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Zeke's Year Game by Game
Posted on 11/28/18 at 10:21 am
Posted on 11/28/18 at 10:21 am
Everyone is talking about how the Cowboys can beat the Saints if they run the ball and keep Drew Brees off the field. So I went back and looked at Zeke's season game by game to see how he stacked up:
Week 1 @ Panthers (#6 Vs. Run)- Zeke finishes with 69 yards including a four yard touchdown. Cowboys as a whole had 60 yards in the first half. Cowboys get behind by two possessions with little time left in the third quarter but did not completely abandon the run. Panthers win 16-8 on a strip fumble of Dak.
Week 2 Vs. Giants (#26 Vs Run) - Zeke finishes with 78 yards and a TD. Giants players challenge Dak during the week to beat them as they intend to stop Zeke and make him throw to win. Giants offensive line is atrocious allowing 7 sacks of Eli in route to a 20-13 loss.
Week 3 @ Seahawks (#22 Vs. Run) - This game is sort of how I expect this weekend to go minus the heavy production of Zeke. Zeke finishes with 16 carries and 127 yards. Three big runs fueled Zeke's day but in all the Seahawks defense held the Dak and Zeke combo at bay. Dak had 58 yards passing entering the fourth quarter and was sacked 5 times total on the day. Ultimately, three turnovers including two interceptions by Earl Thomas and a costly fumble by Zeke cost the Cowboys a chance to come back in the game. Seahawks win 24-13.
Week 4 Vs. Lions (#19 Vs. Run) - This is what a game looks like when the gameplan is focused on Zeke and neither team has a turnover. Zeke's most productive game in terms of all purpose yardage to this point finishing with 152 yards on 25 carries and 88 yards on 4 receptions one of which being a TD. Both Qb's finish over 150 yards passing with multiple TD's. Story of the day is the Lions tried to cover Zeke with LB's all day and they were simply too slow. Most important play of the game is a 34 yard TD pass to Zeke on a play in which he was 1 on 1 with a LB in the slot. Cowboys win on a last second FG 26-24.
Week 5 @ Texans (#7 Vs. Run) - Zeke finishes with 20 carries for 54 yards. Simply put the Texans defense swallowed up Zeke and forced Dak to beat them to which he answered with 208 yards, a TD and 2 ints. Texans win in OT 19-16.
Week 6 Vs. Jaguars (#16 Vs. Run) - Story of this ugly game was the Jaguars inability to stop Cole Beasley and Dak Prescott's feet. Zeke finished with 106 yards on 24 carries most of which came in garbage time. The Jaguars defense had no answer for the run pass option gameplan of the Cowboys. Saints have fared well against running QB's so far this season. Cowboys win 40-7.
Week 7 @ Redskins (#8 Vs. Run) - Again Dak is the main Cowboys rusher in back to back weeks but only finishing with 33 yards on 6 carries and a TD. Zeke is bottled up for his second lowest career total 33 yards on 15 carries. Dak is sacked four times. Cowboys have a chance to tie the game when their longsnapper illegally moves the ball pre snap and the field goal is penalized and backed up from 47 yards to 52 yards. Maher's time expiring kick slams the left goal post and Redskins win 20-17.
Week 9 Vs. Titans (#17 Vs. Run) - Cowboys trade for Amari Cooper to try and open their offense and be more diverse to spread the field. Amari scores his first TD as a Cowboy. Zeke finishes with 17 carries for 61 yards. Turnovers are the story of this game and a timely interception of Dak by Kevin Byard in the end zone sealed a 28-14 victory for the Titans.
Week 10 @ Eagles ( #11 Vs. run) - An Eagles defense that was expected to contain Zeke did quite the opposite. Zeke finishes with 151 yards on 19 carries and a TD. The week was full of people calling for Jason Garret's job and players and Garret said post victory that it only fueled them more to play harder than they have all season. The Eagles unraveling season continued the next week in NOLA against the Saints. Cowboys win 27-20.
Week 11 @ Falcons (#25 Vs. Run) - Most productive game for Zeke all season without question as he finishes with 122 yards and a TD on 23 carries to go along with 7 receptions for 79 yards. Another case of terrible linebacker play in Atlanta as Zeke is the focal point of the Cowboys gameplan. Brett Maher's field goal as time expires lifts Cowboys 22-19.
Week 12 Vs. Redskins (#8 Vs. run) - Amari Cooper's most productive game with a star on his helmet to date to along with Zeke racking up 121 yards and a TD on 26 carries. Cowboys absolutely torched the Redskins defense, yet still only barely beat Washington despite Colt McCoy starting at QB and throwing 3 ints. Cowboys win 31-23.
