The Seattle Seahawks (0-2) host the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) on Sunday afternoon in a game featuring two of the game’s most dynamic quarterbacks.
The Seahawks are looking for their first win of the season, while the Cowboys will try to earn their first road victory of the year.
Although the Cowboys are doing fine in defense with the second most sacks in the NFL they own the third worst offense in all of football.
In order to improve those offensive stats, the Cowboys attacks need to strike some balance and the best way is to find a way to get running back Ezekiel Elliott on track.
Although Elliott is usually a slow starter he tends to thrive after the first two weeks of the season. In his short career Elliott averages 65.5 rushing yards per game in weeks 1 and 2, but in week 3 and beyond those averages jump to 112.7 yards per game.
That’s a big problem for Seattle as they are allowing 116 rushing yards per game, ranked 23rd in the NFL.
A strong running game will allow the Cowboys to keep pressure off quarterback Dak Prescott, who can then start to mix it up with some quick passes down the field. If the Cowboys stay creative on offense they will keep the Seahawks defense honest.
Of course, Prescott has to play more efficiently if the Cowboys want to stay relevant this season. Although he’s completed over 65 percent of his passes and has yet to throw an interception, Prescott has just one touchdown this season and has yet to throw for 200 yards in a game.
On defense, the Cowboys must contain Russell Wilson because he’s very dangerous when he gets out of the pocket and, as proven by Cam Newton in week 1, the Cowboys don’t do too well against quarterbacks that thrive out of the read option. Wilson is dangerous because, just as Newton, he can make big plays to burn the Cowboys with his arms and legs.
Wilson thrives scrambling out of the pocket to escape pressure that’s why, if the Cowboys are going to use the pass rush against him, they must make sure they keep him contained or otherwise he’ll make them pay.
Since the Seahawks are prone to giving up sacks the Cowboys must use that pressure to force turnovers. Dallas should look not only to put Wilson on the ground but, to use that pressure to make him throw interceptions and to fumble the ball. So far, the Cowboys have just two takeaways all year and are one of four teams that have yet to intercept a single pass.
That won’t work against the Seahawks if they want to win this game. The good news is that Wilson has already thrown three picks in 2018 so the Cowboys may get off that list this week.
Prediction: Seahawks 17 – 14 Cowboys
