The Cowboys head into Week 9 with a chance to steady the ship after one of their most maddening losses of the year, a collapse that saw Dallas cough up a 14-point fourth-quarter lead against the Arizona Cardinals. That defeat has Brian Schottenheimer sitting in a brutal spot, with what might be the hottest seat in the league. But the matchup with the Indianapolis Colts gives Dallas a chance to answer back, and if the Cowboys are going to get right, a few things will have to break their way.
Start with Quinnen Williams, who made it clear on Thursday that he isn’t chasing personal numbers. Even with his recent surge, he took responsibility for the defense not holding up its end.
The production has been there anyway. Williams has racked up four sacks over the past three weeks, including two against the Cardinals, and the expectation here is that he keeps rolling.
In this scenario, Williams gets to Daniel Jones twice and gives a defense that badly needs juice the kind of disruptive performance it has been missing.
Then there’s George Pickens, whose usage has become one of the week’s biggest talking points. Dallas has two top-end receivers in Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, but the offense hasn’t always treated them like it.
Pickens has put together a respectable line - 39 catches for 533 yards and two touchdowns - yet he has only one 100-yard game this season, and he was held to two receptions on four targets in Week 8. The guess here is that the Cowboys make a point of feeding him, enough that he finishes Week 9 with more targets than Lamb.
The final prediction centers on Cobie Durant, a player who has quietly done solid work while the attention has been elsewhere. Joey Porter Jr. left the Cardinals game after his ankle issue flared up again, then missed practice Thursday, which leaves his availability in question.
DaRon Bland is also under the microscope after being called out by defensive coordinator Christian Parker. That opens the door for Durant, the Cowboys’ underrated offseason addition, who has posted a 64.1 coverage grade, 47th out of 102 cornerbacks, and allowed only seven catches this season.
With more snaps available because of the uncertainty at cornerback, Durant is projected to grab his first interception of the year. He had three picks for the Rams in the regular season and three more in the playoffs last season, so the ball skills are there when the chances come.
In Other News...
DaRon Blands Struggles Are Becoming A Cowboys Problem
DaRon Blands season has become one of the more uncomfortable subplots on a Cowboys defense that has needed steadier play from its secondary. After foot injuries in 2024 and 2025, the cornerback has not looked like the same player, and his Pro Football Focus grade entering Week 9 reflected just how far the production has slipped. For a team that has leaned on Bland in the past, the drop has been hard to ignore.
Defensive coordinator Christian Parker has already talked with Bland about the need to clean things up, pointing specifically to finishing plays. Even with those issues, Bland is still getting more snaps than other corners such as Cobie Durant, who has graded out better. That leaves Dallas in a tricky spot, trying to balance trust, performance and the reality that one of its most important defensive backs is searching for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Suddenly Have A Linebacker Problem Shemar James Might Solve
Shemar James has quickly turned into one of the more interesting developments in the Cowboys linebacker room, and not just because of the numbers he has put up lately. His recent stretch has shown real growth in how he reads plays and finishes them, which matters for a defense that has been looking for steadier play in the middle of the field.
Dee Winters, meanwhile, has not given Dallas the kind of return it hoped for after bringing him in this offseason, and that has only sharpened the scrutiny on the trade. If James keeps trending up while Winters continues to search for his footing, the Cowboys may have a much different answer at linebacker than the one they expected when the move was made. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Still Waiting On Two Crucial Calls Before Colts Game
The Cowboys are heading into Week 9 with two of their most important personnel questions still hanging over the Colts game. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and wide receiver George Pickens will be limited, and the team is still waiting to see whether either player can take the field on Sunday.
Pickens situation carries extra weight because of the ongoing trade-rumor conversation around him, while Porters availability matters just as much for a defense trying to keep its footing. Dallas would like both players available, but for now the answer remains in the category of hopeful rather than confirmed. [Read more 🡒]