The Dallas Cowboys return to the national stage in Week 11, heading to the desert for a Monday Night Football game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The 2-7 Raiders are the home team, but enter as underdogs to 3-5-1 Dallas, and much like the Cowboys, are still searching for some stability after a rocky first half of the season.

The reason for the Cowboys' early slide is no secret, as the defense has been anemic and porous, and that's exactly where the Raiders think they can find daylight on Monday night.

Frisco (Lone Star High School) native and Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty was respectful of Dallas' talent and it's trade-deadline splash for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, but he didn't hide his optimism about the opportunity.

"They've got some great players, they just added another, Quinnen Williams, on the interior, so I'm sure that will level up the kit front," Jeanty said. "But it's a good all-around team, but there's definitely places where we can attack them and make great plays. There's definitely places we can attack them."

When pressed on the specific challenge of facing Dallas on Monday night, Jeanty pointed again to the adjustments the Cowboys have made up front.

"They just added Quinnen Williams on the interior, I'm sure that'll level up their front," Jeanty continued. "... They've made some changes so we'll prepare for that."

 Las Vegas' confidence isn't without foundation.

In their last outing, the Cowboys were undone by a backup quarterback in Jacoby Brissett and couldn't slow down running back Emari Demarcado, who gashed the Dallas defense for 79 yards on 14 carries.

That tape gives the Raiders a clear template to control early downs, test Dallas' edges and second-level fits, and force the Cowboys' back end, that's ranked near the bottom of the league, to cover longer fields and tougher down-and-distance.

For Dallas, Monday represents both reset and referendum. Williams' debut is expected to bolster the interior, while the Cowboys continue to work in linebacker Logan Wilson and monitor the status of DeMarvion Overshown and corner Shavon Revel Jr.

The mandate is simple in tightening run fits, communicating clearly on the back end, and finishing tackles that have too often turned modest gains into drive-extending plays.

Jeanty's words set the tone for a game that will hinge on trench control and tackling.

If the Raiders can replicate the physical blueprint that the Cowboys had trouble with a week ago, they'll have a shot to spring the upset at home.

If Dallas' defensive changes take hold, Monday night becomes an opportunity to steady a season teetering on the edge.