The Dallas Cowboys wide receiver corps will have some tough CB matchups in the 2023 season. The addition of Brandin Cooks to an already high powered offense will absolutely take some weight off of CeeDee Lamb’s shoulders. However, both receivers along with Michael Gallup will face some uphill battles against tough cornerbacks this season.
Here are the three toughest CB matchups that Dallas will face heading into the 2023 NFL season.
Three of the Toughest CB Duos Dallas Will Play Against in 2023
Sauce Gardner & D.J. Reed- New York Jets
The New York Jets have been on the rise ever since Sauce Gardner came to the Big Apple. Alongside him is D.J. Reed, who just came off of a very impressive 2022 campaign. The two of them together are going to infuriate opposing quarterbacks if they remain healthy.
The Cowboys play the Jets in the second week of the 2023 season. CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks are going to have their work cut out for them. An early and very physical test, probably. An early showing of dominance, maybe.
CeeDee Lamb vs Sauce Gardner is going to be the toughest Cowboys CB matchup in 2023. Their playstyles could not be more different, and yet they are both fiery competitors on their respective sides of the football. Due to the no-fly-zone style defense New York appears to be loading up for, look for running backs Tony Pollard and Michael Gallup to have fulfilling games up in MetLife Stadium.
Xavien Howard & Jalen Ramsay- Miami Dolphins
It’s no secret what the mindset down in South Beach is anymore; they want to win now, and right now. The Dolphins brought in star CB Jalen Ramsey to pair up with veteran Xavien Howard. Their talent combined will make playing quarterback anywhere in Hard Rock Stadium rather strenuous.
Ramsey recently went down in training camp with a knee injury that will sideline him until at least December. Fortunately for NFL fans, the injury recovery timeline lines right up with the Cowboys vs Dolphins game. Lamb vs Ramsey is going to be an intense battle and a great test for both players. If healthy, Ramsey will give Cowboys lining up against the CB a challenging matchup.
The Cowboys play the Miami Dolphins in week 15 of the 2023 season. CeeDee Lamb will likely be covered by Ramsey for the entire game. Miami’s most pressing hole on defense is their LB core. Players like Tony Pollard and Michael Gallup should get lots of attention while the heavyweight matchup takes place on the CB islands.
J.C. Jackson & Asante Samuel Jr. – Los Angeles Chargers
Eagles fans aren’t going to clap for this one. Their CB room could reach third on this list, if not for the absolute clinic CeeDee Lamb put on against them last Christmas Eve.
J.C. Jackson is coming off of a hideous injury, and this will be his first full season as a Charger. His time on the sideline gave him extra film studying time and made him hungrier. Alongside him is Asante Samuel Jr., a CB who could easily end up leading the league in takeaways. Samuel’s impressive playoff performance against Jacksonville showed he is ready to take the next step.
The October Cowboys CB matchup is likely going to take part in a high-scoring affair, as two explosive offenses will slug it out. Los Angeles’ biggest defensive weakness is their nose tackle position. Look for Deuce Vaughn and Tony Pollard to have big runs right up the middle, as well as on short curl-type routes.
While Dallas is going to bare its teeth in the upgraded Mike McCarthy-led passing game in 2023, these three CB matchups are going to be tough sledding.
Main Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
