Cowboys vs Rams: 6 things to know about the Week 8 opponent

After getting a win before their off week, the Cowboys should be feeling better about themselves and now will begin the second phase of their season with a face off against the Los Angeles Rams.

It was a perfect time for the bye, the Cowboys had been at work for 14 straight weeks since training camp began, and they needed some rest. Now comes the next 13 weeks, which would mean the Cowboys play in the NFC championship game.

To get there, the first step is to beat the Rams, who are coming off a loss at home and need to win to avoid going deeper into a hole. Here are six things to know about the Week 8 opponent, the Rams.

First road game in four weeks

The Cowboys will be well rested for the matchup, and even though the Rams haven’t had their bye week yet, they haven’t left LA in nearly a month after playing three straight home games. It will be the first road game for the Rams since October 1, which was an overtime win in Indianapolis.

Los Angeles might have gotten comfortable sleeping in their own beds over the last month, but they’ll have to get up early on the road to play Dallas. The Rams had a late time slot in last week’s loss, and they need to be up for a noon CST game in Week 8. That could give the Cowboys an edge as the Rams have been on West Coast time going on four weeks now and might be sluggish to start in this game.

The Rams are 2-1 on the road this season but did get smoked by the Cowboys in their last trip to AT&T Stadium in 2019, losing 44-21.

Matthew Stafford is struggling

The Rams made the trade for the veteran QB a few years ago and although he led them to a Super Bowl in his first year with the team, it’s been tough sledding since. Stafford missed about half of the 2022 campaign with an injury, and his start to the 2023 season hasn’t been good.

Throwing for just seven scores through seven games, Stafford has also thrown six interceptions and has just a 59.8 completion percentage, which is on track to be his worst number since 2013. With 256 attempts, the Rams still push the ball down the field, and Stafford is fourth in passing yards, but it isn’t an efficient passing game.

Stafford and his offensive line have allowed 18 sacks, which could give the Dallas defense an opportunity to get after the quarterback. The 15-year veteran signal caller doesn’t escape the pocket as well as he used to and is prone to mistakes when pressured.

Dynamic duo at WR

It might not be an efficient passing game, but the Rams do have one of the top receiving tandems in the league. Rookie WR Puka Nacua has been one of the best stories this season, exploding through the first seven weeks.

Nacua is among the league leaders in every category at the position, ranking first in receptions (58), tied for second in first downs (36), third in yards (752), and fourth in yards per game at 107.4. The fifth-round selection hasn’t just been a great rookie, he’s simply been one of the best WRs in the game to start his career.

Pairing Nacua with an elite receiver like Cooper Kupp gives the Rams an embarrassment of riches in the passing game. Kupp missed the first four games of the season, but remains one of the league’s top WRs, catching 17 passes for 295 yards and a touchdown through three weeks. If he qualified, Kupp would be fifth in the NFL in receiving yards a game.

After one of the league’s best statistical seasons as a WR in 2021, Kupp came back strong last year before an injury derailed him. Prior to last week’s slow game, Kupp had shown he hasn’t lost a step, totaling in 15 receptions for 266 yards, going over 118 yards receiving in his first two games.

Early on the Rams leaned on Nacua at receiver, and the prevailing thought was that Kupp would eat into some of Nacua’s target share. That hasn’t happened as Nacua is seeing a higher target hare since returning. With teams paying more attention to Kupp, Nacua has continued to star.

It’s a dynamic duo the Cowboys are going to need to slow if they have a chance at winning in Week 8.

Revolving door at RB

Under head coach Sean McVay, the Rams have had some stars at running back, but this season has seen their offense shuffle through a few options. Cam Akers was the top RB heading into the first week but was quickly outplayed by Kyren Williams in the opening outing.

Williams took the job and ran with it for the next five weeks, rushing for 404 yards and totaling five scores as the lead back. Despite missing a game, Williams is seventh in the league in rushing and is averaging 4.7 ypc.

However, an injury led to the second-year RB being moved to IR and the Rams went deep into their options, signing Darrell Henderson and Royce Freeman from the practice squad in Week 7. Both veteran RBs got 12 carries and while Freeman led the Rams in yards Henderson got the touchdown in an effect game for both runners.

That solid showing didn’t mean much, the Rams sent Henderson back down to the practice squad and McVay has mentioned more possible touches for rookie RB Zach Evans and the recently signed Myles Gaskin. Just who takes the field at RB for the Rams is unknown, but they’ll have some healthy legs to attack the Dallas defense.

Aaron Donald remains a menace

Los Angeles’ defense is a middling unit that doesn’t have many stars, but the one they do have is among the top players in the league, at any position. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald can ruin a game and is someone the Cowboys’ offensive line will have to keep away from quarterback Dak Prescott.

Donald only has 2.5 sacks on the year, but he’s fifth in the league in tackles for a loss and is responsible for almost 30% of the pressures from the Rams’ defense.

That’s elite company and even though Donald turned 32 this year, he’s still having an impact after an ankle injury cost him six games last season. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All-Pro can wreck the Cowboys’ gameplan.

If the Cowboys want to win this game and get the offense back on track, they’ll have to neutralize one of the leagues premiere defenders.

Issues at kicker

The Rams signed Brett Maher to the practice squad late this summer and elevated him to their game-day for Week 1. The former Cowboy has been up and down with the Rams all season, but has kicked in all seven games.

Maher had a great year with the Cowboys in 2022, but got the yips right before the playoffs and he hasn’t regained his kicking touch. The veteran kicker had gone 17-23 on the season, with all of his misses coming from longer than 40-yards out. Maher’s biggest appeal has always been his leg strength, but that hasn’t been the case this year.

The Rams cut Maher this week after he missed two 50+ yard attempts and an extra point in a close loss. The team replaced him with Lucas Havrisik, a 24-year old kicker who has never attempted a regular season kick.

With the inexperience at kicker, expect McVay to go for it more on fourth downs. The Cowboys hold the edge in the kicking game and the problems for the Rams could factor into the outcome.

Story originally appeared on Cowboys Wire