Cowboys news: Injury report, predictions, and more for Cowboys week three

Gut Feeling: Predictions For Cowboys-Seahawks - DallasCowboys.com

Is anyone picking the Cowboys?

Nick Eatman: Just as easy as the Cowboys could be 0-2, they could’ve been 2-0. And guess what, it usually works out this way where you’re 1-1. On the flip side, I keep hearing how incredible Russell Wilson has been right now, putting up historic numbers. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a problem and will be more than a handful on Sunday. But if the Seattle cornerback doesn’t make a play on the goal line – a play that Wilson is on the sideline with probably his helmet off – then Seattle doesn’t win that game. And I doubt everyone is talking about MVP Russ when he’s 1-1. My ultimate point is that Seattle can definitely lose a game at home. The Cowboys are getting a big break to play this game without fans. I can see Everson Griffen having his best game of the season and the same will go for Michael Gallup. Blocking Jamal Adams will be important but when he blitzes the Cowboys must take advantage of that. I see this being in a track meet with the Cowboys being more dominant on offense. Give me Dallas, 38-27.

What the Cowboys defense should expect from the Seahawks offense - Connor Livesay, Blogging the Boys

The Cowboys must contain Russell Wilson.

Limiting the Seahawks in the red zone

Slowing down the Seahawks offense starts with making things difficult in the red zone, which is something the Patriots and Falcons have struggled to do in the first two weeks of the season.

Again, the keyword for today is “limit”. The Cowboys must limit the Seahawks in the red zone. A field goal here, a field goal there is fine, but they can’t allow the Seahawks to continue on the trend they are currently on of scoring touchdowns on 100% of their red zone trips so far in 2020. A lot of that starts with keeping Wilson in the pocket and not allowing him to pick up chunk yardage, and converting on third downs with his legs - which is easier said than done. The second is forcing the football out of Wilson’s hands as soon as possible, because if he’s given time, in a clean pocket, you can pretty much guarantee something positive will come from that play.

While Chris Carson’s usage has started to fall off with Wilson taking more control of the offense, he can still be effective in the condensed areas of the field, and in certain situations. Carson has only 23 carries so far in two games, and has yet to find the endzone on the ground, but does have three receiving touchdowns, something he’s developed into his game over the last year or so. Carson’s impact as a receiver seems to be more consistent inside the red zone than in between the 20’s, but you could see Shottenheimer trying to get Carson matched up with Jaylon Smith in man-coverage in key situations.

2020 Week 3 Key Matchups: Seahawks vs. Cowboys - John Boyle, Seahawks.com

These three matchups will be huge on Sunday.

2. A star-studded, but so far not productive, Dallas pass-rush vs. Seahawks pass protection.

Everyone knows by now what type of start Russell Wilson is off to this year, throwing a league-high 9 touchdown passes with just 11 incomplete passes, and completing a league-best 82.5 percent of his passes to go along with a league-leading 140.0 passer rating.

The talent and depth of the weapons Wilson is throwing to has been obvious as well, particularly in the fast starts by DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. But an underrated part of Seattle’s passing game success has been the protection Wilson has gotten from his offensive line. Yes, there have been five sacks and 18 quarterback hits, so it hasn’t been perfect, but it’s also worth remembering that the same playmaking ability and mentality that allows Wilson to extend so many plays to created big gains can also lead to him holding the ball long enough to take some sacks other quarterbacks might not. And when one also considers that the Seahawks are breaking in a line featuring three new starters in a year with no preseason, the overall result have been awfully impressive.

“The guys are doing really well,” Carroll said. “Honestly, they’re doing well. Brandon Shell’s a good player, and he’s holding up, he has been really consistent so far. Damien (Lewis) is doing a fine job too, he’s a really good athlete for the position. Even though there’s newness there, he’s just got great feel for it, and he’s really tough and really strong and all that. And (Ethan) Pocic is playing well. Ethan has given us a transition that was better than we might have thought with a new guy coming in, just because he’s been a student of the game since he’s been here. He really helps in that regard. And maybe there’s a LSU thing going on here with the center and the guard, I don’t know, but they’re communicating really well. I just think that, plus the rhythm of the throwing game, is really at a good spot right now, so we’ll just try to keep it rolling.”

Dallas, meanwhile, brings to Seattle a defensive line loaded with talent, and a group that has to feel like it’s due for a big game. Dallas so far has just two sacks from a unit featuring four players with Pro Bowls on their resumes—DeMarcus Lawrence, Everson Griffen, Dontari Poe and Aldon Smith—three of whom have recorded double-digit sack seasons in the past.

“I would start with edge players,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said when asked about Dallas’ defense. “Aldon Smith is playing at a really, really high level, DeMarcus Lawrence is a great, great player, they go out to get Everson Griffen, so those guys are really, really good … As those three edge players get going is when you sense them playing their best level of football. So I think they’re a really good group, I really do, and it’ll be a fun matchup for us.”