Synopsis: After reading the recaps of each game, it seems everyone is focused on stopping Zeke and forcing Dak to win the game. Makes sense. Zeke has beat the odds more times than none except when he faces a top 10 run defense. Week 1 against the Panthers, Week 5 against the Texans, Week 7 against the Redskins all produced less than 100 yards rushing and forced Dak into mistakes and losses. Some may make an argument for him against the #8 rushing defense last week but I say its a divisional opponent who started their backup QB and was fighting back into the game allowing the Cowboys to run the ball more. Saints #1 rushing defense along with the high powered offense lead by the most efficient QB the Cowboys have faced this year will lead to another victory for NOLA.
Saints 35 Cowboys 17
Week 1 @ Panthers (#6 Vs. Run)- Zeke finishes with 69 yards including a four yard touchdown. Cowboys as a whole had 60 yards in the first half. Cowboys get behind by two possessions with little time left in the third quarter but did not completely abandon the run. Panthers win 16-8 on a strip fumble of Dak.
Week 2 Vs. Giants (#26 Vs Run) - Zeke finishes with 78 yards and a TD. Giants players challenge Dak during the week to beat them as they intend to stop Zeke and make him throw to win. Giants offensive line is atrocious allowing 7 sacks of Eli in route to a 20-13 loss.
Week 3 @ Seahawks (#22 Vs. Run) - This game is sort of how I expect this weekend to go minus the heavy production of Zeke. Zeke finishes with 16 carries and 127 yards. Three big runs fueled Zeke's day but in all the Seahawks defense held the Dak and Zeke combo at bay. Dak had 58 yards passing entering the fourth quarter and was sacked 5 times total on the day. Ultimately, three turnovers including two interceptions by Earl Thomas and a costly fumble by Zeke cost the Cowboys a chance to come back in the game. Seahawks win 24-13.
Week 4 Vs. Lions (#19 Vs. Run) - This is what a game looks like when the gameplan is focused on Zeke and neither team has a turnover. Zeke's most productive game in terms of all purpose yardage to this point finishing with 152 yards on 25 carries and 88 yards on 4 receptions one of which being a TD. Both Qb's finish over 150 yards passing with multiple TD's. Story of the day is the Lions tried to cover Zeke with LB's all day and they were simply too slow. Most important play of the game is a 34 yard TD pass to Zeke on a play in which he was 1 on 1 with a LB in the slot. Cowboys win on a last second FG 26-24.
Week 5 @ Texans (#7 Vs. Run) - Zeke finishes with 20 carries for 54 yards. Simply put the Texans defense swallowed up Zeke and forced Dak to beat them to which he answered with 208 yards, a TD and 2 ints. Texans win in OT 19-16.
Week 6 Vs. Jaguars (#16 Vs. Run) - Story of this ugly game was the Jaguars inability to stop Cole Beasley and Dak Prescott's feet. Zeke finished with 106 yards on 24 carries most of which came in garbage time. The Jaguars defense had no answer for the run pass option gameplan of the Cowboys. Saints have fared well against running QB's so far this season. Cowboys win 40-7.
Week 7 @ Redskins (#8 Vs. Run) - Again Dak is the main Cowboys rusher in back to back weeks but only finishing with 33 yards on 6 carries and a TD. Zeke is bottled up for his second lowest career total 33 yards on 15 carries. Dak is sacked four times. Cowboys have a chance to tie the game when their longsnapper illegally moves the ball pre snap and the field goal is penalized and backed up from 47 yards to 52 yards. Maher's time expiring kick slams the left goal post and Redskins win 20-17.
Week 9 Vs. Titans (#17 Vs. Run) - Cowboys trade for Amari Cooper to try and open their offense and be more diverse to spread the field. Amari scores his first TD as a Cowboy. Zeke finishes with 17 carries for 61 yards. Turnovers are the story of this game and a timely interception of Dak by Kevin Byard in the end zone sealed a 28-14 victory for the Titans.
Week 10 @ Eagles ( #11 Vs. run) - An Eagles defense that was expected to contain Zeke did quite the opposite. Zeke finishes with 151 yards on 19 carries and a TD. The week was full of people calling for Jason Garret's job and players and Garret said post victory that it only fueled them more to play harder than they have all season. The Eagles unraveling season continued the next week in NOLA against the Saints. Cowboys win 27-20.
Week 11 @ Falcons (#25 Vs. Run) - Most productive game for Zeke all season without question as he finishes with 122 yards and a TD on 23 carries to go along with 7 receptions for 79 yards. Another case of terrible linebacker play in Atlanta as Zeke is the focal point of the Cowboys gameplan. Brett Maher's field goal as time expires lifts Cowboys 22-19.
