The Los Angeles Rams are favored by 7 points over the Dallas Cowboys, but that doesn’t mean the Dallas Cowboys can’t beat the Rams in fact the Cowboys will beat the Rams and in this article we will examine why the Cowboys will beat the Los Angeles Rams and highlight three main reasons. The main reasons are the 2nd half play of the Cowboys vs the 2nd half play of the season of the Rams, the Cowboys defense and the Cowboys offense since the trade to acquire Amari Cooper from the Raiders. We’ll start by examining the 2nd half play of both teams.
2nd half of the season of the Cowboys vs 2nd half of the season of the Rams
The Dallas Cowboys started the season with a record of 3-5 and many put Jason Garrett on the hot seat and didn’t think Dak was the quarterback long term for the Cowboys, but in the 2nd half of the season the Cowboys began to play a lot better going 7-1 with their lone loss coming on the road in week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts a week after the Cowboys became NFC East champions. The Rams started the season off 8-0, but have struggled in the 2nd half of the season going 5-3 including going 2-2 in their last four games of the season. Momentum plays a major part in advancing deep into the playoffs and although 5-3 and winning the last two games of the season isn’t bad it’s hard to say that the Rams have more momentum than a team that finished the season 7-1 and won their first playoff game in the wildcard round against the Seattle Seahawks. What about the defense of the Cowboys?
Dallas Cowboys Defense
The Dallas Cowboys defense is one of the most underrated defenses in the NFL this season and with young talent they have a chance to be good for a long time. The Cowboys rank 8th in the NFL in terms of points allowed per game with 20.35. They rank 5th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game with 93.29. They rank 12th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game with 234.18. The Rams have played some of the best defenses in the NFL in the Saints, Bears and Chargers. In those three games they went 1-2 with their only win coming against a Chargers defense that was banged up and didn’t have Joey Bosa. The Cowboys are a tough defense that can play the run and force Goff to throw the ball and Goff has struggled in those situations this season. The defense is good, but what about the Cowboys offense?
Dallas Cowboys Offense
The Dallas Cowboys struggled on offense prior to the Amari Cooper trade because they lacked a go to receiver which allowed teams to stack the box against Ezekiel Elliott and force Prescott into quick throws and led to turnovers. Since the week 8 trade for Amari Cooper the Cowboys have gone 8-2 and have looked a lot better on offense. They rank 22nd in the NFL in points scored per game with 21.35. The Cowboys rank 8th in the NFL in rushing yards per game with 125.18. Dallas ranks 22nd in the NFL in passing yards per game with 220.76, but those include games prior to the trade. Before the trade the Cowboys were averaging 20 points per game and after the trade they have been averaging over 22 points per game.
The way the Cowboys have played in the 2nd half of the season coupled with how the Rams fared in the 2nd half of the season along with the way the Cowboys have been playing on both sides of the ball this season are all reasons this win could happen. But will it really?
