STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
NFL Team Report - Dallas Cowboys</h2><br>PLAYER NOTES<p></p> --WR Tavon Austin did not practice on Monday or Tuesday with a groin injury. He missed the last five games and is questionable at best this week.<p></p> --DE Taco Charlton left the Tennessee game with a shoulder injury. He didn't play in the last three games, but he returned to full practice on Monday and Tuesday.<p></p> --DT Maliek Collins left the Philadelphia game with a knee injury and missed some practice last week. He played against Atlanta and Washington and went through limited practice on Monday and Tuesday.<p></p> --WR Allen Hurns was limited in practice on Monday with a thumb injury, but returned to full practice participation on Tuesday.<p></p> --DL David Irving left practice four weeks ago with a high-ankle sprain. He hasn't played the last four games and didn't practice on Monday or Tuesday.<p></p> --LB Sean Lee missed the last four games with a groin injury. He didn't practice on Monday or Tuesday.<p></p> --RG Zack Martin came out of the Philadelphia game with a knee injury, but returned to the game. He played against Atlanta and Washington and went through limited practice on Monday and Tuesday.<p></p> --C Adam Redmond missed some practice last week with a concussion. The backup offensive lineman returned to full practice on Monday and Tuesday.<p></p> --DE Daniel Ross injured his calf just before the start of the Philadelphia game and hasn't played in the last three games. He went through full practice on Monday and Tuesday.<p></p> --T Tyron Smith missed some practice last week with back spasms and was reported to have a neck issue this week. He didn't play against Washington and didn't practice on Monday or Tuesday.<p></p> --LG Xavier Su'a-Filo tweaked an ankle in the win over Washington and was limited in practice on Monday and Tuesday.<p></p> --TE Geoff Swaim suffered a wrist injury against Atlanta. He didn't practice on Monday or Tuesday and isn't expected to be available this week.<p></p> --LB Joe Thomas hasn't played in the last six games with a foot injury, but he returned to full practice last week and was back to full work on Monday and Tuesday.<p></p> --LG Connor Williams injured a knee against Tennessee. He missed practice two weeks ago when he had arthroscopic surgery. He went through full practice on Monday and Tuesday.<p></p> PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: CB Anthony Brown had a huge game on Thanksgiving as he made four solo stops, including a sack on a corner blitz and an interception that ended Washington's second possession in Cowboys territory. Brown and teammates Xavier Woods and DeMarcus Lawrence all had interceptions of Redskins QB Colt McCoy. It will take an even better performance to repeat such numbers versus the Saints' Drew Brees.<p></p> GAME PLAN: The Football 101 textbook reads that in order to combat any prolific quarterback/offense, the game plan is to control the ball by gaining first downs and sustaining long drives. But neither head coach Jason Garrett nor running back Ezekiel Elliott could be drawn in to saying that's what Dallas wants to do against New Orleans on Thursday. Perhaps that's because the Saints have the NFL's best rushing defense to this point. On the flip side, New Orleans ranks 30th in pass defense. Are those rankings skewed by the type of pass-heavy games the Saints draw opponents into on a regular basis? That seems like one plausible explanation. But, for whatever the reason, Dallas needs to complete passes and gain chunk yardage to have a chance on Thursday night. If that happens, Elliott obviously has a better chance of finding running room.<p></p> Defensively, the Cowboys appear to be getting healthier along the defensive line. That will be important as they'll need to send wave after wave of pass rushers to pressure Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Dallas has given up its share of long touchdown passes, so it can't afford to give Brees too much time in the pocket. It's also doubtful that the type of blitzes Dallas used against Washington last week will be effective against the savvy veteran Brees. The Cowboys linebackers also have to be wary of Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who has more than 1,200 combined rushing and receiving yards this season.<p></p>MATCHUPS TO WATCH<p></p> --Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott vs. Saints RB Alvin Kamara. Both Elliott and Kamara are combined rushing-receiving yards specialists. Elliott has four games of more than 140 total yards, but Kamara has three such games of his own. However, the Saints running back hasn't been productive on that level since September. This Thursday night game could come down to which running back burns the opposing defense more often.<p></p> --Saints QB Drew Brees vs. Cowboys secondary. Dallas cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie, Byron Jones and Anthony Brown are having excellent seasons under new defensive backs coach Kris Richard. Safeties Jeff Heath and Xavier Woods have made plays at time as well, but they've also received the brunt of criticism for lapses in the Cowboys' pass defense. Richard's star could shine even brighter this week if he devises a plan to slow down Brees, currently the NFL leader in passer rating at 127.3. The Saints QB enters this week with 29 touchdowns to just two interceptions, an amazing ratio. But if Dallas can upset that rhythm and it produces a win, it will be a major achievement for a defense on the rise.
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