Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys: Full Dallas Game Preview
For most of 2015, Dallas Cowboys fans and analysts assumed the last two weeks of the regular season would be spent with the team preparing for a playoff run in its second consecutive NFC East championship season.
Unfortunately, the season has deviated from those expectations in more than a few ways, and the Cowboys go into their Week 16 matchup with the Buffalo Bills with nothing to play for in terms of playoff implications.
In spite of the lack of postseason impact, there are plenty of storylines for this game. Here’s what to watch for on Sunday.
Location: Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Week 15 Results and Recap
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The Dallas Cowboys had yet another quarterback change in Week 15, as midway through the second quarter of the Cowboys' 19-16 loss to the New York Jets on Saturday, Kellen Moore took over under center for a faltering Matt Cassel.
The offense ran more smoothly with Moore at quarterback than it had in recent weeks, but the team still managed only one touchdown, turned the ball over a total of four times and converted a measly 18 percent on third down.
With the game tied 16-16 and about one minute left in the fourth quarter, cornerback Byron Jones and safety J.J. Wilcox combined on a coverage mistake that resulted in a 43-yard catch-and-run by wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins to put the Jets in position to kick the game-winning field goal and officially eliminate the Cowboys from playoff contention.
NFC East Standings
Washington Redskins (7-7)
Philadelphia Eagles (6-8)
New York Giants (6-8)
Dallas Cowboy (4-10)
News and Notes
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An Opportunity for Kellen Moore
After watching Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel display ineptitude at the quarterback position for three months with Tony Romo out because of collarbone injuries, Cowboys fans have been in search of any sign of hope at the quarterback position. When Kellen Moore entered the game against the Jets, they saw a glimmer of that hope.
There are reasons why Moore has been in the NFL for four years and been on two teams who have each released him and made him available to the rest of the league. But in Week 15, Moore operated coordinator Scott Linehan’s offense with authority. His experience with Linehan in Detroit, as well as during most of 2015 in Dallas, showed, as the team operated much more smoothly with Moore at the helm.
He did make mistakes, including three interceptions, and his physical limitations showed up as he went 0-of-4 with two interceptions on passes more than 15 yards downfield. But he appeared to throw catchable balls for his receivers, and Cole Beasley, Dez Bryant, Brice Butler and Terrance Williams all got in on the act as Moore distributed the pigskin.
It is unclear what the Cowboys’ hopes are for Moore long-term as a backup for Tony Romo, but he will have two more weeks for the team, the fans and the rest of the league to see if he can replicate his college success in the NFL.
Latest Injury News
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Dez Bryant
It has become somewhat of a routine for Dez Bryant to miss practice on Wednesday, as he did this week, according to the Cowboys' official website. But Thursday he missed his second consecutive practice for the first time since returning to the lineup in Week 7.
Dez has shown signs of his typical explosiveness the last few weeks despite the foot fracture that caused him to miss five games and the knee injury he suffered against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8. Head coach Jason Garrett told David Helman of the team's official website that Bryant's absence from practice this week is related to those injuries.
It will be interesting to see if Dallas continues to get Dez ready to play for the last two weeks or if it decides to shut him down for 2015 and turns its eyes toward having him totally healthy for offseason activities.
Morris Claiborne
Cornerback Morris Claiborne has been on and off the injury report with hamstring injuries for most of the last two months, and he showed up there again this week, as he missed Wednesday’s practice.
It is unknown at this point if he will be able to return for Sunday’s game, but this is another scenario that could result in some younger players getting opportunities in the last two games, as Claiborne is likely to depart in free agency after the season.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Matchup to Watch: Bills Defensive Line vs. Cowboys Offensive Line
Each one of these groups is used to dominating the line of scrimmage for its team when it is on the field. This matchup will be a battle all day long and will have a great deal to do with determining the winner of the game.
Dallas’ interior trio of Zack Martin, Travis Frederick and La’el Collins will have its hands full dealing with players like Marcell Dareus in the running and passing games. And Tyron Smith and Doug Free will have to deal with guys like Jerry Hughes and Mario Williams on the edges.
X-Factor of the Week: Kellen Moore
The theme of this preview has been the story of Kellen Moore. If Moore can continue to play at an acceptable level and improve on his play from Week 15, the Cowboys will have a chance to pull off the win.
We have seen guys like Brandon Weeden have success when asked to come in mid-flow and finish games but then struggle mightily when asked to prepare throughout the week as starters. Some of this is attributed to defensive coordinators and coaches focusing on the abilities of that quarterback in game plans.
It will be interesting to see if Moore can take a step forward in his second taste of NFL action or if Bills head coach Rex Ryan and a Buffalo defense keyed on stopping him will snuff him out.
Prediction
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The Dallas offense will play relatively well, and it will move the ball occasionally. But it won’t be consistent enough on third down or in the red zone to score enough points to win. Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor and wide receiver Sammy Watkins will make one or two plays for the Buffalo offense, and Buffalo will pull out the victory in a low-scoring defensive contest.
Prediction: Cowboys 10, Bills 13
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