Tag: Ezekiel Elliot

Dallas Cowboys at Baltimore Ravens Betting Preview

Dallas Cowboys

The last-place Cowboys (3-8) are remarkably just one game out of first place in the NFC East due to the season-long struggles of all four division clubs. Dallas likely would be leading the division if not for the loss of Dak Prescott (ankle) as the Cowboys have gone just 1-5 without the star quarterback. Running back Ezekiel Elliott (707 rushing yards) has just one 100-yard outing this year while being held below 55 on six occasions.Receivers Amari Cooper (71 catches, 848 yards) and CeeDee Lamb (53 for 650) have been productive despite the quarterback upheaval but have combined for just seven touchdown catches. The offensive line is beat up and will be without both tackles Zack Martin (calf) and Cam Erving (knee). The defense allows a league-worst 32.6 points per game and Dallas gave up over 40 for the second time this season when it lost 41-16 to the Washington Football Team on Thanksgiving.Safety Donovan Wilson (groin) was added to the injury list on Friday, and his status was uncertain. Cornerback Anthony Brown (ribs) is in jeopardy of missing his second consecutive game.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens (6-5) have been ravaged with coronavirus issues and had 13 players on the reserve/COVID-19 (12 active roster, one practice squad) as of Friday evening. Quarterback Lamar Jackson remained on the list, and he missed Baltimore’s 19-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. It remains uncertain if he will be cleared before kickoff. Trace McSorley is being prepared to make his first career NFL start after No. 2 QB Robert Griffin III sustained a hamstring injury against the Steelers.McSorley threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Marquise Brown against Pittsburgh but completed only one of his other five attempts. If Jackson isn’t cleared, rookie Tyler Huntley would be promoted from the practice squad to be the backup, leaving the Ravens with two novice quarterbacks at a time in which they have lost three straight contests and four of their past five. Defensive end Calais Campbell and outside linebacker Matthew Judon — who share the team lead with four sacks apiece — are among the other Ravens on the COVID-19 list.Veteran cornerback Jimmy Smith (groin) exited the Pittsburgh loss, and his status will be observed closely by the Ravens. Baltimore ranks third in scoring defense (19.5 points per game) and eighth in total defense (333.1 yards per game).

Cowboys at Ravens Betting Pick for Week 13

Baltimore is already out of the AFC North race and badly needs a victory in terms of its wild-card hopes, so this will be a desperate group regardless of who starts at quarterback. The Dallas defense is among the worst in the league, so it wouldn’t be stunning if McSorley starts and has a productive game.The Cowboys will breathe a sigh of relief if Jackson isn’t on the field, but his absence doesn’t make things easier. The club’s five losses without Prescott are by an average of 18.8 points, so even staying competitive has been a challenge.Cowboys at Ravens Betting Pick:Ravens 24, Cowboys 13

Cowboys at Ravens Best Bet for Week 13

Considering McSorley looks to be the most likely starter for the Ravens, the under seems the best route. If Jackson were to play, that would change the scenario, but on the other hand, he might not be able to play in top form.Cowboys at Ravens Best Bet: UNDER 45 total points (-110)

Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys Betting Preview

Thursday, November 26, 2020, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, 4:30 p.m. ET

Washington at Cowboys Betting Preview: Washington (+3/+140), Cowboys (-3/-167)

Washington Football Team

This year wasn’t supposed to be about winning for Washington, and at 3-7, it hasn’t been. Yet a mostly young team with a first-year coach, Ron Rivera, is going to get to play meaningful games down the stretch because its division is among the worst in NFL history.

If nothing else, the pressure-packed stretch run will give Rivera a better idea of who’s worth keeping when this team is good in a couple of years. And what Washington has learned is that its defense can keep it in most games, ranking ninth in points allowed, tied for third in sacks and tied for ninth in interceptions.

The offense isn’t quite as good. Although quarterback Alex Smith has authored quite a story by returning from a horrifying leg injury, there aren’t enough weapons for this unit to solve better defenses, although Dallas certainly isn’t in that category.

Dallas Cowboys

Welcome back, Dallas offense, where have you been for the previous month? Dak Prescott’s season-ending broken ankle and Andy Dalton’s frightening concussion two weeks apart rendered useless a unit with Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper and a good line.