Dak Prescott proving he needs to finally get paid by the Dallas Cowboys - Sravan Gannavarapu, NFL Spin Zone

Pay. Dak.

The Cowboys are well past the time to pay Dak Prescott what he’s worth.

Yes, the time has come. No more waiting and no more speculating. The longer you kick the can down the road, the harder it will be to come to a fair agreement. Pay it now so that the trouble down the road can be alleviated.

Prescott has put together an impressive résumé and has been a staple for the Dallas Cowboys since being drafted back in 2016 in the same class as Ezekiel Elliott and Jaylon Smith, both of whom had their contracts extended and are well taken care of.

In his first season, Prescott led the team to a 13-3 record and the NFC East title. Since arriving in Dallas, Prescott has led the team to two division titles and one playoff victory against the Seattle Seahawks.

Is he the greatest quarterback of all time? No. That title belongs to Tom Brady. But Prescott’s resilience and the ability to galvanize the troops while showing how much of a leader he is warrants a heavy paycheck coming his way and ending the long contract dispute that has dominated much of the headlines from Arlington.

3 bold predictions for Cowboys-Seahawks: CeeDee Lamb won’t just get his first career TD — he’ll pull down two - John Owning, Dallas Morning News

Three bold predictions from John Owning for Sunday’s game.

CeeDee Lamb posts 100-plus receiving yards, 2 TDs

The Seahawks’ defense has struggled mightily against slot receivers this season.

Atlanta’s Russell Gage made nine catches (on 12 targets) for 114 receiving yards in Week 1, and New England’s Julian Edelman posted eight catches (on 11 targets) for 179 yards in Week 2.

Don’t be surprised if that trend continues when Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb matches up against diminutive slot defender Ugo Amadi (5-9, 201 pounds).

Though just a rookie, Lamb has been one of the most effective slot receivers in the league, logging 10 catches (fifth among slot receivers) for 132 yards (third) from that alignment, according to Pro Football Focus.

Much of Lamb’s production has come against off and zone coverage. He’s displaying a knack for finding open spaces against zone, which Seattle uses regularly in its Cover 3-heavy defense.

Jamal Adams “Can’t Wait” To Face Cowboys Pass Offense - Kevin Brady, Inside the Star

Please don’t destroy us Jamal.

Jamal Adams and the Cowboys will likely be linked forever.

Similar to former Seahawks safety Earl Thomas, the current Seattle star has long been expected to go “home” to the Cowboys throughout his career. He forced his way out of New York this offseason, but the price tag was ultimately too steep for the Cowboys to commit to.

Adams and the Cowboys don’t have reason for a rivalry, but there’s clearly something there in Adams’ mind. Jamal told reporters on Thursday that he has a little extra motivation ahead of this week’s matchup with his hometown team.

“I’ve seen a couple things, they said I struggle in coverage, so I can’t wait…I got a little text from one of my buddies back home. He has the inside scoop on that. So, looking forward to it” – Jamal Adams.

Don’t let the quotes scare you, Kellen Moore.

Dallas Cowboys coaching staff confirms times have changed - Tyrone Starr, The Landry Hat

No longer in the stone-age.

Week one became the equivalent of seeing one kind of, sort of similar trait between our previous partner and new. With the suddenness of an unaccounted-for blitzing cornerback, all of those past-decade feels were back. Some of us felt duped. Some of us questioned why we were here again. Most of us were just plain angry.

The limited offense (almost no passes thrown beyond 20+ yards by quarterback Dak Prescott). The heavy run-on-first-down looks and subsequent failures of big hitters by running back Ezekiel Elliott. Absolutely no change in the lack of a pass rush despite new toys (Aldon Smith and Everson Griffen) and old favorites (DeMarcus Lawrence). Of course, most importantly, a loss.

The anger was so tangible, fans were actually wanting new head coach Mike McCarthy either replaced or to replace offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Fans were quick to tweet about how Elliott, Lawrence, and receiver Amari Cooper were overpaid. While the venom surely was mostly made from ten years of frustration more than just one game, the venom was still spewed.

Thankfully, there is more to a season than just one game. More importantly, last Sunday’s epic comeback win for the Dallas Cowboys should go a long way towards the healing process.

Week 3 Injury Report: Seahawks vs. Cowboys - John Boyle, Seahawks.com

With practice week over, this is the final injury update before kickoff.

The Seahawks will be without defensive end Rasheem Green, who was ruled out on Friday, for the second straight week due to a neck injury. Four players are questionable, including two starters on defense: cornerback Quinton Dunbar (knee) and defensive end Benson Mayowa (groin). Also questionable is cornerback and special teams captain Neiko Thorpe (hip), as well as reserve tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, who missed the first two games with a pectoral injury.

No one else on what was a lengthy injury report early in the week was listed on Friday’s game status report, meaning they should all be good to go.

The Cowboys will be without starting cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, while defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (knee) and tackle Tyron Smith (neck) are both listed as questionable.

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