FRISCO, Texas – Coming off a win over the Minnesota Vikings with a backup quarterback and dominant third down defense, the Dallas Cowboys enter Week 9 with a three-and-a-half game lead in the division. Dallas has won six consecutive games following the loss to Tampa Bay in the season opener. At high noon on Sunday, the Cowboys will take on the 4-4 Denver Broncos on their home turf. Here are several key storylines heading into Sunday’s NFC matchup at AT&T Stadium.
- Dak Prescott has occupied the headlines over the past few weeks in dealing with a right calf strain that sidelined him against the Vikings last week. However, the decision to rest Prescott was more of a cautionary long-term season outlook in a 17-game season, than his readiness. Prescott was a full participant in Thursday’s practice for the first time since sustaining the injury on the final play of the overtime win over the Patriots. He participated in team periods and candidly told local media it is “safe to say” that he will take the field against Denver. “I’m feeling good,” Prescott described. “Obviously, I had two weeks to do a lot of rehab and recover, get everything that I needed to, the different modalities…I’ve had two great days of practice and I’m looking forward to Sunday.”
- Several key names will not be on the field for the Broncos in Arlington. Prior to the November 2nd trade deadline, Denver made a blockbuster move. Broncos’ cornerstone linebacker Von Miller was sent to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a second and third-round pick. Miller had 4.5 sacks in his first four games this season and played in seven games for the Broncos, before being inactive this past Sunday against Washington. Denver will also be without pass-rusher Bradley Chubb. He underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left ankle and the 2020 Pro Bowl player has missed significant time – including Sunday’s meeting with the Cowboys.
- Without Miller and Chubb, Denver’s pass rush has struggled but the Broncos have dynamic playmakers on the back end with Justin Simmons and Patrick Surtain. Simmons is the Broncos’ versatile safety, aligned near the box or deep in the middle of the field to take away an opponent’s threat. With elite instincts and range, Dallas will have to be cognizant of where he is on underneath routes specifically and avoid a mistake that leads to a turnover. Surtain is a lockdown corner on the left perimeter. He does not travel, and the Cowboys best plan of attack will likely result in dictating the formation away from Surtain, one of the league’s best young corners.
- For Dallas, left tackle Tyron Smith left the field in the first half against Minnesota after reaggravating an injury he suffered in the New England game. Owner/general manager Jerry Jones confirmed on 105.3 The Fan that Smith is dealing with a bone spur in his ankle. Smith will not play against the Broncos and the offensive line will undergo a shuffle. Dak Prescott provided clarity on the lineup, disclosing that “La’el [Collins] is back at right [tackle] and [Terence] Steele is moving over to left.” When Collins returned from his five-game suspension, Steele retained his starting job at right tackle. He performed well against Minnesota’s front and Collins made an appearance in the team’s “Hulk” inverted wishbone package, along with guard Connor McGovern lined up as fullbacks in the backfield. This week against Denver, Collins will assume his role on the right next to Zack Martin and Steele will rotate to the left, protecting Prescott’s blindside. Steele has had reps at both sides throughout his career and will maximize muscle memory from training camp/preseason on the left side for Sunday. Steele has been conditioned to play on the right side and will have to reverse with eyes, footwork, hand placement, and how he gets away from the line of scrimmage. From the right side, linemen operate with their right foot back and left foot front in the stance. From the left, it is the opposite – right foot up, left foot back. Calls will vary as well, and Steele will be the one to step up and react instantaneously. The staff has expressed confidence in his athletic ability and Sunday will be another chance for him to prove doubters wrong with position flex.
- CeeDee Lamb suffered an ankle sprain during Wednesday’s practice, however, the injury is not “of high concern” according to McCarthy. Lamb will participate in the Cowboys’ walkthrough on Friday and will practice on Saturday. He is expected to play on Sunday.
- The Broncos have had three blocked field goals in the past two games, with defensive end Shelby Harris getting his hands on two – one against the Browns and one against Washington. Denver has had at least one blocked kick in the last five years, including four in 2018. That kind of aggression and will to disrupt potential points on the scoreboard, shifts the momentum of ballgames. McCarthy declined to get into detail on coaching points, but stressed to D210SPORTS, “It’s one of the special teams’ objectives. So, we recognize a number of things they do a little differently than we may have seen or not seen or hadn’t seen…we’re definitely aware of it.”
- Courtland Sutton is the Broncos’ big-play threat with his jump-ball prowess. He is Bridgewater’s go-to target downfield and Trevon Diggs will likely be placed on the bigger-bodied receiver. Diggs performs better on bigger receivers, and it plays into his strength of getting to the football with precision. However, Diggs is not a quick twitch guy and does not produce as well against smaller, quicker receivers. His skillset will be better utilized on blanketing Sutton, than Jerry Jeudy.
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