Rams at Cowboys: Can Dallas & Stephon Gilmore Win vs. Cooper Kupp & Puka Nacua?
The Los Angeles Rams are certainly a flawed football team, but if there’s anything they have in spades, it’s talent at the wide receiver position.
Superstar Cooper Kupp is the league’s best slot receiver and a target magnet. His connection with quarterback Matthew Stafford earned him the receiving triple crown in 2021, and outside of injuries, he’s done little in the form of slowing down.
Even after a Week 7 hiccup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kupp has racked up 17 catches, 295 yards, and a touchdown in three games.
Rookie phenom Puka Nacua only adds to the danger of Los Angeles’ passing attack. He leads the league with 58 receptions and hasn’t just filled in for Kupp—he’s flourished alongside him.
Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore attempts to stop 49ers tight end George Kittle.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
This spells trouble for the Dallas Cowboys, who will host the Rams on Sunday. Their cornerbacks don’t travel much, and while that can simplify things for a defense, it opens the door for opposing playcallers to pick and choose certain matchups.
Kupp is going to spend most of his time in the slot, facing off against cornerback Jourdan Lewis. This isn’t an indictment on Lewis’ play since returning from injury, but … buckle up. Week 7 was Kupp’s first dip below 50 receiving yards in a full game since Week 3 of last season. I’m not sure there’s anybody in either facility expecting that to persist for a second consecutive week.
Elsewhere, Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay will have his choice of where to deploy Nacua. Cornerback DaRon Bland has played out of his mind since star Trevon Diggs went down. Veteran defensive back Stephon Gilmore, despite catching the game-sealing interception against the Los Angeles Chargers, is the weaker of the two boundary corners.
Gilmore Vs. Kupp
Expect the 33-year-old to be targeted frequently in Week 8.
That isn’t to say that Gilmore can’t show up on Sunday and make McVay regret his hypothetical decision. But it does mean he’s the key to Dallas’ secondary containing an impressive aerial attack.
Nacua isn’t a flash in the pan. He’s incredibly quarterback-friendly and continues to showcase exceptional body control, even if he’s not separating at some incredible clip. Earning Stafford’s trust is one thing, balling out when his preferred target has an off day is another.
Against Pittsburgh, a significant portion of his yardage came on shallow crossers (he generated 154 receiving yards in the loss). However, Nacua has shown the ability to win in the intermediate and vertical parts of the field, too, where he’s seeing more valuable targets.
The Rams, despite their dynamic duo at receiver, are 3-4 (and 1-2 with both stars on the field). Still, a big day from both is a quick way for Dallas to find itself in a shootout. Given the offense’s inconsistencies, that shouldn’t inspire confidence.
A Cowboys win on Sunday likely means the entirety of the defense handled business and gave the offense some breathing room. With a daunting task ahead of the cornerback room, it will be on Gilmore to deliver his second straight game-changing performance.
