Final thoughts ahead of Chiefs vs. Cowboys Week 11 game

The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11. The much-anticipated game will be featured in the league’s afternoon slate as both teams look to keep winning in the season’s second half.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke with WFAA sports writer Mark Lane and asked him a few questions to learn more about the Dallas Cowboys.

Chiefs Wire: Do you believe the Dallas Cowboys are Super Bowl contenders this season?

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

I think the Cowboys are Super Bowl contenders, but there’s still a lot of season left to be played. I know people make a big deal about the 17-game schedule, and you just tack on an extra game, and people talk about, ‘oh my gosh, you know, the season is so much longer.’ But even if you were to look at it from a 16-game standpoint, there’s still the Thanksgiving game. There’s still all of December, you’ve got five games in December, and then you’ve got the extra one in January. You know, because it’s a later calendar year, this season. So you know, you play one on January 2 — that was gonna happen anyway, whether it was a 17 game season or not. So you’ve still got about another quarter, a full quarter of the season left, and anything can happen. And with the way that they have retooled the playoff format to where there’s only one bye per conference now, which goes to the No. 1 overall sleep, it’s just it’s a long road to get there. It’s a more arduous one than it was from 1990 to 2019. So, as of right now, the playoffs started today. Yes, I think that Dallas is, is capable of contending for a Super Bowl. But again, you’ve got another quarter of the season.

I mean, take a look at the Chiefs, for example. The Chiefs are 6-4 and they were 6-4 in 2019. And so much changed with the fortune of the season everything and they got hot. I think they were coming off a stretch where they had to play Matt Moore, and then they got hot. And the Texans will 24-0 lead in the divisional playoffs — all kinds of things. And that’s what you’re looking at with these teams right now. The ones that are good, that are getting all the attention, like the Tennessee Titans to at 8-2, they could fall. They could have a precipitous fall, they could be stunned. Don’t forget back in 2019, the Patriots were 10-1, and then they couldn’t even get a bye. They had to play on wildcard weekend, and then they lost. They were upset by the Tennessee Titans. So, so many things are in play as the rest of the season wraps up. But I think that Dallas is a Super Bowl contender.

Chiefs Wire: Who are the key players on defense?

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The key players on defense, you know, I think it starts with Micah Parsons, the rookie linebacker. He has seven sacks already. And he just continuing they don’t really use him. I mean, he has a great way of rushing the passer, but they predominantly use him to cause havoc. However, they can cause it. They need him to drop into coverage. He’ll do that. They need him to come off the edge and get after the quarterback. He can do that if they need him to stop the run. He can do that. He’s just an impact player. And then you have Trevon Diggs, a cornerback. I know that pro football focus hasn’t missed last in the NFL in terms of his grade or whatever. They must use common core something for those pff grades sometimes because I don’t know how leading the NFL in interceptions makes you, you know, grayed out is the worst cornerback in the league but okay, all right. That’s what we’re dealing with. But, uh, he’s an impactful err; you have to watch out for Diggs. Especially when it comes to Patrick Mahomes YOLO balls, which are wonderful; they’re beautiful; everyone loves them. And I think he delivers on more of them than any other quarterback in the NFL. I mean, Aaron Rodgers probably is comparable when it comes to that, just in terms of being able to execute those winning throws on the fly. I mean, the fact the guy throws across the field, which is such anathema to playing quarterback in the NFL, and he delivers just speaks to what an incredible talent he is. But if there are, you know, any balls out there that are up for grabs, you got to figure that Trevon Diggs is going to be up for one. So those are the two impact guys on defense going into this game.

If Randy Gregory were playing, I would say him. If DeMarcus Lawrence were playing, I would say him. Jayron Kearse, you wouldn’t believe at the safety, the free-agent safety. He’s someone that you need to keep an eye on. Because he has grown as a leader. On the back end, he’s making the calls for the defense, which is particularly interesting, but the way they explain it is it’s easier for cars to relay the calls because it goes from back to front, as opposed to a linebacker doing it, which Micah Parsons was, where it would go from middle to front, and then back instead just coming from cars from the back to the front. Dorance Armstrong had a good game last week, and you know, he had the blocked punt, and he had a sack and but I don’t think that he’s going to be consistent in his production. So it’s just the three guys, as I said, Parsons, Diggs, and Kearse.

Chiefs Wire: Who are the key players on offense?

AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth

The key players on the offense start with Dak Prescott, the quarterback; that’s where the leadership flows. And Ezekiel Elliott, he’s sort of the heart and the soul for the offense. And in some regards, the team because he has a considerable locker room presence, and he’s great for morale. Those are the two guys that Kansas City definitely needs to key in on Amari Cooper. He’s doing well, but CeeDee Lamb is doing phenomenal. Second-year receiver from Oklahoma. I feel like the offense is stacked. And even the backups are just contributed a high-level. Tony Pollard, he’s backup running back to Ezekiel Elliott, can have some nice bursts. Then, Michael Gallup, he’s returning. This will be his second game back and you figure that he should play more and have a key part.

Cedric Wilson, who is their fourth receiver, can make some key catches. And he’s also a gadget player. And Noah Brown, he’s the fifth receiver, he’s more of a blocker. But Dalton Schultz, a tight end, he’s someone that can get downfield. And he went to Tight End University led by Travis Kelce. So I think that he will want to impress Kelce and show on the same stage as Kelce that he can be as dynamic. But you can’t forget the offensive line Tyron Smith if he plays left tackle. You need to watch out for right guard all Zack Martin and the center Tyler Biadasz If (Chris) Jones can apply pressure inside against him. And also, Connor Williams, the left guard, I think if they can get interior pressure and work those guys, Kansas City should generate an interior pass rush to affect Prescott. And then it right tackle Lael Collins, who Jerry Jones says brings the attitude has a dark side to him. That’s someone who helps set the tone on the offensive line.

Chiefs Wire: What is your prediction for Sunday?

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

I have a prediction, like who wins and all that, I’ll tell you wins the TV ratings: FOX. That’s who wins. So everybody’s gonna be watching this game unless, you know, it turns into some sort of 13-9 defensive struggle. That would be an absolute nightmare.

But I think that the line for the game is pretty accurate. I think that is something along the lines of both teams in the upper 30s Regarding how many points they generate. And I hope so. This is really a hard one. Because I have seen the Cowboys come up with big road wins, like they did in Minnesota this season, like they did in New England. Like they did in a way in Los Angeles against the Chargers in Week 2. Yet, I have seen them pretty much ever since I’ve been able to have a learner’s permit. I have games where they don’t get it done. And also I mean, it’s a game to its competition.

In the Chiefs, like I said, they have the genetic memory of 2019 when they were 6-4, and they got it together, and then they finished 12-4 locked up the No. 2 seed. So in terms of picking out a winner, that’s tough. I’m actually going to go with the Cowboys. I’ll go with the Cowboys, 33-31, And they chance it with Greg Zuerlein kicking the game-winning field goal from like 56 yards out and it goes through.

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