Under the radar Commanders who must contribute vs. Cowboys in Week 12

Shutting down a premier wide receiver, beating up on a backup quarterback, and giving Jayden Daniels another target is how the Washington Commanders beat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12.

Fortunately, three under-the-radar members of the roster can help the Commanders meet each of these goals. The trio includes a veteran cornerback who had barely been active before Week 11's defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Washington's defense will falter if the unit can't shut down wideout CeeDee Lamb, but the group will also need to harass and pummel struggling quarterback Cooper Rush. He's in for the injured Dak Prescott and he needs to see a familiar face early and often this week.

Finally, getting Daniels back to his spectacular early-season form is a must, but it'll only happen with more options in the passing game. So it's time for a top-100 pick to step forward and become a factor at Northwest Stadium.

Under the radar Commanders who must thrive in Week 12

Michael Davis must blanket CeeDee Lamb

Michael Davis is still on the roster after all. The 29-year-old was taken out of mothballs to shadow A.J. Brown at times against the Eagles. This was to the surprise of many, including Sam Fortier of The Washington Post.

That matchup made sense because 6-foot-2, 196-pound Davis has the size to get physical. Both on the perimeter and against in-breaking routes.

The latter is one area where the Commanders cannot let Lamb run riot. His ability to win from the slot, coupled with top-notch after-catch skills, make him the primary playmaker for the Cowboys.

Jamming Lamb and disrupting his breaks should be central to the Commanders' coverage plan. Davis can get handsy if he's got the support of safety Quan Martin in deep areas.

Ideally, the Commanders will be able to finally unleash four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore for a matchup he would surely relish. Unfortunately, he's already been ruled out again with a hamstring issue.

The Commanders should trust Davis over struggling Benjamin St-Juste to follow Lamb. Especially after Davis did a solid job holding Brown to 65 receiving yards on five catches last week.

Dorance Armstrong Jr. needs a dominant game

He's performed well without being spectacular, but Dorance Armstrong Jr. was acquired in free agency to be the Commanders' top pass-rushing threat. Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. are still waiting on their former protege with the Cowboys to deliver.

Armstrong has logged just three sacks through 10 starts. Worse still, he's generated a mere 18 pressures, the same number he managed in a situational role for the Cowboys in 2022.

The Commanders need Armstrong to dominate his pass-rush matchups, starting this week. Cowboys offensive tackles Terence Steele and Tyler Guyton gave up four sacks to defensive ends Danielle Hunter, Denico Autry, and Derek Barnett against the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football, so there's a weakness Washington can exploit.

It won't happen unless Armstrong begins matching the disruption created by fellow edge-rusher Dante Fowler Jr.

Luke McCaffrey must get more involved

It's beyond time for Luke McCaffrey to make the No. 2 receiver spot his own. Washington's third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has the size and pedigree to get open and boss the middle of the field.

Instead, the 6-foot-2, 198-pound younger brother of San Francisco 49ers All-Pro running back Christian, isn't helping Daniels. What the dynamic, dual-threat signal-caller needs most is another target to ease the burden on Terry McLaurin.

Defenses are getting used to doubling McLaurin all over the field and forcing Daniels to check the ball down to his running backs. McCaffrey feasting between the hash marks would draw some coverage away from the Pro Bowler and lead to the kind of big plays missing against the Eagles.

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury would be wise to scheme some quick-hitters to get McCaffrey involved early and slow down a Micah Parsons-led Cowboys pass rush. Only then will Daniels be comfortable enough to try and unleash McLaurin vertically.

More Commanders news and analysis