The Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals are set for a clash on September 18 at AT&T Stadium in a match that has become even more dramatic after the fallout of Week 1 action. Both teams will be seeking their first win of the season and both will need to rise above adversity to get the win.
Dallas will enter the game without star quarterback Dak Prescott who suffered a fracture to the thumb of his throwing hand late in the fourth quarter of Week 1. Cooper Rush will get his second career start in Prescott’s place but will face a more challenging opponent than the Minnesota Vikings team he defeated last year.
Rush will also need to get peak performance from his receiving corps. Last season, Rush had Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb along with Cedrick Wilson to target. Against the Bengals, only Lamb will be available after Cooper was traded to Cleveland and Wilson signed with Miami in the offseason.
In Week 1, Lamb struggled against a staunch Tampa Bay defense that understood the lack of weapons available to the Cowboys. He had only two receptions on 11 targets and gained a mere 29 yards. Wide receiver Noah Brown led the team in yards with 68 while tight end Dalton Shultz had the most receptions with seven on nine targets and 62 yards.
The Dallas defense has received a lot of attention in the media after exploding onto the scene last season as one of the NFL’s most opportunistic units. That tenacity will be essential to the Cowboys’ success this week against Cincinnati. Safety Donovan Wilson got the ball rolling for Dallas in Week 1 by recording the team’s first interception of 2022 by taking away a poorly-thrown pass by quarterback Tom Brady.
After earning Rookie of the Year accolades in 2021, Micah Parsons began his second year in the NFL with a two-sack performance. Parsons accumulated 13 sacks last season. He will need to perform at a high level on Sunday to slow down the potent offense of the Bengals, led by quarterback Joe Burrow.
The Bengals came out on the losing side of the season’s first overtime game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. Burrow had a tough night, throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble, but kept his team in the game with 33 completions and 338 yards passing.
The Cincinnati defense was a big reason that the team was able to overcome turnovers. Pittsburg managed only 29 yards rushing and quarterback Mitch Trubisky passed for only 194 yards and one touchdown. With the Cowboys likely looking to lean on running back tandem Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard to limit the number of throws Rush is required to make, Cincinnati could quickly turn the Dallas offense one-dimensional.
Both teams committed untimely penalties in Week 1 that stalled drives and erased big plays. Dallas was flagged 10 times for 73 yards. Cincinnati committed four penalties that totaled a mere 27 yards, but one of those flags erased a game-winning touchdown that forced the Bengals into a field goal and a tie.
The Cowboys will need an outstanding game from all three phases to overcome the Bengals. The Bengals can stamp a W in Dallas by shutting down the Cowboys’ offense and limiting mistakes.
