Official Game Thread - Week 7 - Commanders @ Cowboys

[Boone]

Many of you are far more confident than I am. Teams are not threatened by our WRs, even this team. They will stack the box and take away the runs, both from the backs and the QB. I don't know how anyone can feel confident that our secondary will stay with their receivers. Jayden has to be special today. Not good special. Still waiting on special.

Our passing attack is bottom third in the league right now. Jayden hasn't been nearly as accurate, and even at full strength we don't have much depth at WR. WR is one of the units that we have not been able to fully rebuild. I think we are off to a slow start, and that may back up what skinsinparadise voiced concern about in regards to not playing starters in the preseason. Add in a ton of injuries and it is what it is.

I don't know that anyone should be confident right now - how can you be when we are such a Jeckyl and Hyde team? But the good news is, while our offense may not currently be what our 2024 offense was, Dallas has a bad defense. If we play our best, we can keep up with Dallas on the scoreboard. If we do that, likely the game comes down to which defense makes more mistakes, or a special teams play.

 

[DWinzit]

 

[Chris 44]

Jayden has proven to be special by putting the team on his back and willing W's.

Another big advantage we have contains the word you keyed in on, special. We have an incredible Special Teams Unit that can change momentum in an instant.

Deebo being out also puts more pressure on the return game. Domino effect of Luke now having a bigger role as WR due to all the injuries.

 

[HOF44]

Gonna take a very special game from either JD or the run game to win this one.

 

[Dlts20]

Hasn't been seen so far this season.

Last year is last year.

Hasn't not been special either. We just set the bar so far for him. He had 300 total yards in week 1, won Bradys player of the game award, and our fans were down on him. Came back rusty against LA and dominated the last 2 and a half quarters of that game in another dominant win. Then last week he throws for 3TDs, clearly out plays the #1 pick, and he gets all of the blame despite the D playing like trash and our O-line being dominated. If Caleb played like this, the Bears fans and media would be drooling over him and he has all of his weapons. The kid has been really damn good despite playing with a huge brace that is clearly hindering him and not having his main guys out there

 

[Dlts20]

Our passing attack is bottom third in the league right now. Jayden hasn't been nearly as accurate, and even at full strength we don't have much depth at WR. WR is one of the units that we have not been able to fully rebuild. I think we are off to a slow start, and that may back up what skinsinparadise voiced concern about in regards to not playing starters in the preseason. Add in a ton of injuries and it is what it is.

I don't know that anyone should be confident right now - how can you be when we are such a Jeckyl and Hyde team? But the good news is, while our offense may not currently be what our 2024 offense was, Dallas has a bad defense. If we play our best, we can keep up with Dallas on the scoreboard. If we do that, likely the game comes down to which defense makes more mistakes, or a special teams play.

I think Jayden has been pretty accurate since finding his rhythm. I always says that it takes 2-4 games for mostly every team/player to get completely going. We didn't really take off until game 3 last year. Detroit and Philly didn't take off until October last year. Burrow always takes a couple of games. Usually the teams who come out instantly great, struggle some immensely after, like Greenbay. Jayden's inaccuracy the first couple of games were just that. Just like Burrow. He would have gotten clicking the very next game against the Raiders but he missed the next 2 which set him back again. Starts rusty against the Chargers with that brace but from midway through the 2nd quarter of that game until now, he's been completing 70 percent again with some big time throws and that's without Terry and basically without Deebo last week. He will only get better. We didn't even have Terry all offseason. This is all with that big, hindering brace. I expect him to complete 70 percent the rest of the season

 

[Ghost of Sarge]

As much as I hate to say it, Dallas is going to light this defense up. Our only hope was to outscore them, and with both of our top receivers out, it's going to be a long day.

 

[Conn]

Take Jaydens brace off. He may need to rush for 60 plus tomorrow also

Why are you so obsessed with the brace, you’ve mentioned it multiple times. If the doctors want him in the brace, I want him in the brace. If they say he’s good to drop it, sweet. Pretty simple equation for me, personally

 

[Dlts20]

Why are you so obsessed with the brace, you’ve mentioned it multiple times. If the doctors want him in the brace, I want him in the brace. If they say he’s good to drop it, sweet. Pretty simple equation for me, personally

I feel like sometimes the brace is actually more dangerous because it affects his escapability and makes him slower. I also don't think that he will be as dominant as possible with the brace. He took some hits last game, including some awkward ones that I felt was due to the brace.

