Dallas Score Predictions

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by SUNRA

Williams knows Bledsoe which balances the equation. I think this is a game of turnovers. Who is most likely to turn the ball over? I think this game reveals how good our defense really is and the genius of Greg Williams.

A lot of coaches know the book on Bledsoe, since he's been in the league so long and his flaws and weaknesses are well-documented (sits in the pocket like a statue, prone to mistakes and turnovers, tends to crumble under pressure). Hopefully, Williams's experience with Bledsoe will be beneficial for the Washington defense on Monday night, but Wade Phillips has plenty of experience coaching against Bledsoe, and it didn't seem to help the Chargers defense in Week 1.

The Chargers were able to sack Bledsoe 4 times last week, but Bledsoe did not turn the ball over, despite the pressure from the Charger defense. The Redskins defense could be more effective at pressuring and confusing Bledsoe, but they will need to force turnovers in order to give the Redskins offense a chance to score, and that's where I start to get concerned.

The Redskins' defense may indeed fare better against the Cowboys than the Chargers did-- at least initially-- but the Redskins' offense is unlikely to be as successful as the Chargers were. In fact, I would say that this Redskins offense is more likely to turn the ball over and present more scoring opportunities for the Cowboys, even with Brunell at quarterback. And with Brunell at quarterback, the offense will probably see more three-and-out drives, since Brunell-- like Brees-- is less likely to attempt the "riskier" throw that will probably be necessary to move the ball against this Cowboys defense. That puts the Redskins' defense at a disadvantage.

I think this game will be close early on, but as the defense spends more and more time on the field, and Julius Jones gets to keep pounding away at them, the Cowboys offense will start finding chinks in Gregg Williams' armor.

This game really could go either way, and I agree it will be a defensive struggle, but I'm giving the Cowboys the homefield nod. Their defense will benefit from the crowd noise and force more turnovers and three-and-outs than the Redskins defense will be able to overcome. The offense would need to play virtually flawless football, and I just don't see that happening. It never does against the Cowboys.