Sunday’s Week 15 matchup between the Dallas Cowboys vs Buffalo Bills will likely be one of the best games of the week. Not only will we see two of the best teams take the field, but this is another great litmus test for both teams.
From the Cowboys’ perspective, Dallas is riding a wave of momentum thanks to a five-game winning streak. Led by quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys have taken some control of their fate with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles that opened up the NFC East. Meanwhile, the Bills are feeling confident after upsetting the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14.
Dallas Cowboys vs Buffalo Bills game info
- Time: 4:25 PM ET
- TV: FOX
- Line: Bills -2.5
Related: Bold predictions for Dallas Cowboys vs Buffalo Bills
Let’s dive into our bold predictions for the Cowboys vs Bills matchup.
Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is in MVP mode
The overreactions to Prescott’s interceptions in 2022 were always too much. He’s been one of the most effective starting quarterbacks in the NFL, posting one of the lowest interception rates in league history. He wasn’t necessarily an MVP-caliber performer, but he was a top-10 starter. Now, Prescott is the best NFL quarterback.
- Dak Prescott stats (Weeks 6-14): 118.5 QB rating, 23-2 TD-INT, 69.3% completion, 305.5 pass ypg, 8.3 ypa, 17.5 rushing yards per game
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Prescott has been sensational in critical spots since Week 6. Over his last eight games, per PFF, Prescott holds a 110.6 QB rating (1st in NFL) when pressured, completing 67.1 percent of his passes with a league-high 9.6 yards per attempt average. If Buffalo blitzes, Prescot has a 7-1 TD-INT line and 119.0 QB rating versus the blitz since Week 6.
He’ll be just as effective in other game-deciding situations. Prescott boasts a 119.9 QB rating with a 72.3 percent completion rate on third downs this season and he boasts a 20-2 TD-INT lien with a 115.6 QB rating in the first half of games.
Buffalo Bills’ pass rush vs Cowboys’ offensive line
Pressure is the biggest disrupting force in the NFL and teams that consistently generate the most pressure often find ways to win. It’s why Buffalo’s pass rush against the Dallas offensive line will be one of the biggest matchups to watch in Sunday’s Cowboys vs Bills contest.
- Dallas Cowboys offensive line in wins: 88.1 Pass Blocking Efficiency, 78 pressures, 58 hurries allowed
- Dallas Cowboys offensive line in losses: 79.6 Pass Blocking Efficiency, 43 pressures, 24 hurries allowed
Dallas has done outstanding work in pass protection, led by All-Pro candidates Tyron Smith and Tyler Smith. With the two dominating on the left side of the Cowboys’ offensive line, Prescott has been afforded a lot of time to throw. If there isn’t pressure in his face, Prescott should have no trouble slicing up the Bills’ secondary. Just remember, Buffalo has the seventh-highest pass-rush win rate (63 percent) in the NFL.
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James Cook’s pass-catching prowess takes on Cowboys’ defense
James Cook’s pass-game skills caught a lot of attention coming out of Georgia and it was one of the biggest reasons why the Buffalo Bills selected him with the 63rd overall pick. Now, the 5-foot-11 running back is finally being used more as a true offensive weapon. In the last two games, Cook has drawn 12 targets and turned them into 140 receiving yards, averaging 11.67 yards per target and recording 50-plus receiving yards in consecutive weeks. It all aligns with an intriguing matchup.
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Dallas has boasted one of the NFL’s best defenses against the pass, especially when it comes to containing running backs. Entering Week 15, the Cowboys allowed the third-fewest targets per game (4.85) to opposing running backs, resulting in just 24.9 receiving yards per game allowed to the position. If Dallas can contain Stefon Diggs and Cooks, that’s a wrap for the Bills’ offense.
Josh Allen can still carry the Bills’ offense
Many are focused on the interceptions with Josh Allen. However, it’s critical to remember that some of the NFL’s interception leaders are often quarterbacks who are asked to do the most for their teams. Buffalo doesn’t have much of a ground game and it has been a month since it had a top-12 defense. That puts every game on Allen.
- Josh Allen stats (Weeks 4-14): 94.3 QB rating, 20-10 TD-INT, 271.9 pass ypg, 7.5 ypa, 28.5 rushing yards per game, 4.7 yards per carry, 9 rushing touchdowns
The advanced numbers tell the best story. Since Week 4, Allen ranks third n EPA per Play (0.209), ahead of Patrick Mahomes (0.149) and Halen Hurts (0.188). He also has one of the highest completion rates over expectation (+4.4 percent) and Buffalo will take plenty of downfield shots (8.3 average air yards per throw). There’s no question that Dallas has the defensive firepower to slow down the Bills’ offense, but Allen can win a game on his own.