What We Saw: Week 6 2018

Jaguars vs. Cowboys

Jaguars

Games don’t get much uglier than this (unless you are the Titans facing the Ravens this week). Jacksonville was incapable of moving the ball at all against a depleted Dallas defense and they were incapable of stopping an anemic Cowboys offense from ringing up 40 points. Having watched the film on the game and frowning the entire way through, I can’t imagine what the mood is like in the Jaguars film room after this debacle.

Bortles is the Silent Killer

Ok, maybe Blake Bortles isn’t the silent killer. It is pretty obvious that he is not the answer at QB if the Jaguars have any hope of a deep playoff run. At no point during the game, did it look like Bortles had a grasp of the defense being presented to him, which led to poor showings from every WR not named Dede Westbrook and too many short drives. Whenever pressure was evident, Bortles would either sit down or weakly throw the ball away. Down 20 in the third, Bortles tried to get the ball to Westbrook, in spite of three defenders clearly in the area (the all-22 angle on NFL Gamepass very well might show that all three defenders were visible throughout the whole route, but only time will tell). Plays like that just allowed the Cowboys to keep adding to their lead.

Skill Player Overview

Dede Westbrook scored the only points the Jaguars would put up, securing a 34-yard touchdown from Blake Bortles, well after the game was already out of hand. Westbrook ended up with 3 catches for 38 yards, through a second quarter shovel pass from Bortles was dropped, one that would have extended a drive early enough to wrest some momentum away from the Cowboys. Keelan Cole started well, but only ended up with 4 catches for 41 yards and a lost fumble. No other receiver made a dent on the box score, owing to many throws behind receivers by Blake Bortles and other ill advised attempts. Thanks to a large deficit, T. J. Yeldon was limited to only 8 carries, but he made the best of them gathering 41 yards (plus another 21 in the air). This game could be forgotten, but at this time the only Jaguar worth starting in fantasy is Yeldon (and maybe Westbrook in deeper leagues).

-David Fenko

Cowboys

The Cowboys dominated the Jacksonville Jaguars from opening kickoff Sunday, scoring 24 unanswered by half and cruising to a 40-7 victory. The Cowboys are now 3-0 at home and for the first time this season the offense looked as good as the defense. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott had a big game, accounting for big plays rushing while being efficient with the pass. This is the formula the Cowboys imagined would win the NFC East this season and at least for one week, the plan worked.

Dak used his legs to ignite the offense to on Sunday

Dak carried the ball 11 times for 83 yards, including a 17-yard sprint around the left end to put the Cowboys up 10-0 in the 1st quarter. It was clear from the opening snap that the team wanted to get Dak involved as a runner, with various run-pass options and bootlegs to get Prescott moving. Dak responded as a passer to the early action and finished 17/27 for 183 and two passing touchdowns. It was an impressive performance for the young QB and could be a sign of good things to come for the team.

Zeke carved up this rock-solid Jags defense

Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott ate today, slowly wearing down the Jags tough defense and putting the game away late with a 61-yard second half. Zeke added a late 15-yard touchdown but that was just icing on his fantasy owners cake at that point. Zeke wore down this Jags team, with steady short gains to move the chains before ripping off big gains of 20, 21 and 15. Being so productive in the run game allowed for Dak to succeed in the play action. Zeke only caught one ball for 11 yards but thankfully he wasn’t needed as a pass catcher today. It was a great game by one of the leagues premier runners.

It was all about Cole Beasley in the passing game Sunday

Cowboys WR Cole Beasley was nearly uncoverable, going off for nine receptions for 101 yards and two receiving touchdowns. The team clearly saw something on film that they felt they could exploit and that was evident by the target distribution. Beasley received 11 of the 27 targets and just one other player with more than two. Beasley gave this Jags secondary a route-running clinic and was running free in the secondary or his second touchdown.

The rest of the receivers were quite but came up with some key catches in the victory. In the games opening drive and on third down, WR Michael Gallup ran a deep out and caught a ball for 27-yards over Jags CB A.J. Bouye in the games opening drive. The drive led to a field goal and an early lead. Gallup was quiet the rest of the day but set the tone. Gallup is still a sleeper for fantasy owners but more likely a strong dynasty asset.

Likewise, TE Rico Gathers had few opportunities, just one target in fact, but he turned it into a 14-yard grab to set up Beasley’s first touchdown.

In the last few weeks, it’s become clear that the Cowboys want to shrink their options at receiver they present to Prescott and rely on Beasley as the primary option. One a down note WR Allen Hurns has been almost absent this season. On Sunday Hurns was targeted five times for zero catches. With WR Terrance Williams on the shelf for the season, it wouldn’t surprise me if the team decides to move on from Hurns after the Cowboys Week 8 bye week.

This Cowboys defense is young, fast and, relentless

We are just over a third of the way into the season and the Cowboys defense is starting to come together. Dominating defenses should shut down below average offenses and Sunday the Cowboys held the Jags to just 204 total yards and just 10 first downs. They sacked QB Blake Bortles three times and picked him off once. This team can pressure on the defensive line and cover in the back-end. But the stars of the defense have been the young linebackers, Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch. The two combined for 20 tackles, helping to shut down the run game for Jacksonville. Troubled DE Randy Gregory had his first sack of the season on Sunday, leading a strong pass rush that kept pressure on QB Blake Bortles all day. This Dallas team is an excellent pickup and play for owners who like to stream defenses. This team will only improve once they get LB Sean Lee back from injury.

-Marc Salazar