3 players the Commanders must keep quiet at Cowboys in Week 12

Form doesn't count when the Washington Commanders meet the Dallas Cowboys. However, they must keep this star-studded trio quiet.

You can't look at records or talent levels when the Washington Commanders take on the Dallas Cowboys. These NFC East rivals have a habit of landing notable blows against one another when least expected.

The 1989 Cowboys got their only win at Washington's expense at RFK Stadium. Or better still, when the now-Commanders thumped the eventual Super Bowl champion Dallas team twice in 1995.

If Ron Rivera's 4-7 squad is going to defy the odds the same way, they need to keep three key players quiet. Starting with handling a dominant pass-rusher who poses at least one obvious mismatch.

Commanders have a Micah Parsons problem

Assuming Charles Leno Jr. isn't still having nightmares about Kayvon Thibodeaux, he's going to need help whenever he's matched up against Micah Parsons. Make that a lot of help.

Leno was bullied by Thibodeaux during Week 11's miserable 31-19 defeat to the New York Giants. The pass-rusher recorded two of the G-Men's four sacks, while consistently beating the veteran blindside presence with speed, per Next Gen Stats.

Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy can't leave Leno on an island again. Even if it means putting a tight end next to him every snap. Even if Cornelius Lucas has to join an overloaded Washington Commanders offensive line as an extra tackle.

Bieniemy has done an exceptional job helping inexperienced quarterback Sam Howell succeed, but his yards through the air have come at a cost. The cost has been routinely leaving an overmatched line undermanned.

The Commanders need Bieniemy to tweak his playbook and alter formations to get more blockers onto the field. Especially against Parsons, who doesn't always line up outside, but needs to see a double team wherever he's aligned.

Parsons is the key man on the Dallas Cowboys' defense. But the Commanders need different adjustments to corral their main offensive playmaker.

Commanders must crowd CeeDee Lamb

His name doesn't appear often enough in conversations about the best wide receivers in the NFL, but CeeDee Lamb is a skilled, game-breaking force the Washington Commanders need numbers to stop. Like Micah Parsons on the other side of the ball, the former first-round pick has to see double teams wherever he lines up.

There's no need for defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio to get complicated. Simply roll up a cornerback in press coverage and keep a safety over the top.

Whatever it takes to dissuade Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Dak Prescott from looking Lamb's way.

Del Rio already knows the cost of having his secondary play Lamb one-on-one. It didn't work when William Jackson III played off No. 88 last season. The resulting touchdown was inevitable.

Lamb's been dealing with an ankle injury, but the 24-year-old says "I'll be out there," per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.

If he's 100 percent, Lamb must attract a crowd all day at AT&T Stadium. Doubling his favorite target will only make things tougher on the in-form Prescott.

Commanders must move Dak Prescott

Dak Prescott has his critics, but he's played perhaps the best football of his career in recent weeks. No. 4 has thrown 13 touchdowns compared with just two interceptions in his last four games, so it's a big challenge for the Washington Commanders and their underwhelming defense.

Although he's performing well against pressure, the Commanders must find ways to force Prescott off his spot as often as possible. Forcing the signal-caller off-script will lead to turnover opportunities.

A few takeaways are a must if the Commanders are going to damage Prescott's enviable record against Washington. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas fared better among quarterbacks with a minimum of 10 starts, according to Opta Stats.

Forcing Prescott to throw on the run will require Jack Del Rio and Ron Rivera to get more creative about how they design and send pressure. Nine sacks against the New York Giants last week proved the Commanders can still disrupt the pocket, even after trading edge-rushers Chase Young and Montez Sweat.

Harassing Prescott with extra rushers, while bracketing his go-to receiver, can slow the Cowboys' offense enough to give Sam Howell the chance to earn his biggest win yet.