Week 8 - BEAT DALLAS Support Group

If I'm Dallas, I shut down Prescott for this one. With the Cowboys at 5-1 and a healthy lead in the division (everyone else is at 2-5), even with a loss they still have a clear path to the NFC East and a home playoff game. Yes, they could be in-play for a #1 seed by staying at just 1-loss, but with Minnesota perhaps playing hard at home, I simply don't risk exposing Prescott to further injury at this point, especially since the Cowboys were able to beat Minnesota with the likes of Dalton last year. Yes, Cooper Rush isn't exactly Andy Dalton by any means, but the Vikings have shown a propensity under Zimmer of playing "down" to backup QB's before.

The juice (staying in play for a possible #1 overall seed) isn't worth the squeeze (further injuring Prescott and putting the entire 2021 season in jeopardy) for Dallas, IMO....

...and if Prescott is out and the Vikings fail to capitalize, it'll be yet another demoralizing "L" in the Zimmer era - up there with the likes of Wk 17 vs Chicago ('18) and Indy ('16).

Line moved from 3 back to 2.5, suggests Prescott likely to play.

What is it you need to know? I'm available for question and answer

The most underrated 2Pac song is "to live and die in LA"... But "I get around" is my favorite

Anyone born after 1985 has a high chance of being offended easy.

I wanted to look at this a bit closer. Diggs has good hands but most of his interceptions are not the product of him actually playing good coverage.

Looking at his 7 INTs on the year:
Bucs - Q2 - 4:14 off Brady - Screen Pass tipped up in the air by the RB, ball drops to Diggs.

Chargers - Q1 - 7:06 off Herbert - Great play undercutting a route with good athleticism to make up ground in coverage.  Not really related to this interception, but the play before, Diggs blew a coverage that allowed the Chargers to pick up a wide open 25 yards.  

Eagles - Q3 - 14:07 off Hurts - Devonta Smith fell over, Hurts somehow throws behind a guy lying on his face on the ground. Diggs catches the ball uncontested.

Panthers - Q3 - 3:48 off Darnold - Darnold with a horrible pass, late and way behind the WR, Diggs just stood there and caught it. I have no idea what short circuit caused Darnold to throw this pass.

Panthers - Q3 - 1:28 off Darnold - Strong comeback on the WR, the pass was a bit late getting there but a good read and effort on Diggs' part.

Giants - Q3 - 7:11 off Glennon - Diggs was beat deep, Glennon throws the ball several yards short and behind the WR; if this is Cousins to Jefferson / Thielen / Osborn, it's an easy TD.

Patriots - Q4 - 2:27 off Jones - Diggs was playing several yards behind the WR on 2nd and 15 to not give up yardage after the catch. The WR was open on a crossing route, pass was high and the WR tipped the ball up and straight to Diggs, any NFL corner should intercept this.  This play also need even more context - the next play Diggs was badly beaten on the 75 yard TD that gave the Patriots the lead back. 


Out of 7, that is:
- 2 caused by Diggs playing coverage.
- 2 horrible pass were the WRs had to play defense
- 2 tipped passes
- 1 case of the Eagles doing their best impression of the Lions.

Diggs gets credit for having good reflexes, but not for tipped balls and WRs falling over.   I don't agree with the statement: "but many of the yards he gives up have come on screen passes or on third-and-long without giving up the first down."  I would avoid throwing at him on routes into the flat where he has a chance to jump them, since he'll always try and yards vs turnovers is a bad gamble for us.  However Jefferson is good at creating space, if the game comes down to a 1:1 matchup of Jefferson vs Diggs, I like the Vikings chances.  

Of to the game soon!  SKOL!