7 things to watch as reeling Colts take on disappointing Cowboys

The Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys are set to face off in a critical matchup on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, with the Colts coming off a loss and the Cowboys struggling to find consistency. The Colts, currently 2-4, are facing constant trade rumors as they attempt to break their four-game losing streak, while the Cowboys, at 3-5, continue to stumble despite their opportunities.

The Dallas offense appears capable of exploiting the Colts' defensive weaknesses, led by veteran quarterback Dak Prescott and his strong performance. Prescott has completed passes well above the league average and has thrown more touchdowns than interceptions. The Colts' pass rush, however, remains a significant problem, ranking worst in the NFL with a 26.5% pressure rate. This makes it difficult for the Cowboys to tackle Prescott, who has only faced pressure 31.9% of the time.

The Cowboys' wide receivers, particularly CeeDee Lamb, are expected to pose a significant challenge for the Colts' cornerback duo of Charvarius Ward and Sauce Gardner. Lamb leads the NFL in catches and yards, and George Pickens provides strong support. If Dallas can exploit the Colts' secondary, they could gain an advantage in the game.

Another crucial aspect to watch is running back Jonathan Taylor, who has been the talk of the town as the NFL's top trade target. Taylor's performance could be pivotal, especially if he plays in this crucial game. The Colts' defense, while struggling overall, has shown some promise against the run, with rookie Seth McGowan having the potential to contribute significantly.

Dallas' defense, while not excelling in every area, has shown some resilience. They blitz only 20.5% of the time, the third-lowest rate in the NFL, but still manage to record 15 sacks. Quinnen Williams leads the defense with five sacks, and the team's sack rate is the 25th worst in the league. It remains to be seen if they can pressure the Colts' offense enough to make a difference.