Cowboys vs. Rams Preview: Tyron Smith on Injury List; Dallas' Impressive Streak
FRISCO - Fresh off a bye week, the Dallas Cowboys welcome the Los Angeles Rams to AT&T Stadium on Sunday afternoon. If the Cowboys win the Week 8 NFC showdown, Dallas will add to a 10-game home winning streak that dates back to 2022, the longest active streak NFL.
To the surprise of some, the Rams are one of the top offenses in the league and are currently ranked sixth in yards per game (365.1). Quarterback Matthew Stafford has excelled with 17 big-play passes of 20-plus yards in 2023, tied for third in the NFL. Meanwhile, limiting big plays is a strength of the Dallas secondary, who has allowed the second-fewest in the league with seven big plays.
A key to victory for Dallas is to get ahead early. The Cowboys are 4-0 in 2023 when leading at halftime and 0-2 when trailing at the break.
Dallas is at full strength after a week of rest and the Rams are coming off a 24-17 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers. … full strength, that is, except that on Thursday tackle Tyron Smith was noted on the injury list with a neck issue.
The Rams are within striking distance in the NFC West with much thanks for a breakout season from rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua. Former Triple Crown winner Cooper Kupp is back like he never left.
Cowboys star Micah Parsons and the defense look to get after Stafford. Newly signed running back Darrell Henderson and receiver Tutu Atwell are also dangerous on offense.
The scrutinized "Texas Coast Offense" hopes to keep the positive momentum from the Week 6 win vs. the Los Angeles Chargers. Quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb connected early and often as Lamb caught all seven targets for 117 yards in a stellar display.
Lamb is close to a few big milestones: He needs six receptions for 300 career receptions and 129 receiving yards on Sunday to reach 4,000 career receiving yards.
Entering Week 8, Dallas is chasing the 6-1 Philadelphia Eagles, who sit stop the NFC East division.
Lamb, Prescott, Pollard
FUN FACT: CeeDee Lamb boasts a 81 percent reception percentage (34 of 42), which is second among receivers this season.
RECORDS: Dallas Cowboys (4-2) vs. Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
ODDS: Dallas is a 6.5-point favorite vs. the Rams
GAME TIME: Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 12 p.m. CT
LOCATION: AT&T Stadium - Arlington, Texas
TV/RADIO: FOX, 105.3 The Fan
THE FINAL WORD: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones offered congratulations to the Texas Rangers, the Cowboys' fellow Arlington residents. The Rangers will play for its first World Series after beating the Houston Astros:
"I think it’s an appreciation for how hard it is to do," Jones said in an appearance on KRLD-FM. "Our fans might think differently about it ... When you have this kind of interest in sports, it lifts all boats... Dallas, the entire North Texas area against the whole country, and that’s alive and well with this great World Series that we’ve got coming up here."
Follow Bri Amaranthus on Twitter and Instagram
