Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams
Time, TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, Fox Line: Rams by 7
1. Return of the back: These clubs’ best offensive players are their tailbacks. The Rams’ Todd Gurley led the league with 21 TDs and is a Swiss Army knife who’s effective running the ball, catching it or pass blocking for QB Jared Goff. Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott just won his second rushing title with 1,434 yards and has led the NFL in yards per game on the ground in all three of his seasons. Elliott should have much easier sledding against a shaky L.A. run defense. Gurleywill be facing a Dallas bunch that shut down the Seahawks’ No. 1 ground game, allowing 73 yards.
2. Donald vs. Cowboys’ blocking: Dallas’ offensive line has been the team’s primary strength for years, but 2018 was a little rough. RG Zack Martin made the all-pro team, though repeated knee setbacks meant he wasn’t his typical dominant self. The bigger problems have been the loss of all-pro C Travis Frederick to Guillan Barre Syndrome while rookie Connor Williams and Su’aFilo have often struggled at left guard. Rams wrecking ball Aaron Donald recorded a league-best 201⁄ sacks, most 2 ever by an interior lineman.
3. Young guns: Prescott was solid against the Seahawks. He will probably have to do even more considering No. 1 WR Amari Cooper faces CB Aqib Talib. Prescott might have to try to use the aggressiveness of Donald and Ndamukong Suh and exploit running lanes given the way those linemen look to get upfield quickly. Goff could quickly find the game on his right arm if Gurley struggles. The Cowboys are also effective against the pass, rangy LBs Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch being potentially quite disruptive. But Goff might have an advantage numbers-wise with Gurley, two 1,200-yard receivers (Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods) and X factor Josh Reynolds.