Beat Dallas and Get Right

We Want Dallas?

Well, right now there could not be a better time for the Washington Commanders to ‘get right’ when they run out at the Northwest Stadium this Sunday vs their oldest NFC East foes.

After a tremendous start to the season, especially for rookie QB Jayden Daniels, Washington has ceded back-to-back losses.

Firstly vs the Steelers and then on the road to the Eagles.

Let us remind ourselves that the Pittsburgh loss was by just a point and with an extremely tight call from the officials when they signalled that TE Zach Ertz didn’t pull in that reception within the first down marker.

The road trip that followed the Steelers loss was to Philadelphia in a short week: just about the worst timing for a Commanders roster that is not scheduled for a bye until Week 13. The burgundy and gold needed this mini bye for recovery and quality practice, and they’ll be back all the stronger for it.

Look, we do not like to lose, but for a team in basically Year One of a new GM, rookie QB and a draft class who are pretty much all seeing on-field action: 7-4 is not a terrible record.

There are, however, some lingering questions provided by losses that are OK to ask.

A Kliff Kingsbury OFF has often stalled second half of the season; we hope that this will not be the case for Washington, but we cannot rule it out.

Likewise we knew the roster going into the 2025 season had some deficiencies that could not be fixed in one off-season.

Again, that is OK to acknowledge and to adopt a practical mindset.  The WRs outside of Terry McLaurin are average, the CB room was acknowledged as a group with weaknesses and has been strengthened with the capture of a potential stud who is taking a little longer than we would like to get back on the field.

If we can show patience, then Marshon Lattimore for the season-end will be exciting for Commanders fans who have not seen a clear CB1 in the backfield for some time.

Ahead of the Sunday NFC East clash, here at UKHTTC we took some time out with the UK Dallas podcast and fan group UK Cowboys Fans. Asking the questions is UKHTTC founder, Christian Burt

UKHTTC: The Cowboys are not in the best of places right now with an injury-ravaged roster that includes QB Dak Prescott as the most high-profile of absentees. Are thoughts already turning to 2025 and beyond?

Yes, very much so. As a fanbase we are very much of the belief that when your QB1 goes down your season is over.

Dallas stand at 3&7 so far and with a bleak outlook for the remaining games of the season, looking towards  2025 is more fun!

How has the Cowboys free agent class fared in 2024?

Awfully if we have to be honest.

Given our inability to get involved in the early stages and them bottom feed for the remainder we only added a few guys to our roster.

Most of those brought in were RB's and given our inability to run this season then it shows we've not had a good free agent class

Linebacker Eric Kendricks was our main addition and he's been hit and miss at best.

And how have the rookies performed?

Apart from OG Cooper Beebe, again a very lacklustre class.

Tyler Guyton looks a poor first-round pick so far but might develop: more time is needed to judge there.

Second rounder DE Marshawn Kneeland has been on IR as has Caelon Carson (CB) and Nathan Thomas (OT).

Marist Liufau is developing as a LB, but there's issues still and the WR Ryan Flournoy is  also slowly developing. Justin Rogers didn't make the team and given our inability at NT he might've helped.

Where could Dallas get some joy against the Commanders this Sunday?

In all honesty we don't see one area right now.

None of this Cowboys team is playing very well. Maybe Micah Parsons will be destructive in spots but doesn't have the supporting cast to help.

WR Cee Cee Lamb might also flash but with back-up QB Cooper Rush being unable to throw even close to well, Lamb get doubled and tripled as he's our only attacking threat.

Special teams are our best performing unit all season, so don't give Aubrey a look from 50 and shorter.

And what areas might the Commanders have success?

The trenches, where often the game starts and ends.

Dallas are giving up multiple turnovers a game on offense, so get after our line and QB.

Run the ball on us and you'll get success.

Any lower profile Cowboy on the roster that we should know about?

Brandon Aubrey and potentially Kavinte Turpin on special teams.

Sunday score prediction?

42-12 to the Commanders.

Quinn and the ex-Cowboys players will want to show what we're missing and will likely result in 1 or 2 takeaways and potential pick/ return sixes.

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