FRISCO, Texas – The 2-3 Dallas Cowboys face a 3-2 Jacksonville Jaguars team at home on Sunday. The two teams have met six times, with Dallas and Jacksonville both winning three. Four of the six games have been decided by a touchdown-or-less.
After three failed offensive performances on the road, the biggest key for the Cowboys will be getting their run game going to open up the passing game against the speed and ability of weak side linebacker Telvin Smith, and middle linebacker Myles Jack from sideline to sideline in the Jaguars defensive scheme. The Cowboys’ offense is currently ranked at No.30 in the league, averaging 190 pass yards in the last 21 games. On Sunday, Dallas will face the third best defense in the league. Jacksonville has limited their opponents to 86 points in the first five weeks of the season.
Defensively, Dallas’ defense has to create pressure on quarterback Blake Bortles and limit his timing in the pocket. Bortles has been on a roll with 388 passing yards in week four and he amassed 430 in week five. The Cowboys’ defense ranks eighth overall in the league, limiting opponents to 337.4 yards-per-game. The team is holding offenses to 19.2 points-per-game, the fifth fewest allowed in the NFL. Dallas has collected 15.0 sacks, courtesy of the hotboyz, to tie for sixth in the league. The defense needs a red zone-stopping performance on Sunday to keep Jacksonville off the field and give our offense more opportunities to put points on the board.
“ We have to try to effect him with our pass rush, “ Jason Garrett remarked on Bortles. “Rush and cover work together. Really important for us to guard the guys in the back end and not give him easy places to throw the football. Force him to go through progressions and be around him, harass him, and make his life uncomfortable. “
Practice Report for Wednesday, October 10, 2018:
Dallas Cowboys
WR Tavon Austin (Shoulder) Full Participation
CB Chidobe Awuzie (Ankle) Limited Participation
WR Cole Beasley (Ankle) Full Participation
DE Taco Charlton (Thumb) Limited Participation
DT Maliek Collins (Knee) Limited Participation
RB Ezekiel Elliott (Knee) Full Participation
DL David Irving (Not Injury Related) Did Not Practice
DE DeMarcus Lawrence (Shoulder) Did Not Practice
LB Sean Lee (Hamstring) Did Not Practice
FB Jamize Olawale (Shoulder) Full Participation
T Tyron Smith (Ankle) Limited Participation
LB Joe Thomas (Foot) Did Not Practice
DT Antwaun Woods (Calf) Full Participation
Jacksonville Jaguars
DE Calais Campbell (Ankle) Limited Participation
RB Leonard Fournette (Hamstring) Did Not Practice OUT
CB D.J. Hayden (Toe) Did Not Practice OUT
CB Tre Herndon (Hamstring) Did Not Practice
DT Malik Jackson (Back) Did Not Practice
C Brandon Linder (Knee) Did Not Practice
DE Yannick Ngakoue (Shoulder) Limited Participation
OL Andrew Norwell (Foot) Did Not Practice
OL Jermey Parnell (Knee) Limited Participation
OL Josh Wells (Groin) Did Not Practice OUT
