Week 16 Matchup: Cowboys at Panthers
Cowboys at Panthers
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET (NFL ), Bank of America Stadium
The Edge
Quarterback: Advantage Cowboys
Running backs: Advantage Cowboys
Receivers: Advantage Cowboys
Offensive line: Advantage Cowboys
Defensive line: Advantage Cowboys
Linebackers: Advantage Cowboys
Secondary: Advantage Cowboys
Pass rushers: Advantage Cowboys
Special teams: Advantage Cowboys
Depth: Advantage Cowboys
Coaching: Advantage Cowboys
Prediction Cowboys 33 Panthers 10
Expert Picks
Sign up now to find out who our experts are picking!
War Room scouts break down every NFL game. Here is a excerpt of their Cowboys-Panthers matchup:
Cowboys Keys For Success
1. Pressure Carolina QB Matt Moore. With Moore making just his second career start, an aggressive pass rush could severely hinder his performance. Look for Dallas coach Wade Phillips to blitz outside linebackers Greg Ellis and DeMarcus Ware from all over the field and continue to change alignments to challenge Moore's wits. Moore showed a quick release last week against Seattle's good pass rush.
2. Make reads off Jason Witten. Witten is the key to the Cowboys' passing attack; how opponents defend him determines how the whole passing game operates. If Carolina safety Chris Harris covers Witten with fellow safety Deke Cooper helping to double-team wide receiver Terrell Owens, the other wide receiver (Patrick Crayton or Terry Glenn) will receive man-to-man coverage and become a primary target. If Witten is covered by a linebacker, quarterback Tony Romo will take advantage of that mismatch in the middle of the field. The Panthers will pick their poison and hope for the best.
3. Utilize Marion Barber to control the clock. If the Cowboys take an early lead Saturday night -- which is a likely -- they should have Barber wear down the Panthers' defense and run the clock. Barber's aggressive running style and 4.9-yard average per carry could stymie any potential Panthers comeback.
Panthers Keys For Success
1. Throw downfield to Steve Smith. Smith, arguably the NFL's most dangerous receiver, has not scored a touchdown since Oct. 14 primarily because of instability at quarterback and the inability of his fellow receivers to take pressure off him. To defeat the sure double-teams Smith will face Saturday night, Panthers coaches should send him in motion and make it more difficult to jam him and slow his release. When Smith does get open, Moore must deliver the ball accurately and on time.
2. Drop eight defenders into coverage. On obvious passing downs, opponents have tried repeatedly and mostly unsuccessfully to blitz Romo. Between his ability to escape pressure and his offensive line's ability to pick up the blitz, opponents have left their secondary undermanned against the Cowboys' many weapons. The Eagles had success blitzing Romo last week, but the Panthers lack the same pass-rush weapons. Instead, the Panthers should use dime personnel and rush only three men. This would leave eight defenders to cover the likes of Owens, Witten and Glenn.
3. Utilize trick plays. Simply put, the Panthers cannot match the Cowboys' talent and therefore must get some big plays through trickery. Panthers coaches should watch the Cowboys' tendencies in the first quarter and see if there is anything they can exploit. If Ware and Ellis are chasing hard on plays away from them, then perhaps a reverse to Smith would work. If safeties Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams play close to the line in run support, then maybe a flea flicker will result in an open receiver downfield. The Panthers must utilize their entire playbook to beat Dallas.
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET (NFL ), Bank of America Stadium
The Edge
Quarterback: Advantage Cowboys
Running backs: Advantage Cowboys
Receivers: Advantage Cowboys
Offensive line: Advantage Cowboys
Defensive line: Advantage Cowboys
Linebackers: Advantage Cowboys
Secondary: Advantage Cowboys
Pass rushers: Advantage Cowboys
Special teams: Advantage Cowboys
Depth: Advantage Cowboys
Coaching: Advantage Cowboys
Prediction Cowboys 33 Panthers 10
Expert Picks
Sign up now to find out who our experts are picking!
War Room scouts break down every NFL game. Here is a excerpt of their Cowboys-Panthers matchup:
Cowboys Keys For Success
1. Pressure Carolina QB Matt Moore. With Moore making just his second career start, an aggressive pass rush could severely hinder his performance. Look for Dallas coach Wade Phillips to blitz outside linebackers Greg Ellis and DeMarcus Ware from all over the field and continue to change alignments to challenge Moore's wits. Moore showed a quick release last week against Seattle's good pass rush.
2. Make reads off Jason Witten. Witten is the key to the Cowboys' passing attack; how opponents defend him determines how the whole passing game operates. If Carolina safety Chris Harris covers Witten with fellow safety Deke Cooper helping to double-team wide receiver Terrell Owens, the other wide receiver (Patrick Crayton or Terry Glenn) will receive man-to-man coverage and become a primary target. If Witten is covered by a linebacker, quarterback Tony Romo will take advantage of that mismatch in the middle of the field. The Panthers will pick their poison and hope for the best.
3. Utilize Marion Barber to control the clock. If the Cowboys take an early lead Saturday night -- which is a likely -- they should have Barber wear down the Panthers' defense and run the clock. Barber's aggressive running style and 4.9-yard average per carry could stymie any potential Panthers comeback.
Panthers Keys For Success
1. Throw downfield to Steve Smith. Smith, arguably the NFL's most dangerous receiver, has not scored a touchdown since Oct. 14 primarily because of instability at quarterback and the inability of his fellow receivers to take pressure off him. To defeat the sure double-teams Smith will face Saturday night, Panthers coaches should send him in motion and make it more difficult to jam him and slow his release. When Smith does get open, Moore must deliver the ball accurately and on time.
2. Drop eight defenders into coverage. On obvious passing downs, opponents have tried repeatedly and mostly unsuccessfully to blitz Romo. Between his ability to escape pressure and his offensive line's ability to pick up the blitz, opponents have left their secondary undermanned against the Cowboys' many weapons. The Eagles had success blitzing Romo last week, but the Panthers lack the same pass-rush weapons. Instead, the Panthers should use dime personnel and rush only three men. This would leave eight defenders to cover the likes of Owens, Witten and Glenn.
3. Utilize trick plays. Simply put, the Panthers cannot match the Cowboys' talent and therefore must get some big plays through trickery. Panthers coaches should watch the Cowboys' tendencies in the first quarter and see if there is anything they can exploit. If Ware and Ellis are chasing hard on plays away from them, then perhaps a reverse to Smith would work. If safeties Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams play close to the line in run support, then maybe a flea flicker will result in an open receiver downfield. The Panthers must utilize their entire playbook to beat Dallas.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:03 PM
<< Home