Oakland Raiders: Five Things They Must Do To Beat The Cowboys

Come Up With A Coherent Game Plan

Given HC Jack Del Rio‘s statement, we’re obviously stuck with Todd Downing sitting in the OC booth, calling the plays, for the remainder of the year. Unfortunately.

Which means, we’re all left to hope that somebody – anybody – is helping Downing look at the tape and formulate a game plan that will attack Dallas’ weaknesses – of which, there are plenty.

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Dallas is pretty decent against the run, giving up just over 107 yards a game. That makes them the league’s eleventh-best run stopping unit in the league. But, they’ve been susceptible to the run.

The Eagles lit Dallas up for 215 yards back in week eleven. The Broncos ripped off 178 against the Cowboys in week two. The Rams and Packers ran for more than 160 yards against Dallas in consecutive weeks.

Even the New York Giants, with the dearth of talent in their own backfield, ran for more than 100 yards against the Cowboys last week.

Surely, with that big, physical offensive line, a power back in Marshawn Lynch, and a couple of finesse backs in Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington, Downing can figure out a way to use them against Dallas’ sometimes vulnerable front.

Downing – or hopefully somebody who’s helping him game plan – will then be able to use the run to set up the pass. Maybe throw in some play action just for kicks, huh?

And given the fact that Dallas gives up a lot of yards through the air, they’re currently ranked twenty-third in the league, and a lot of points also through the air, they’re ranked twenty-seventh, having given up 24 scoring throws on the year, surely Downing can find a way to incorporate that little nugget of information into his game plan as well.

How about softening up that Dallas defense with some power running, throw in some play action passes, and take some shots deep just to keep them on their toes?

Related Story: Will No One Rid Us Of This Meddlesome OC?

The point is, Dallas has plenty of defensive deficiencies that Downing needs to attack and exploit – something he utterly failed to do against Kansas City. Actually, it’s something he’s utterly failed to do all season long.

But, if the Raiders are going to keep those razor thin playoff hopes alive, it’s going to take commitment on the offensive side of the ball. They’re going to have to attack the defense, rather than just sit back and take what the defense gives them.

If they want it, they need to take it. If they don’t, then start making offseason plans.