USA TODAY International Edition
Can QB Prescott, Cowboys roll past Redskins?
Dak Prescott will never shoulder the full burden of the Dallas Cowboys' offense, but the quarterback has a prime opportunity to seize the spotlight.
Ezekiel Elliott's 219-yard, three-touchdown performance last week against the San Francisco 49ers reinforced how central the running back is to the attack. But Prescott has scored eight total touchdowns in the Cowboys' last two games, and he'll be hard to overlook Sunday against a Washington Redskins defense that gave up four scores through the air last week.
With both Dallas and Washington standing at 3-3, there's little room for either side to slip in the race to catch up with the 6-1 Philadelphia Eagles at the top of the NFC East.
Prescott's workload in the passing game has ramped up as defenses have keyed in on Elliott. The QB has exceeded 36 attempts in four of his six games and has proven himself adept at taking whatever defenses give him. That efficiency has especially been on display in the red zone, where he has thrown 22 touchdowns against just one interception in the last year and a half.
If Prescott and Dallas can deploy a two-pronged attack yet again, it could mean trouble for a hobbled Washington defense.
Cornerback Josh Norman is expected to play, setting up his first matchup with Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant since their heated Thanksgiving confrontation. But three other starters are listed as questionable, and defensive lineman Jonathan Allen and linebacker Mason Foster were recently placed on injured reserve. Washington's defense ranks eighth against the run, but gearing up against Elliott could leave Prescott one-on-one opportunities to exploit.
Here are four other matchups that could define Week 8 in the NFL:
Los Angeles Chargers DEs Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa vs. New England Patriots QB Tom Brady
The Chargers' pair of pass rushers have more sacks combined (16) than 18 teams do in total. The duo has also been instrumental during a threegame win streak that has revived Los Angeles' season, tallying 91⁄2 sacks during that span.
Ingram and Bosa could pose a significant problem for a Patriots offensive line that has failed to consistently protect Tom Brady, who already has been sacked 22 times this year. The top-ranked offense, however, hasn't been slowed by the protection lapses.
To counter the league's top team of edge rushers, Brady likely will turn to short-area targets in James White and Danny Amendola to do most of the heavy lifting. The Chargers have favorable matchups against the Patriots' offensive tackles, but the defense could use Ingram and Bosa in a number of different ways to keep the passing game off balance. Even if the two don't reach Brady repeatedly, they'll have to force him off his spot to throw the offense from its usual pace.
Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson vs. Seattle Seahawks' secondary
In just five starts, Watson has proven himself to be the spark the Texans so desperately needed. The once-stagnant attack is averaging 34 points per game during that span, and the rookie from Clemson owns the league's sixth-best passer rating (101.1).
But Watson hasn't faced a defense like that of the Seahawks since the opener, when the Jacksonville Jaguars sacked him four times in one half as he entered in relief of Tom Savage. Seattle offers a similarly imposing pass defense, which ranks third in opposing quarterback rating allowed (69.9). Since 2011, the Seahawks are 4-0 against rookie quarterbacks at home.
While Watson's elusiveness and ability to extend plays with his legs could prove troublesome for a pass rush that has just 12 sacks, he might be in for a harsh lesson if he continues to hunt for big plays. Seattle has given up just 11 points per game during its three-game win streak and a secondary led by Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman will be ready to pounce on any mistake. The return of left tackle Duane Brown should assist Watson with pressure, but Houston might opt for more quick hits than they have in recent weeks.
Oakland Raiders WR Amari Cooper vs. Buffalo Bills CB Tre'Davious White
Cooper ended his early-season slump in spectacular fashion with an 11-catch, 210-yard performance in the Raiders' breakout game last Thursday vs. the Chiefs. Now the pressure is on both him and Oakland's coaching staff to power the offense back up.
Cooper found success operating from the slot, with 11 of his 19 targets coming from that position, according to Pro Football Focus. He also capitalized on a game plan that allowed Derek Carr to take more shots downfield. Though the Raiders likely will look to feed him heavily again, Michael Crabtree has also thrived as a red-zone threat (six touchdowns).
The Bills' pass defense has been one of the surprises of the first half of the season, as Sean McDermott's unit ranks fifth in quarterback rating allowed (75.2) and has given up just five passing touchdowns. White has been an essential piece of that success, as the rookie first-round pick is tied for the NFL lead in passes defensed with 11. With cornerback E.J. Gaines out and safety Jordan Poyer questionable, White will carry an even heavier burden in making sure Cooper doesn't romp through Buffalo's secondary.
Denver Broncos OT Menelik Watson vs. Kansas City Chiefs OLB Justin Houston
Monday night's matchup could set the tone for the second half of the season in the AFC West. The Chiefs can extend their lead in the division to as much as two and a half games. But a third consecutive loss would tighten the race considerably.
Watson has been arguably the weakest link on a vulnerable Broncos line, as he ranks 69th among all offensive tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. Denver will need improved protection for Trevor Siemian as it looks to kick-start an offense that has recorded just three touchdowns in its last four games. It also will need to improve up front to boost the running game after defenses keyed in on C.J. Anderson.
The Chiefs rank 29th in total defense with 396.3 yards per game allowed, and opponents have victimized a secondary struggling without safety Eric Berry. But Houston has terrorized the Broncos, racking up seven sacks in his last three meetings against Denver. Unless he is hampered by a knee injury that limited him in practice, the edge rusher should be in line to wreak more havoc against Watson and the Broncos this time around.