6 things to know before Cowboys-VIkings take field for Week 8 SNF

It's back to game week for the Dallas Cowboys, who saw their lead in the NFC East expand despite not taking a single breeze in Week 7. The Cowboys look like they are on their means to a division title and also the playoffs, however the goals are a lot larger than

that for this group. Appearing of the bye week, Dallas has a couple of challenges in advance of them, most significantly the health of quarterback Dak Prescott, even though it resembles he'll be great to play, and also a hard Minnesota Vikings group. Right here are six points to find out about the Week 8 match.

Running game will certainly be Dallas' most significant difficulty

When we last left the Cowboys, they were giving up 120 yards on the ground in Week 6. That was against an average hurrying team, so it's frightening to consider what the Vikings may perform with their top-10 running video game.

Led by Dalvin Chef, one of the best running backs in the organization, the Vikings are averaging 127.8 yards a game on the ground. In four games this season, Chef has actually hurried for 366 yards, which appears to over 91 lawns a competition and 4.6 backyards per run.

Many runs of 10+ yards

Derrick Henry-- 19
Dalvin Chef-- 16
Ezekiel Elliott-- 16

-- PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy)

Behind Cook is Alexander Mattison, that has actually competed 268 lawns so far this season. It is among the very best RB tandems in the league, but all duos are not the exact same.

While the Cowboys go to great sizes to get both Ezekiel Elliott and also Tony Pollard on the area in the same video game, Minnesota believes in having Chef as the lead back. In the 3 full video games he's played, Mattison has actually averaged just 11 breaks. At the same time, Pollard hasn't had much less than 27 snaps in any Dallas video game this period.

Still, Chef is ample of an obstacle.

Vikings likewise have a dynamic duo at WR

Couple of groups can match the getting options of the Cowboys, however the Vikings are among them

. Beginning WRs Adam Thielen and also Justin Jefferson are just one of the top pairs in the NFL as well as both should be represented. Jefferson leads the violation in targets, yards, and yards per catch, however Thielen has been killing it in the red zone, where he has 5 ratings this season as well as 19 over his last 21 games. The Cowboys require to tighten up on their protection and also ensure Jefferson and also Thielen do not take control of the game.

Dallas is giving up near 300 passing yards per video game, which ranks in the bottom five in the league. The pass defense has a hard task in perfect conditions inside the dome in Minnesota.

No home field benefit

The Cowboys have actually won their only two conferences at the Vikings' new ball park, united state Bank Arena. In 2014 the short-handed Cowboys with back-up QB Andy Dalton won a 31-28 thriller, as well as in 2016, the young arising stars named Prescott and also Elliott won a nail biter, 17-15, in their newbie seasons.

The Cowboys are appreciative of the moving, because before the relocation Dallas had shed their last 5 brows through right into Minnesota territory.

This is the 2nd period in a row Dallas will come off their bye week to play the Vikings. This year, both groups are coming off the two-week break well relaxed.

Kirk Cousins is off to a solid begin He could not be taken into consideration one of the leading

quarterbacks in the organization, yet Cousins is continually great and he's off the strong start in 2021. Through six games he's thrown 13 touchdowns against simply two interceptions. Cousins likewise rates inside the top-10 in many statistical groups, including yards, conclusion percentage and also passer ranking. PFF's highest-graded QBs this season 1. Tom Brady-- 92.2 2. Russell Wilson-- 90.3 3.

Ryan Tannehill-- 89.9 3. Kirk Cousins-- 89.9 5

. Derek Carr-- 89.1 6. Justin Herbert-- 86.8 7. Kyler Murray-- 86.5 8. Joe Burrow-- 86.4 9. Lamar Jackson-- 85.4 10. Matt Ryan-- 85.2-- Jarad Evans(@PFF_Jarad)There aren't many things that Relatives isn't doing well today as he's playing some
of the most effective football of his job. He's likewise played well versus the

Cowboys. In his last 5 video games he's tossed 11 goals versus three interceptions and has finished a minimum of 70%of his includes four

of those games. Vikings can be worked on The Vikings have a solid running video game, but their protection additionally can be beat on

the ground, surrendering close 130 lawns a video game. With the Cowboys running it like anyone in the organization with Elliott as well as fellow RB Tony Pollard, Dallas ought to have the ability to whip the Vikings protection in the trenches. The 3 best backs the Vikings have played this year all had success in the rushing game. Joe Mixon had 127 backyards

and a score, Chris Carson competed 80 backyards as well as a touchdown and Nick Chubb had a 100-yard day against the Vikings. The Cowboys must have no trouble relocating running the sphere on the ground.< p id=" acm-ad-tag-lawrence_dfp_desktop_gallery_poster-1635398526-1483-4-1635398526-1483-4 "> Vikings don't defeat themselves The Cowboys

are one of the most effective groups in the

NFL when it comes to taking the round away, developing 14 turnovers via 6 games. Conversely, the Vikings have actually done a great task of protecting the ball, with simply five giveaways( 2 interceptions as well as 3 fumbles lost). Something has to provide on Sunday evening, either the Cowboys

can continue to force turnovers, or the Vikings maintain the ball and do not allow Dallas offense extra chances to score. The turn over battle will certainly be a contributing factor in who wins or loses this game.