Know Thy Enemy: Intel On Colts vs. Cowboys

The Indianapolis Colts (2-6) host the Dallas Cowboys (3-5) on Sunday in a matchup of two teams that have underwhelmed compared to preseason expectations.

The Colts' issues are obvious, and they've shown their commitment is to the future, but the Cowboys have too much talent to be below .500.

This week, ColtsRoundtable and Mike Fisher of CowboysRoundtable swapped questions to learn more about each side entering Sunday's matchup.

Here are the questions CR had about the Cowboys:

Jake Arthur: When you see national coverage of the Cowboys, what's the most common misconception you see?

Mike Fisher: Well, speaking of "meddling owners'' ... there is a long-standing perception that Dallas' Jerry Jones - 30 years removed from winning those three Super Bowls - "doesn't care about winning.''

That's false.

But what he does care about is "winning his way,'' with a Cowboys "culture'' created in his image. And obviously, it's not working.

JA: Are the Cowboys more likely to be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? Who might be most likely to be traded away, if anyone?

MF: I'm back to that "limbo'' thing. Assuming Dallas wins on Sunday, the Cowboys - as rock-bottom as they've been - remain in the mathematical hunt in the NFC East.

And in that case? Why dump a talented player like George Pickens?

But if the Cowboys lose? All bets are off, going all the way up to moving off of Pickens (who will be a pricey free agent next spring). And of course, all bets will also be off regarding the job security of overwhelmed coach Brian Schottenheimer.

JA: Who's a player or two who are highly important to what the Cowboys want to do, but fly under the radar?

MF: Dallas employs a duo at guard that is as talented as its much-ballyhooed duo (of CeeDee Lamb and Pickens) at receiver. Tyler Smith and Tyler Booker are beasts, but don't get their deserved attention because A) they're guards, of course! And B) the Cowboys haven't established an identity that relies on them.

JA: When you compare the Colts and Cowboys, is there any area where you give the Cowboys an advantage?

MF: Hey, once you've lost home games to two awful teams (the Bucs when they were winless and lowly Arizona), it's fool's gold to assume many Dallas advantages.

The Cowboys are favored by 6 here; that should tell a story. But if it's my money? It tells no story at all, and my cash is staying in my wallet.

JA: Who wins on Sunday, and what will the score be?

MF: I've already hinted politely that y'all should have Jonathan Taylor sit this one out! 

Seriously, in their last four games, the Colts have totaled 59 points. Meanwhile, for all the Cowboys' woes, they've scored 72 points in their last two games.

Let's go Cowboys 36, Colts 20.

The Colts and Cowboys face off on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.