The Dallas Cowboys haven’t locked up a playoff berth yet, but at 10-3, it would take a complete meltdown for them to miss out on the postseason this year. Instead, their focus is on catching the Philadelphia Eagles and taking the No. 1 seed and NFC East title.
That won’t be easy, especially since they’ve already lost once to the Eagles. Instead, they’re more likely to be on the field in the Wild Card round, and here are the three teams they’re most likely going to face.
3 teams Cowboys should prepare for in 2022 NFL playoffs
3. San Francisco 49ers
This would be quite the rematch, as the Cowboys played the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs last season, and lost 23-17. The Niners ended up making the NFC Championship Game, but it still felt like a missed opportunity for the 12-win team — who happened to be playing at home.
Should the two teams meet again this year, that will change. With Dallas likely making it to the playoffs as a Wild Card team, they will be on the road against a division winner, and the San Francisco 49ers are expected to win the NFC West.
Major Weapons Cowboys Must Prepare for on 49ers Offense
San Francisco has several huge weapons to worry about, starting with running back Christian McCaffrey. Their in-season addition has been quite the pick-up, and has helped their offense stay on task, even with countless injuries.
Wideout Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle are also dangerous, although Samuel hasn’t been healthy in weeks.
https://twitter.com/49ers/status/1603566367726194688?s=20&t=H9KbHN_xylMEDIE59fjtCw
Still, all three can take over a game, and if that’s not enough, Brandon Aiyuk has become a weapon out wide as well.
Major Weapons Cowboys Must Prepare for on 49ers Defense
Can we count the whole defense?
The 49ers have the best defense in the NFL this season, and it possesses no weaknesses. Their best player is Nick Bosa, who constantly has his way with opposing offensive linemen. There’s also Fred Warner, one of the best linebackers in the game, and a very underrated Dre Greenlaw, who lines up next to him.
Concerning Matchup for Cowboys
On offense, it’s McCaffrey against this suspect run defense. Johnathan Hankins was added as a run-stuffer, and he recently went to IR. They hope he will return, but if not, this will be a huge advantage for San Francisco.
As for the other side of the ball, it will be Bosa against whoever is at right tackle. Bosa lines up as a left end, and while Terence Steele might have held his own, his recent injury means Jason Peters or Josh Ball might be across from him. Neither choice is ideal against Bosa.
Cowboys’ Greatest Advantage
There’s one huge advantage for Dallas, and it’s under center. Dak Prescott is a superior player to Brock Purdy, a seventh-round rookie. Purdy has been playing extremely well since stepping in, but the playoffs are a different animal (yes, even different than Seattle on the road) and he might not be ready to face this fast-paced defense.
2. Minnesota Vikings
This one would be a rematch from Week 11, a game where Dallas handed the Minnesota Vikings a 40-3 loss in their own stadium. It was a shock to see such a one-sided affair, since the Vikings were playing excellent football leading up to that contest. In fact, this was just their second loss of the season.
A rematch in the playoffs would again be in Minnesota, as the NFC North Champions would be playing in front of their home crowd.
Major Weapons Cowboys Must Prepare for on Vikings Offense
It might not have seemed like it in Week 11, but this Minnesota offense is loaded. Kirk Cousins is a vastly underrated quarterback, and running back Dalvin Cook can take over a game. They also have a great tight end in T.J. Hockenson and a savvy veteran wideout in Adam Thielen.
Having said all of that, their best player is Justin Jefferson. He’s already at 99 receptions for 1,500 yards with six touchdowns this season. He’s also going to be motivated to show out against Dallas since they held him to 33 yards on three receptions earlier this year.
Major Weapons Cowboys Must Prepare for on Vikings Defense
While they’re not as dominant as they once were, the best defenders in Minnesota are defensive end Danielle Hunter and cornerback Patrick Peterson. Just like with the 49ers, the Cowboys could be in trouble with Hunter due to the injuries on their line.
Concerning Matchup for Cowboys
Dallas has been banged up in the secondary, so the most concerning matchup has to be the receiving trio of Jefferson, Thielen, and K.J. Osborn against Trevon Diggs and a slew of inexperienced players. Diggs can hold his own, but they need to see a leap from Kelvin Joseph — or hope the recently acquired Trayvon Mullen can perform in this scheme.
Greatest Advantage for Cowboys
Tony Pollard is the great equalizer here. The fourth-year running back has put together a sensational campaign, but arguably had his best game of the season against this defense. Pollard led Dallas in rushing yards with 80, and had 109 yards on six receptions with two touchdowns.
Tony Pollard vs. the Vikings: pic.twitter.com/meLFnolc4n
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 20, 2022
Should Minnesota focus too much on him, there are others who can make them pay, so they’ll have to pick their poison.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Back in Week 1, Dallas had their worst performance of the season in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Not only did they lose 19-3, but Prescott suffered an injury that required surgery. He missed six games, and Cooper Rush played well enough to go 5-1.
That was a shock, considering they looked so bad against the Bucs, but the Cowboys surprised the doubters and have had just two losses since that game. As for Tampa Bay, they’ve been a disaster. Heading into Week 15, they’re 6-7, but should still win their division since no one else in the NFC South wants to win.
Major Weapons Cowboys Must Prepare for on Buccaneers Offense
As much as everyone wants to write off Tom Brady, the Bucs’ star quarterback can never be taken lightly — especially in the playoffs. In his career, Brady is 35-12 and has 19 years of experience in the postseason. If he gets hot, he can pour on the points in a hurry.
Major Weapons on Cowboys Must Prepare for on Buccaneers Defense
Vita Vea is a monster in the middle of the Tampa Bay defensive line. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 347 pounds, Vea moves with much more athleticism than his size suggests. That’s how he’s racked up 6.5 sacks so far in 2022. He’s also a force in the run game, and has helped shut down the Dallas ground attack two years in a row.
Concerning Matchup for Cowboys
It has to be Vea. As good as Brady can be, Dallas will struggle to win if this game becomes one-dimensional for them. They don’t have to rack up tons of yardage, but they need to keep the defense honest. If Vea clogs up the interior, that could be a huge problem.
Another reason he’s a problem is that he’s also the one who can destroy the quarterback if the run game is abandoned. If Vea is not neutralized, it can be a long day.
Greatest Advantage for Cowboys
Micah Parsons. That’s the advantage.
Parsons has been a one-man wrecking crew this season, and Tampa Bay has a struggling offense right now. After 13 games, they’re 28th in points scored, and while Brady gets the ball out in a hurry, the pressure has frustrated him this season. If Parsons can get around this struggling offensive line, he can force some mistakes from TB12.
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