I'm also not too high on our doctors decision making right now. They've clearly misjudged a lot of things so far

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Jayden has proven to be special by putting the team on his back and willing W's.

Another big advantage we have contains the word you keyed in on, special. We have an incredible Special Teams Unit that can change momentum in an instant.

We have had solid special teams coverage and Luke particularly has proven to be solid in returns. But they've only taken one return to the house, they have not forced turnovers or blocked a punt. The blocked field goal was kicked low right into the line and our kicker has the worst FG% in the league. Thus I can't say our special teams, who have been solid but nothing more, will change the game.

 

[McD5]

We have a crappy defense, no wide receivers and a bad kicker.

If Dallas loses this game today at home, they really, really suck.

Diggs being out helps, but what receiver can exploit that?

 

[skinsinparadise]

I don't know that anyone should be confident right now - how can you be when we are such a Jeckyl and Hyde team? But the good news is, while our offense may not currently be what our 2024 offense was, Dallas has a bad defense. If we play our best, we can keep up with Dallas on the scoreboard. If we do that, likely the game comes down to which defense makes more mistakes, or a special teams play.

“Packers starters will play in the preseason. Matt LaFleur said NFL data suggests playing a certain amount of reps in the preseason helps prevent injury during the first 4-5 weeks of the actual season. Idea is trading a little risk now for potential protection during real games,” The Packers Wire’s Zach Kruse posted.

LaFleur has brought an analytical angle to this ongoing debate, opting for what he calls the scientific play. Now that he’s shed light on this data-driven approach, it will be interesting to see if other coaches around the league begin to reconsider their stance.

Packers' Matt LaFleur uses scientific injury data to decide on playing starters in preseason

There are different conspiracies in the NFL if starters should play in the preseason or not. Packers Matt LaFleur has data to back up his decision.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[SkinsFTW]

The Rams got Adams for millions less than McLaurin signed for and he has 2 TDs today.

It's true, some receivers are still producing after 30.

Ok now he has 3 TDs. That is 3 more than McLaurin has all season.

 

[DieselPwr44]

At some point, Ben Sinnot has to be more involved in the offense other than blocking,especially with Ertz gimpy and the offense starved for passing targets.
Maybe today is the day?

 

[SkinsFTW]

At some point, Ben Sinnot has to be more involved in the offense other than blocking,especially with Ertz gimpy and the offense starved for passing targets.
Maybe today is the day?

Ertz is on my FF team so I vote no 😂

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

The Rams got Adams for millions less than McLaurin signed for and he has 2 TDs today.

It's true, some receivers are still producing after 30.

Ok now he has 3 TDs. That is 3 more than McLaurin has all season.

Didn't Adams approach the Rams about playing for them?

 

[Dah-Dee]

Today feels pretty much like a must-win for playoff hopes. Lose and we're 3rd in the division -- and as low as 14th in the playoff standings (currently 12th of 16), with 4 (!!) losses against teams ahead of us in the wildcard race.

Win and we're at least second in the division, possibly tied for first in the unlikely event the Vikings come back and beat Philly, and could move as high as 7th in playoff standings (one spot out of wildcard), ahead of 2 of the 3 conference teams we've lost to (but probably only as high as 8th and 1 of 3, as Bears are pounding Saints).

Even with 10 games left after today, it feels like a tipping point for the season in Dallas, especially with one of the hardest remaining schedules in the league.

 

[Dlts20]

Idc what anyone says about our receivers and how we basically should be all run. That is still the worst rated pass defense in the NFL and we still have the best young QB in the league. I'm keeping our normal game plan until Dallas proves otherwise. I'm going to give our guys a chance against that secondary

 

[RedWolf]

I hope the D finds a way to hold them, get them frustrated and off the field quickly.

I hope KK comes up with a killer game plan and figures out a way how to carve them up on short and medium routes, and open up our run offense

 

[ExoDus84]

We have a crappy defense, no wide receivers and a bad kicker.

Regarding Gay, Keim pointed out that he's made 9 of his last 10. The doink in the Bears game hurt, but otherwise he's been on a decent little roll recently after a not great start.