Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson tapes pictures of Bills DBs to running back chute

The Dallas Cowboys are eager to continue their five-game winning streak alive this weekend against the 7-6 Buffalo Bills. Among the tactics the team is using to prepare for the Bills, tight end Jake Ferguson taped pictures of the opposing team’s defensive backs to the running back’s chute for drills. The former fourth-rounder, or his coach Lunda Wells, wanted to put faces to the names of the DBs he plans to bowl over on Sunday afternoon.

“This was done because team is playing an uncommon opponent, a coach said,” Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reported. “No disrespect intended. Unfamiliar faces. That was logic.”

The last time the Cowboys faced the Buffalo Bills was in 2019. It was a 26-15 loss at home.

Edge rusher Micah Parsons commented on the tight end’s innovative thinking on social media. He posted on X, “He been around the dline room too long man.”

According to Cowboys reporter Patrik Walker, Ferguson not only taped the pictures of the Bills DB to the RB chute, he also devised a unique way to get ready for the frigid temperatures in Buffalo. The former Wisconsin star dipped his hands into ice water before going through drills.

Top-shelf prep here.

Jake Ferguson is not only dipping his hands into 🧊 water to prepare for the trip to Buffalo, but he is mixing MENTAL prep with the physical — Lunda Wells having attached faces of Bills defenders to the pads. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/VHraCFLvNp

— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) December 14, 2023

Dallas Cowboys travel to Buffalo for Sunday afternoon game

The forecast for Sunday’s game, which has a 4: 25 p.m. ET kickoff, shows that the Cowboys will face the Bills in temperatures below 50. The more critical factor on Sunday, however, will be the wind and potentially rainy conditions. Wind gusts of up to 31 miles per hour with consistent 15-18 mph winds and an 80% chance of rain could lead the Cowboys to rely more heavily on the run game this weekend.

Although the Cowboys drafted a tight end, Luke Schoonmaker, in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, it’s been Jake Ferguson stepping up this season. After Dalton Schultz‘s departure in free agency, it was unclear which of the Dallas tight ends would take the opportunity to fill the important role on the offense. Just as Schultz was last season, Ferguson is now the team’s second-leading receiver behind CeeDee Lamb.

He’s caught 51 passes on 74 targets for 570 yards and five touchdowns. Last season, he had just 19 catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks is currently third on the team with 39 catches for 534 yards and five touchdowns.