Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Commanders: Know Thy Enemy

Before we can say anything about the Dallas Cowboys’ upcoming game, first and foremost our thoughts and prayers go out to Damar Hamlin and his family. Hopefully, he can turn this horrible situation around and get well soon. If you’d like to help his cause you can donate to this Chasing M’s Foundation Toy Drive.

Now, let’s talk about the Dallas Cowboys, who will have a hand in controlling their chances of winning the division along with a first-round bye after beating the Titans last week and the Eagles falling to the Saints. They will need help from a few teams in the process but there is a slight chance they could get it done.

For their part, the Cowboys must focus on beating the Washington Commanders whose head coach Ron Rivera is still wrapping his head around being eliminated from the playoffs last week. The Commanders don’t have much to play for, and could sit some of their top players and players who are dealing with injuries.

This doesn’t mean they should take this Commanders team lightly. They are the Cowboys’ most bitter rival, after all, and could look to play spoiler for the Cowboys and their chances at the division title and possibly the number one seed in the NFC. So let’s take a look at what the Commanders could bring to the table in this week’s “Know Thy Enemy”.

Cowboys vs. Commanders: Week 18 Know Thy Enemy

Washington Commanders at a Glance

Overall record vs. Cowboys: 45-76-2

2022 Record: 7-8-1

2022 Offensive Ranking: 25th out of 32 teams

2022 Defensive Ranking: 14th out of 32 teams

Current Injury List: CB Benjamin St-Juste (ankle), RB Antonio Gibson (knee/foot), DE James Smith-Williams (concussion), S Kamren Curl (ankle), OG Saahdiq Charles (concussion), OG Willie Beavers (undisclosed), DT Jonathan Allen (knee), DE Bunmi Rotimi (foot), CB Josh Drayden (undisclosed)

Most Notable Offensive Players: QB Taylor Heinicke, RB Brian Robinson Jr., WR Terry McLaurin, WR Jahan Dotson, TE Logan Thomas, WR Curtis Samuel, RB Antonio Gibson

Most Notable Defensive Players: LB Jamin Davis, DT Jonathan Allen, S Kamren Curl, CB Kendall Fuller, DE Chase Young, DT Daron Payne

What We’ve Seen from Commanders and Possible Offensive Game Plan Against Cowboys

Points Per Game: 18.4

Passing Yards Per Game: 207.1

Rushing Yards Per Game: 124.5

Total Yards Per Game: 331.6

Third Down Conversion Percentage: 36.1%

Red Zone Conversion Percentage: 53.7%

Commanders Offensive Strategy vs Cowboys

The Commanders don’t have much to play for other than pride, so it’s tough to know what this coaching staff will do in their final game of the season. So let’s err on the side of caution and say they are going to come out and try to win this game. The last time these two teams played the Cowboys were able to sack the quarterback twice but more importantly get continuous amounts of pressure on rookie quarterback Sam Howell, who’s expected to make his first NFL start after Carson Wentz was benched.

To prevent that ,this time around the Commanders will lean on their rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. and veteran Antonio Gibson if he’s available this week to force Dallas to respect the running game. Everyone knows the Cowboys are vulnerable in the running game, so to protect Heinicke and Howell they need to run the football and use that to establish their passing game. If they can’t establish the run, Curtis Samuel and Terry McLaurin are going to be busy catching a lot of quick passes to negate the Cowboys’ pass rush.

Cowboys Defensive Strategy vs Commanders

Pressure, pressure, pressure, that’s how the Cowboys are going to win this game against a Commanders offensive line that has given up 45 sacks this season and allowed 151 pressures this season as well. The Dallas pass rush hasn’t been able to get home but they have been able to create pressure forcing throwaways and hurried inaccurate throws. With Heinicke under center and the injuries along their offensive line, the Cowboys will have plenty of opportunities to rush the passer this weekend.

They will have to make sure they are able to stop a Commander running game with Robinson Jr. and Gibson who are averaging 4.0 yards per carry but just 2.4 yards after contact. It will be important for the Cowboys’ defenders to continue wrapping up and getting players on the ground. Do that and they should have a good day against this Commander’s offense.

What We’ve Seen from Commanders and Possible Defensive Game Plan Against Cowboys

Opponents’ Points Per Game: 21.1

Opponents’ Passing Yards Per Game: 195.9

Opponents’ Rushing Yards Per Game: 116.4

Opponents’ Total Yards Per Game: 312.3

Opponents’ Third Down Conversion Percentage: 32.8%

Opponents’ Red Zone Conversion Percentage: 51.0%

Commanders Defensive Strategy vs Cowboys

The Commanders’ defense has been really the only bright spot for this team all season by keeping them in games with a struggling offense. If they want to have a chance to beat the Cowboys they are going to need big games out of everyone on that defensive line who is healthy enough to play on Sunday. The firepower that the Cowboys have will give them fits in both the running game and passing game if they can’t.

The two main players they need to show up though are Chase Young and Jonathan Allen who is currently dealing with a knee injury. If they can control the line of scrimmage and put pressure on Dak Prescott they might be able to force him into bad throws and force turnovers. If they aren’t able to then look for the Cowboys to pick this defense apart all day long.

Cowboys Offensive Strategy vs Commanders

If the Cowboys want to have a chance at the NFC East title then they need to win and to do that they will need Dak Prescott and his receivers to be careful with the football. Many have been blaming Prescott’s rash of interceptions solely on him, but his receivers are also to blame for not securing the football. If Dallas can limit the turnovers and not give the Commanders’ defense confidence and their offense more opportunities they will win this game.

The Cowboys are also going to want to protect their running backs so they may start airing the football out, especially against this talented defensive front of the Commanders. Use the Commanders’ aggressive defensive front to their advantage by hitting screen passes to tight ends and running backs to slow the pass rush. Draw the secondary and linebackers in and then start hitting them over the top with Michael Gallup and T.Y. Hilton. A simple plan that should be easy to execute.

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