In theory, this is a get-right game. But for who?<\/p>\n
Cowboys-Jets Week 5: Each Quarterback Should Have a Field Day Against These Defenses<\/h2>\nJustin Fields Has a Clear Path to Big Plays Against This Dallas Defense<\/h3>\n![\"Justin](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/USATSI_27208059_168419650_lowres-1024x683.jpg\")
Sep 29, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields (7) rushes the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe New York Jets are kind of like a poor man’s Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams are run first, second, and third. And if down and distance permits, maybe they’ll throw a pass. But if the Jets want to get their first win of 2025, they should attack Dallas through the air. Especially deep.<\/p>\n
Everyone knows Fields can beat you with his legs\u2014this touchdown run<\/a> against Miami on Monday Night Football was awesome. But if he wants to lead his team to a win, he needs to attack Dallas deep.<\/p>\nFields has only attempted four passes of 20+ yards<\/a> this season, but he’s completed three of them, and two went for touchdowns. When kept clean, he has a PFF passing grade of 84.5, and his average time to throw of 3.5 seconds is No. 1<\/a> in the league. That’s a dangerous combination against this Dallas defense.<\/p>\nNo team defends the deep ball worse than the Cowboys<\/a>. They’ve already allowed 12 completions of 20+ yards\u2014most in the league by a wide margin. They’ve given up 490 yards on those throws, also the worst in the league. Dallas has been so generous on deep throws that the 216-yard gap between them and the next closest team is the same gap between No. 2 and No. 30. They’ve also surrendered five touchdowns (most in the league), and allowed a 54.5% completion rate\u2014third-worst in the NFL\u2014on 22 deep attempts (second-most). For comparison, the only two teams allowing a higher completion percentage have faced just six and eight such attempts. Teams know they can take advantage of these Dallas defensive backs<\/a>, and they’ve done so.<\/p>\nThe Jets haven’t taken many deep shots. However, when they have, it has been successful. Fields will have time\u2014the Cowboys don’t pressure the quarterback. And the Jets receivers will have opportunities outside the numbers. If the Jets want ’em, the big plays are there.<\/p>\n
For Dallas, this will be a good barometer for just how bad this defense is. If Justin Fields does what Russell Wilson<\/a> and Caleb Williams did the last two weeks, then there’s simply no hope for this unit in 2025.<\/p>\nDak Prescott Can Use Motion to Expose the Jets Deep\u2014If the Line Holds Up<\/h3>\n
Dallas’ motion rate at the snap sits around league average, but that’s a noticeable uptick from what we saw under former head coach Mike McCarthy. While this isn’t the 49ers offense, there’s evidence to suggest Dak can attack New York’s secondary using motion at the snap<\/a>\u2014if the offensive line holds up.<\/p>\nThe Jets are the worst team in the league at defending explosive passes when offenses use motion at the snap<\/a>. They allow the most yards after catch (YAC), the most YAC per completion, and the highest explosive play rate in those situations. They’re also the second-worst in defensive EPA and EPA per dropback. This is a defense that loses discipline and struggles in space when you force them to move their eyes around before the play.<\/p>\nThat bodes well for the Cowboys… in theory.<\/p>\n
Dak has been tremendous this year<\/a> by almost any metric, but his 6.7 yards\/attempt ranks just 22nd in the league. He leads the NFL in 20+ yard pass attempts off motion at the snap, and his 207 yards on those throws are second-most in the league. But he doesn’t yet have a touchdown on any of them, and his 58.3% completion rate ranks 10th.<\/p>\nSo the question is: can Dak and the Cowboys take advantage of those opportunities and turn them into points?<\/p>\n
That’s a difficult proposition when you’re down three starting offensive linemen<\/a>\u2014and possibly a fourth. Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, and Tyler Guyton will all be out, and left guard Tyler Smith is listed as questionable after not practicing all week. Dallas could be down four starters along the offensive line<\/a>. Injuries aside, the Cowboys have been one of the worst pass-blocking units in football.<\/p>\nDak has always been willing to attack down the field<\/a>, and that hasn’t changed this year. But vertical explosiveness requires time, and four backups up front won’t make time any easier to come by. The absence of CeeDee Lamb may also loom large, the way it did in Dallas’ road loss to Chicago two weeks ago.<\/p>\nLast week’s offensive performance on Sunday Night Football against Green Bay was encouraging. The Packers are (allegedly) one of the best defenses in football, but the questions haven’t gone away.<\/p>\n
Dallas has shown they’re willing to take deep shots, and the Jets’ defense is going to provide those opportunities. But so far, those plays haven’t directly resulted in points, and the pass protection might make it a moot point anyway. Dak and the offense may once again be forced to dink and dunk their way down the field.<\/p>\n
It worked against Green Bay. But the longer the drives, the more chances there are for something to go wrong.<\/p>\n
Cowboys-Jets Week 5: Who Can Exploit the Other Team’s Bad Defense More?<\/h3>\n
On paper, this is a game the Cowboys should win. And that’s why it’s exactly the kind of game they lose.<\/p>\n
The Jets are winless, their offense is limited, and their defense has exploitable flaws. But the Cowboys have been anything but consistent. Their offensive line is in shambles, the defense is the worst in the NFL, and they’ve already flopped once on the road this year.<\/p>\n
