Las Vegas Raiders: 5 biggest games in the second half of 2021
By Nick Bailey
Raiders: 5 biggest games in the second half of 2021
Week 12: Dallas Cowboys
The last time the Raiders and Cowboys faced, they were still the Oakland Raiders but were still led by quarterback Derek Carr. Unfortunately in that game, Carr famously had one of his fumbles into the end zone, causing a touchdown for the opposite team.
This season, the Raiders take on the Cowboys once again, but this time it’s on Thanksgiving, a Cowboys tradition. Dak Prescott has also been playing at an MVP level this season and leads this offense alongside his top two wide receivers, a Pro Bowl running back, and an emerging tight end.
Amari Cooper was a first-round pick by the Raiders back in 2015, and was traded to the Cowboys in the 2018 season, and since has earned an extension with them. Ceedee Lamb was passed over by the Raiders in the 2020 NFL Draft when they selected Henry Ruggs III with the 12th overall pick, so they both have an incentive to show out against the Raiders on Thanksgiving night.
Their quarterback, Dak Prescott is playing at an elite level, just like Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, passing for 1,813 passing yards 16 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions through six games this season. But it’s not only the offense that is performing at a high level for the Cowboys, the defense, just like the Raiders, has been much improved over previous seasons thanks mainly to three components.
Those components are new defensive coordinator Kris Richard, rookie linebacker Micah Parsons, who has been turned into pass rusher due to necessity, and cornerback Trevon Diggs, another player the Raiders passed on in the 2020 draft in favor of Damon Arnette.
The Cowboys are another division leader the Raiders will have to face in the second half of the season with this one on a big stage against a Cowboys team that seems to be one of the contenders will show where the Raiders truly are in terms of contention.