USA TODAY Sports Weekly

Cowboys (3-2) at Jets (0-4)

- Gary Phillips

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

TV: CBS

Danny Sheridan’s by 7

Cowboys’ keys to victory: This shouldn’t be a tough matchup for Dallas’ high-powered offense. With QB Dak Prescott playing at such a high level, WR Amari Cooper leading a deep pass-catching corps and RB Ezekiel Elliott lurking in the backfield, the Cowboys should be able to overwhelm a Jets defense that lacks cornerback depth and a pass rush. New York has been strong when it comes to stopping the run this season, but Prescott can make things easy for Elliott if he spreads the ball to his receivers and picks on Gang Green’s lacking secondary.

Jets’ keys to victory: The Jets’ poor run defense won’t matter if the cornerback­s don’t step up and Prescott is constantly given a clean pocket. The Jets need to do it all against Dallas’ well-balanced offense, and that just hasn’t happened this season. Meanwhile, their own offense has been a problem. The hope is that QB Sam Darnold will be back from mononucleo­sis, so perhaps New York will show a little life on that side of the ball. Even if that happens, though, it likely will take a shootout to beat the Cowboys.

Matchup to watch: Cowboys QB Dak Prescott vs. Jets’ pass rush. New York doesn’t have the talent at cornerback to expect much, but there is potential in the pass rush even though that group has failed to live up to expectatio­ns. It needs to disrupt Prescott for the Jets to have any hope.

Who wins? The Jets don’t pose much of a threat to the Cowboys, with or without Darnold. Expect this one to be another blowout.

Cowboys, 35-14 line: Cowboys

Cowboys schedule

W ...... N.Y. Giants ...... 35-17 W .. at Washington .. 31-21 W ........... Miami ........... 31-6 L ..atNewOrlea­ns ..12-10 L ....... GreenBay ....... 34-24 Oct. 13 ... at N.Y. Jets... 4:25 Oct. 20 . Philadelph­ia . 8:20 Oct.27 .............. BYE ............. Nov. 4 . at N.Y. Giants . 8:15 Nov.10 ..Minnesota ..8:20 Nov. 17 ...... at Detroit ...... 1 Nov. 24 . at New Eng. . 4:25 Nov.28 ..... Buffalo ..... 4:30 Dec.5 ...atChicago ...8:20 Dec. 15 ... L.A. Rams ... 4:25 Dec. 22 at Philadelph­ia 4:25 Dec. 29 ... Washington .... 1

Jets schedule

L L L .......... Buffalo .......... 17-16 ........ Cleveland ........ 23-3 .. at New England .. 30-14

BYE

L .... at Philadelph­ia .... 31-6 Oct. 13 ....... Dallas ....... 4:25 Oct. 21 New England 8:15 Oct. 27 . at Jacksonvil­le . 1 Nov. 3 ........ at Miami ........ 1 Nov. 10 ..... N.Y. Giants ..... 1 Nov. 17 . at Washington . 1 Nov.24 ....... Oakland ....... 1 Dec. 1 .... at Cincinnati .... 1 Dec.8 .......... Miami .......... 1 Dec. 12 at Baltimore 8:20 Dec. 22 ..... Pittsburgh ..... 1 Dec. 29 ..... at Buffalo ..... 1

 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States