Justin Fields has the arm to attack Dallas vertically. Dak Prescott has the tools to exploit any defensive lapses<\/a>. The difference may come down to which quarterback has the time to do it.<\/p>\n
The New York Jets are kind of like a poor man’s Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams are run first, second, and third. And if down and distance permits, maybe they’ll throw a pass. But if the Jets want to get their first win of 2025, they should attack Dallas through the air. Especially deep.<\/p>\n
Everyone knows Fields can beat you with his legs\u2014this touchdown run<\/a> against Miami on Monday Night Football was awesome. But if he wants to lead his team to a win, he needs to attack Dallas deep.<\/p>\n Fields has only attempted four passes of 20+ yards<\/a> this season, but he’s completed three of them, and two went for touchdowns. When kept clean, he has a PFF passing grade of 84.5, and his average time to throw of 3.5 seconds is No. 1<\/a> in the league. That’s a dangerous combination against this Dallas defense.<\/p>\n No team defends the deep ball worse than the Cowboys<\/a>. They’ve already allowed 12 completions of 20+ yards\u2014most in the league by a wide margin. They’ve given up 490 yards on those throws, also the worst in the league. Dallas has been so generous on deep throws that the 216-yard gap between them and the next closest team is the same gap between No. 2 and No. 30. They’ve also surrendered five touchdowns (most in the league), and allowed a 54.5% completion rate\u2014third-worst in the NFL\u2014on 22 deep attempts (second-most). For comparison, the only two teams allowing a higher completion percentage have faced just six and eight such attempts. Teams know they can take advantage of these Dallas defensive backs<\/a>, and they’ve done so.<\/p>\n The Jets haven’t taken many deep shots. However, when they have, it has been successful. Fields will have time\u2014the Cowboys don’t pressure the quarterback. And the Jets receivers will have opportunities outside the numbers. If the Jets want ’em, the big plays are there.<\/p>\n For Dallas, this will be a good barometer for just how bad this defense is. If Justin Fields does what Russell Wilson<\/a> and Caleb Williams did the last two weeks, then there’s simply no hope for this unit in 2025.<\/p>\n Dallas’ motion rate at the snap sits around league average, but that’s a noticeable uptick from what we saw under former head coach Mike McCarthy. While this isn’t the 49ers offense, there’s evidence to suggest Dak can attack New York’s secondary using motion at the snap<\/a>\u2014if the offensive line holds up.<\/p>\n The Jets are the worst team in the league at defending explosive passes when offenses use motion at the snap<\/a>. They allow the most yards after catch (YAC), the most YAC per completion, and the highest explosive play rate in those situations. They’re also the second-worst in defensive EPA and EPA per dropback. This is a defense that loses discipline and struggles in space when you force them to move their eyes around before the play.<\/p>\n That bodes well for the Cowboys… in theory.<\/p>\n Dak has been tremendous this year<\/a> by almost any metric, but his 6.7 yards\/attempt ranks just 22nd in the league. He leads the NFL in 20+ yard pass attempts off motion at the snap, and his 207 yards on those throws are second-most in the league. But he doesn’t yet have a touchdown on any of them, and his 58.3% completion rate ranks 10th.<\/p>\n So the question is: can Dak and the Cowboys take advantage of those opportunities and turn them into points?<\/p>\n That’s a difficult proposition when you’re down three starting offensive linemen<\/a>\u2014and possibly a fourth. Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, and Tyler Guyton will all be out, and left guard Tyler Smith is listed as questionable after not practicing all week. Dallas could be down four starters along the offensive line<\/a>. Injuries aside, the Cowboys have been one of the worst pass-blocking units in football.<\/p>\n Dak has always been willing to attack down the field<\/a>, and that hasn’t changed this year. But vertical explosiveness requires time, and four backups up front won’t make time any easier to come by. The absence of CeeDee Lamb may also loom large, the way it did in Dallas’ road loss to Chicago two weeks ago.<\/p>\n Last week’s offensive performance on Sunday Night Football against Green Bay was encouraging. The Packers are (allegedly) one of the best defenses in football, but the questions haven’t gone away.<\/p>\n Dallas has shown they’re willing to take deep shots, and the Jets’ defense is going to provide those opportunities. But so far, those plays haven’t directly resulted in points, and the pass protection might make it a moot point anyway. Dak and the offense may once again be forced to dink and dunk their way down the field.<\/p>\n It worked against Green Bay. But the longer the drives, the more chances there are for something to go wrong.<\/p>\n On paper, this is a game the Cowboys should win. And that’s why it’s exactly the kind of game they lose.<\/p>\n The Jets are winless, their offense is limited, and their defense has exploitable flaws. But the Cowboys have been anything but consistent. Their offensive line is in shambles, the defense is the worst in the NFL, and they’ve already flopped once on the road this year.<\/p>\n Justin Fields has the arm to attack Dallas vertically. Dak Prescott has the tools to exploit any defensive lapses<\/a>. The difference may come down to which quarterback has the time to do it.<\/p>\nDak Prescott Can Use Motion to Expose the Jets Deep\u2014If the Line Holds Up<\/h3>\n
Cowboys-Jets Week 5: Who Can Exploit the Other Team’s Bad Defense More?<\/h3>\n