NFL rushing leader Lamar Jackson threatens to expose the Cowboys’ primary defensive weakness in Rio as Dallas struggles to contain mobile playmakers and prevent an international disaster.
The Dallas Cowboys - and most specifically their defense against the running of a quarterback - are moving out of the proverbial frying pan and into the Brazilian fire.
The Cowboys’ biggest weakness is vulnerable to being exposed on the international stage Sunday afternoon in Rio de Janeiro.
Through two games this season, no team in the NFL has surrendered more rushing yards to quarterbacks. And here comes a guy maybe you’ve heard of: Lamar Jackson.
If the New York Giants’ Jaxson Dart (54 yards) and Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels (69) can shred Dallas’ defense with their legs, I cringe at the thought of what could happen when it tries to contain the greatest running quarterback in NFL history.
Jackson, of course, is the Baltimore Ravens’ two-time MVP who has amassed a QB-record 6,592 rushing yards over his Hall-of-Fame career. With Lamar, no play is ever “broken” or, for that matter, “dead.” Even approaching age 30, his legs are still among the league’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
In two previous games against the Cowboys, Jackson has run wild. In two wins in 2020 and 2024, he’s rushed for a combined 181 yards and two touchdowns. With star receiver Zay Flowers potential out Sunday with a hamstring injury, the Ravens might rely even more on Lamar’s legs.
The Cowboys possess athletic defenders with the skillset to potential “spy” on Jackson, but DeMarvion Overshown won’t play because of a hamstring injury and Jaishawn Barham is a rookie.
Meanwhile, even as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones praised his big-money defensive tackles Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark regarding their overall value, the fact is, they haven't been big-time playmakers over the course of Weeks 1 and 2.
And yes, Quinnen is focused on Job 1 this Sunday.
Williams - who might be a bit banged up, which could explain his relatively slow start - knows how important stifling the run will be against Baltimore.
"It's been challenging for us the whole season coming down, stopping run, especially [on the] interior," Williams said. "We just really focus on honing in the urgency level, being disruptive up front, playing with our hands, getting knocked back, and doing different things like that.
"So no matter who it is back there, we have to do our job up front to stop the run."
Ah, but "who is back there'' this time is ... well, that fire.
“That is the Million-Dollar Question,” Cowboys’ head coach Brian Schottenheimer said this week when asked how his team plans to contain Lamar. “The last two quarterbacks we’ve played and including Lamar this week, they’re nifty guys. But really it’s more when you get near them, being able to wrap them up.”
If the Cowboys have a chance to win in Rio, their run defense - especially containing Lamar - has to be improved. Through two games, only the 0-2 Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers have allowed more rushing yards.
