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Oakland Raiders: 5 matchups to watch vs. Dallas Cowboys

By John Buhler

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 7: Defensive tackle Justin Ellis No. 78 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after a big play against the San Francisco 49ers late in the third quarter on December 7, 2014 at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Raiders won 24-13. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 7: Defensive tackle Justin Ellis No. 78 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after a big play against the San Francisco 49ers late in the third quarter on December 7, 2014 at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Raiders won 24-13. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 19: Derek Carr
OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 19: Derek Carr /

Derek Carr vs. Byron Jones

Here’s the one that should have football fans excited. Let’s take the best emerging star on the Raiders offense and pin him against the best emerging star on the Cowboys defense. So what do you got? Well, it’s Raiders quarterback Derek Carr versus Cowboys safety Byron Jones. What a treat.

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Carr had a great first game in Todd Downing’s offense. Yes, that pick to Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson was atrocious, but Carr was close to perfect otherwise.

He looks to be back to near-MVP form in his first game back from a fractured fibula. To think Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel went ahead of him in the 2014 NFL Draft…

As for Jones, this will be his Cowboys defense before too long. Sure, it’s still the Sean Lee show in the middle of the Dallas defense, but he gets hurt all the time.

Jones has such promise at safety that the Cowboys felt semi-okay with letting players like Morris Claiborne and Barry Church walk in free agency.

Next: 5 Raiders that need a better preseason game vs. Cowboys

Expect a chess match between the Carr and Jones. Clearly, Carr has the upper hand, but Jones has to be on the short list of breakout stars in 2017. For Dallas to win the ultra-competitive NFC East, Jones will have to play like a Pro Bowler as the best player on that Cowboys defense. This Raiders offense can be as good as Carr is willing to drive it.

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