NFC Divisional Playoff Preview and Prediction: Cowboys at Rams

When: Saturday, Jan. 12, 8:15 p.m. ET

Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Channel: Fox

Line: Rams by 7

The Cowboys are one of the hottest teams in football and the Rams were stronger the first half of the season than they were the second half. Can the Cowboys pull the upset?

Let’s take a look at the key factors in the game.

Home-field advantage

The Rams are the home team but don’t be surprised if there are as many Cowboy fans in Los Angeles as there are Rams fans on Saturday night. Regardless, I do not think home-field advantage will be a big factor in this game.

Can Todd Gurley play?

I would assume that Gurley will play, so the big question becomes will he be 100%? I do not have the answer to that question but the Rams do have a quality back up in Anderson. However they need Gurley catching the ball out of the backfield. If the Rams can’t establish a running game I do not think Goff can carry them to victory.

Can the Cowboys block Donald?

The strength of the Cowboys over the last few years was the offensive line but that has changed and Aaron Donald is almost unblockable. For the Cowboys to win this game they need to have a big game from Ezekiel Elliot in the run game and catching the ball.

Who has the better Quarterback?

I think Prescott is better than Goff and while both are limited, Prescott has played well in the few playoff games he has had. If Prescott can hit a couple of deep balls to Amari Cooper, he could pull the upset here.

Prediction

This game is a toss-up, as the Cowboys have LBs Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch being potentially disruptive against the Rams crossing routes. But Goff might have an advantage numbers-wise with Gurley, a pair of 1,200-yard receivers (Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods) and Josh Reynolds. With all that being said, I am picking the upset here! Prescott is better than Goff and the Dallas defense is better than the Rams defense.

Cowboys 27 Rams 23