Until Prescott was hurt, the Cowboys were piling up stellar offensive numbers. And their defense was trending just as hard in the other direction. It was like watching the Air Coryell Chargers, version 2.0. You couldn’t stop them, but they couldn’t stop you.

Dallas’ defense has been a bit better the past few games, even coming up with a game-clinching stop Sunday in Minnesota after getting strafed most of the day. It must keep improving for this team to emerge from a morass of bad teams and win the weak NFC East.

Washington at Cowboys Betting Pick for Week 12

There was once a time when this matchup was the sexiest the NFL had to offer. It is far from that anymore, but the ratings will still be good Thursday, even if the football isn’t.

As for the nuts and bolts of this one, Dallas has to play much better in the trenches than it did last month, when Washington administered a beating, outgaining Dallas 397-142 in total yardage en route to a 25-3 victory. But Washington hasn’t won on the road yet, and its tendency to start slowly could prove decisive in this one.

Washington at Cowboys Betting Pick:

Cowboys 23, Washington 20

Washington at Cowboys Best Bet for Week 12

Common sense and recent trends suggest that wagering on the under might be the best play. Until Dallas’ victory over the Vikings last week, the Cowboys’ previous four games all went under, and four of Washington’s past six games have gone under.

Factor in a short prep week limiting the time for players to recover from injuries, plus the fact teams use fewer plays on a short week, and the under sure looks like the way to go.

Washington at Cowboys Best Bet: UNDER 46 total points (-103)

–Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings Betting Preview

Sunday, November 22, 2020, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, 4:25 p.m. ET

Cowboys at Vikings Betting Preview: Cowboys (+7/-105), Vikings (-7/-115)

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys (2-7) have endured a miserable season, punctuated by the loss of injured quarterback Dak Prescott (ankle), and many of the franchise’s fans have started to think about a high pick in the draft and how it could bolster the franchise going forward. However, seven games remain in the schedule, and the Cowboys are far from eliminated in an NFC East division race that resembles more of a crawl.

Dallas expects to welcome back quarterback Andy Dalton, who missed the past two games as he went through concussion and COVID-19 protocols. Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard provide a strong 1-2 punch on the ground, and wideout CeeDee Lamb (44 receptions) needs three more catches to set the franchise record for a rookie.

The Cowboys must find a way to contain the Vikings’ well-balanced offense, which is led by dynamic running back Dalvin Cook. That could be a tall task unless the offense is able to put together long drives and prevent the Dallas defense from spending most of the game on the field.

Minnesota Vikings

Don’t look now, but the Vikings are heating up and could make a second-half run at the postseason. Minnesota started the season 1-5 with a bevy of problems, but since then the Vikings have reeled off three straight wins and have a chance to climb back to .500 with a win Sunday.

Cook leads the NFL in rushing yards (954) and rushing touchdowns (12), and wide receiver Adam Thielen is tied for the NFL lead with nine touchdown receptions. The weak link in the early going had been quarterback Kirk Cousins, but he turned in a much better performance one week ago as he spearheaded a Monday night victory over the Chicago Bears.

On defense, Minnesota also has shown signs of improvement. The Vikings’ last two games have marked their lowest opponent scoring totals of the season.

Cowboys at Vikings Betting Pick for Week 11

Minnesota is brimming with confidence as it returns home to face an injury-ravaged Cowboys team. Yes, the Vikings will be on short rest, but winning is contagious and the team should find a way to keep its success going against a Dallas team that is half-focused on this season and half-focused on gearing up for 2021.

Cowboys at Vikings Betting Pick: Vikings 27, Cowboys 17

Cowboys at Vikings Best Bet for Week 11

Those who bet on the under in the Vikings-Bears contest came away with a profit last week, and it stands to reason that the under will pay off once again in Week 11. Dalton has missed multiple weeks and never showed rhythm even when he was at full health for Dallas.

Minnesota will rely on its bread-and-butter approach of putting the ball in Cook’s hands and looking for timely throws down the field. This could be another matchup in which the Vikings prioritize a victory over style points.

Cowboys at Vikings Best Bet: UNDER 48 points (-110)