., TE Evan Engram, WR Zay Jones

Most Notable Defensive Players: DE Travon Walker, DE Josh Allen, LB Foyesade Oluokun, CB Shaquill Griffin, LB Devin Lloyd, DE Dawuane Smoot

What We’ve Seen from Jaguars and Possible Offensive Gameplan Against Cowboys

Points Per Game: 22.6

Passing Yards Per Game: 246.8

Rushing Yards Per Game: 122.2

Total Yards Per Game: 357.5

Third Down Conversion Percentage: 40.2%

Red Zone Conversion Percentage: 53.2%

Jaguars Offensive Strategy vs Cowboys

Don’t let this 5-8 record the Jaguars are sporting fool you. In the last two weeks, the Jaguars have beaten the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans, teams that are currently the top dogs in their respective divisions. A big reason for that is the maturation of second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and the way offensive coordinator Press Taylor and head coach Doug Peterson made things easier for him pre-snap. The Jaguars are using a lot more pre-snap motion to help Lawrence identify the coverage this season and find his best options faster.

That change has also allowed him to make more audible calls at the line of scrimmage in order to take what the defense is giving them. The running game hasn’t been as effective as they have been in the past with Travis Etienne, but the team is still rushing for 4.7 yards a carry this season, making defenses more susceptible to play-action passes and the deep shots downfield Lawrence and Pederson like to take. The Cowboys are going to have to make this Jaguars team one-dimensional in order to beat them. If they aren’t able to control the running game, and we see the missed tackles and bad angles from the Texans game, then the Jaguars offense will be able to control the clock and methodically work their way down the field and put points on the board.

Cowboys Defensive Strategy vs Jaguars

As I stated earlier, the Jaguars are going to throw a lot of pre-snap motion at the Cowboys to try and get them to tip their hand on defense for Lawrence. This defense has, at times, been very undisciplined in their gap discipline, with their angles to make tackles, and in wrapping players up in order to make tackles. One way they’ve been able to stay disciplined, though, is in their ability to hide their intentions until the very last second. That should help them and make things tougher for Lawrence to decipher pre-snap.

That, along with the injury to guard Brandon Scherff (if he’s unable to play), might allow the Cowboys to attack the left side of the offensive line to get to Lawrence and make tackles in the backfield. The Cowboys’ defensive line is going to need to have a big game this week against a hobbled Lawrence. If they can rattle him early, they should be able to throw a wrench in the Jaguars’ offensive gameplan. They can’t let him escape the pocket and find receivers downfield.

What We’ve Seen from Jaguars and Possible Defensive Gameplan Against Cowboys

Opponents’ Points Per Game: 22.6

Opponents’ Passing Yards Per Game: 253.3

Opponents’ Rushing Yards Per Game: 115.4

Opponents’ Total Yards Per Game: 368.7

Opponents’ Third Down Conversion Percentage: 45.8%

Opponents’ Red Zone Conversion Percentage: 63.6%

Jaguars Defensive Strategy vs Cowboys

This Jaguars defense knows they are going to need to get pressure on Dak Prescott if they want to win this game, and with the Cowboys’ right tackle Terence Steele suddenly out for the season, look for them to test Jason Peters on the right side of that line, along with the returning Tyron Smith.

The Jags have three good pass rushers in Smoot, Allen, and Walker, who have a combined 12.5 sacks on the season. They are going to need these three to have a big game in order to protect their injury-riddled secondary.

Both starting safeties and cornerbacks are nursing injuries, while the Cowboys have added another weapon in T.Y. Hilton to an already-strong offense. Look for this Jaguars defense to try and create as much pressure in the pocket as possible to disrupt Prescott’s timing and accuracy in this game. If they are able to figure out a way to limit Prescott’s time in the pocket, they will have a good chance of winning by forcing him to make mistakes.

Cowboys Offensive Strategy vs Jaguars

Last week, the Cowboys had some really big issues getting their run game going after their impressive first drive against the Texans. The offensive line allowed the Texans’ defenders to create enough pressure that at times it limited the Cowboys’ ability to run the football up the middle. This week, the Jaguars are a much better run defense than the Texans, but are still giving up 115.4 yards per game on the ground. The Cowboys can use this threat to open up the field a bit for Prescott, and also force the Jaguars’ talented pass rushers to slow down a bit.

That will allow Prescott to then start attacking this injured secondary with CeeDee Lamb,  Michael Gallup, Noah Brown, and the recently-signed Hilton.

The Jaguars have faced a number of good receiving groups, and they are going to be facing off against another one this week looking to rebound from a horrible showing against the Texans. I believe this Cowboys offense is going to come out and try to make a statement to the rest of the NFL that they are still to be feared.

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