How the Dallas Cowboys’ defense can exploit Jared Goff’s one fatal flaw

Dallas has an especially heavy Cover-1 defense (a league-high 35.2% of their snaps), and when in Cover-1, that defense has allowed 78 completions in 145 attempts for 1,070 yards, six touchdowns, six interceptions, four dropped interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 74.2. In man overall, the Cowboys have allowed seven touchdowns, six interceptions, and five dropped interceptions.

Now in zone coverage, the Cowboys have allowed 120 completions on 201 attempts for 1,396 yards, three touchdowns, seven interceptions, two dropped interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 71.2. Only the Baltimore Ravens (68.2) have a lower opponent passer rating when playing zone coverage. Quinn likes to lead with Cover-3 in those instances, with Cover-2 and Cover-4 a distant second and third. This season, Goff has a league-high 10 touchdowns against Cover-3, but his six interceptions against Cover-3 is tied with Josh Allen for the league lead, as well.

Throwing these two things together makes me think that this could be a big DaRon Bland game. The second-year man from Sacramento State and Fresno State leads the league with eight interceptions, and he’s set pro football’s single-season record with five pick-sixes. Bland isn’t a perfect cornerback per se, but one thing he does exceedingly well is to bait, wait, and jump routes for interceptions.

This has been true in man and zone coverage. This pick-six against the Washington Commanders in Week 12 saw Sam Howell getting a bit loose against Dallas’ Cover-3, and Bland was all over the boundary throw to Jahan Dotson.

The week before, Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers found Bland to be an equally unpleasant matchup on this crosser to receiver Jonathan Mingo. Bland matched across and got in front of Young’s target at the perfect time. Another pick-six in the books.

Remember that thing about Goff being late at times against zone coverage, making him vulnerable to defenders jumping stuff? Well, here’s a guy who’s been doing that all season long.