Week 12 Vs. Redskins (#8 Vs. run) - Amari Cooper's most productive game with a star on his helmet to date to along with Zeke racking up 121 yards and a TD on 26 carries. Cowboys absolutely torched the Redskins defense, yet still only barely beat Washington despite Colt McCoy starting at QB and throwing 3 ints. Cowboys win 31-23.
Synopsis: After reading the recaps of each game, it seems everyone is focused on stopping Zeke and forcing Dak to win the game. Makes sense. Zeke has beat the odds more times than none except when he faces a top 10 run defense. Week 1 against the Panthers, Week 5 against the Texans, Week 7 against the Redskins all produced less than 100 yards rushing and forced Dak into mistakes and losses. Some may make an argument for him against the #8 rushing defense last week but I say its a divisional opponent who started their backup QB and was fighting back into the game allowing the Cowboys to run the ball more. Saints #1 rushing defense along with the high powered offense lead by the most efficient QB the Cowboys have faced this year will lead to another victory for NOLA.
Saints 35 Cowboys 17
5
Posted on 11/28/18 at 10:33 am to Bduhon55
quote:
- This game is sort of how I expect this weekend to go minus the heavy production of Zeke. Zeke finishes with 16 carries and 127 yards
A defense allowing less than 4ypc is going to allow right under 8? What makes you think so?
Posted on 11/28/18 at 10:46 am to Loaner1231
quote:
minus the heavy production of Zeke
the 127 yards was in that game not what I am predicting.
This post was edited on 11/28/18 at 10:47 am
Posted on 11/28/18 at 11:09 am to Bduhon55
quote:
Week 5 @ Texans (#7 Vs. Run) - Zeke finishes with 20 carries for 54 yards. Simply put the Texans defense swallowed up Zeke and forced Dak to beat them to which he answered with 208 yards, a TD and 2 ints. Texans win in OT 19-16.
If the Saints D does this, this game might be 62-16
Posted on 11/28/18 at 11:37 am to Bduhon55
Too much is being made of Zeke. He may have a nice game like Julio did last week, but it wont be enough.
Saints 35 Cowgirls 10
Saints 35 Cowgirls 10
Posted on 11/28/18 at 1:36 pm to Bduhon55
As long as Demarcus Lawrence doesn't completely own Bushrod, we are gonna frick these dudes.
Posted on 11/28/18 at 1:42 pm to Bduhon55
I remember watching an interview with Wentz before the Eagles game and he was saying how he wanted to slow the game down.
I get that philosophy can work, but to me I think that plays right into the Saints hands. You MIGHT limit the other teams possessions, but on the flip side of that you are limiting your own opportunities to score. To beat the saints, I think you need all the possessions you can get...
If the cowboys want to pound the ball and slow it down, I think you are playing right into the strength of the saints D - great D line and linebacker play.
I get that philosophy can work, but to me I think that plays right into the Saints hands. You MIGHT limit the other teams possessions, but on the flip side of that you are limiting your own opportunities to score. To beat the saints, I think you need all the possessions you can get...
If the cowboys want to pound the ball and slow it down, I think you are playing right into the strength of the saints D - great D line and linebacker play.
Posted on 11/28/18 at 4:06 pm to Mook1e
That's actually spot on. We are scoring at a ridiculously historical high near 70% of our possessions.
Trying to limit our possessions hasn't helped any team this year.
Hell us getting a possession in game one and having a fumble returned for a TD against us worked in TB's favor, and it's no coincidence the only team that beat us had to put up near 50 to do so.
We've still beaten teams by double digits despite both teams trying to shorten the game.
Trying to limit our possessions hasn't helped any team this year.
Hell us getting a possession in game one and having a fumble returned for a TD against us worked in TB's favor, and it's no coincidence the only team that beat us had to put up near 50 to do so.
We've still beaten teams by double digits despite both teams trying to shorten the game.
Posted on 11/28/18 at 5:00 pm to bonethug0180
quote:
it's no coincidence the only team that beat us had to put up near 50 to do so.
Exactly.
I think the saints are most vulnerable against teams that can match their offensive output, and not necessarily gritty teams that are going to pound or even teams with top defenses.
Rams / Chiefs / Chargers / Steelers
Maybe even a Colts type team that is firing on all cylinders.
My point being, I think the Saints are most vulnerable in those fast pace games when the other team has a QB that’s going to take advantage of matchups / holes in our secondary for big plays.
The only problem with my logic is that the Saints have jumped on teams early, forcing them to pass, and the D has done just fine in those scenarios. But by then teams become one dimensional, so you know the pass is coming.
Or maybe....
this defense, after a shaky start, is becoming one of the best in the league.
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