The Dallas Cowboys have the unenviable task of playing against the most dominant defender in the NFL this week, as Dallas will be traveling to Los Angeles to take on Aaron Donald and the Rams.

At 6-foot-0 and 280 pounds, Donald is a force against the run and pass. In a season that will likely result in a Defensive Player of the Year award, Donald recorded 106 total pressures (first among all NFL defenders), 20.5 sacks (first), 20 quarterback hits (third), 65 hurries (first) and 51 total stops (eighth).

Donald typically aligns as the three-technique defensive tackle with an outside shade over the guard. Los Angeles will play him on both sides and will even slide him out to defensive end on occasion.

He will likely spend most of his time aligned over Dallas starting left guard (either rookie Connor Williams or veteran Xavier Su'a-Filo), but it won't be exclusive, as All-Pro right guard Zack Martin, who has done well against Donald in the past, will get his own fair share of Donald exposure as well.

He's impossible to stop, but the Cowboys will hope to slow Donald down enough so their offense can still move the ball down the field. Let's discuss how the Cowboys can go about slowing Donald down without compromising their ability to move the ball on the Rams defense.

Play-action passes

One of the best ways to slow down Aaron Donald is by moving the pocket away from him, forcing the defensive tackle to cover more space to affect the play. The easiest way to move the pocket is with the play-action passing game, and it is an effective means of slowing down Donald as it gets his momentum moving in the opposite direction of where the quarterback is setting up to throw.

Throughout the season, the Cowboys used play-action less frequently than most teams, as Prescott used play-action on just 22.1 percent of his dropbacks -- 22nd in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. Nevertheless, Dallas opted to utilize play-action more last week against Seattle's ferocious front, as Prescott used play-action on 29.4 percent of his dropbacks.

If Dallas wants to slow down Donald this week, they'd be wise to do the same. Against teams that frequently used play-action (27.5 percent or more of dropbacks), Donald averaged 4.7 pressures and 1.2 sacks per game. Compare that with the fact that Donald averaged 7.8 pressures and 1.4 sacks per game against teams that didn't frequently use play-action (less than 27.5 percent of the time), and it crystallizes why Dallas would be wise to run play-action.

Even more importantly, the entire Rams defense struggles mightily against play-action. As teams that frequently used play-action averaged 31.7 points per game while teams that didn't frequently run it averaged just 19.7 points per game -- a 12-point difference.

The Cowboys aren't going to become a super-heavy play-action team overnight. However, if they could use it in the neighborhood of 30 percent of dropbacks, it would put Dallas in a great position to not only slow down Aaron Donald but move the ball on the Rams defense.

Quick passing game

When the Cowboys aren't using play-action, the best way to slow down Donald is with a quick passing game, as it's tough for Donald to make an impact as a pass rusher when the ball gets out before he can apply pressure.

The key is to get the ball out under 2.5 seconds, as it doesn't give Donald enough time to get to the quarterback. Against teams that had an average time to throw of 2.5 seconds or less, Donald averaged just 6.25 pressures per game and 0.9 sacks per game. Against teams that had an average time to throw over 2.5 seconds, Donald averaged 7 pressures per game and two sacks per game.

Even if Donald is still able to generate pressure at a similar rate, he's not bringing down the quarterback nearly as often, which should be considered a win against the defensive lineman.

Slide protection and RB chip blocks

Arguably, Donald's two-worst performances this year came against the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles in Weeks 14 and 15. In those two games, Donald recorded just five pressures, four tackles and zero sacks, per PFF -- all much below his season averages.

Center sliding toward Aaron Donald. pic.twitter.com/CvuXxNlhne — All22Hype (@All22Hype) January 8, 2019

In those games, Chicago and Philadelphia made sure to slide the center toward Donald to provide help to the guard. This provides the guard with slightly more room for error because he can count on the center's help. This allows the guards to sit on Donald's outside speed rushes because they know that if Donald uses power or an inside move, the center will be right there to provide help.

If Dallas opts to slide the center toward Donald consistently (as it should), it's going to put a lot of pressure on Joe Looney, as his spatial awareness will be thoroughly tested.

Donald has made a habit of splitting double teams because there is too much space between the blockers providing the double team. Despite facing a ton of double teams, he's mastered the ability to manipulate space to create pass rush lanes between blockers.

Donald will initially rush wide in order to get a guard to overset outside, creating an inside rush lane because the center isn't aware enough to expand outside with guard.

The Chicago and Philadelphia centers did an excellent of eliminating the space Donald needed to execute his inside and power rush moves, and Looney will need to do the same.

RB chip vs Aaron Donald pic.twitter.com/xLOSmvraQy — All22Hype (@All22Hype) January 8, 2019

On top of slide protection, Dallas could opt to use their running back to chip. Typically, running backs are used to chip edge rushers, but they can also be used to chip interior defenders as well.

While Ezekiel Elliott has had some issues in pass protection this season, he can be excellent in pass protection when he's deliberate with his blocks. Unless Los Angeles opts to bring a heavy blitz, Dallas can tell Elliott to zero in on Donald and provide help to the lineman who is blocking him.

Furthermore, keeping a running back into chip Donald will be beneficial when Los Angeles aligns Ndamukong Suh head-up on Looney, eliminating the Cowboys center's ability to help out whichever guard is blocking Donald. With Looney unable to help, a running back's chip can provide the help Dallas' guards need to survive against Donald.

Pocket presence and mobility

Even if Dallas does everything above and executes at a high level, Donald will make some plays and generate some pressure. The last time Donald was held without a pressure, per PFF, he was playing in his third career game, which just so happened to be against the Cowboys.

It's been over four years since Donald was last held without a pressure, and the Cowboys likely won't be the team to end that streak. Knowing that, Dak Prescott's pocket presence and mobility will be thoroughly tested.

Example of Dak Prescott sliding in the pocket to avoid pressure pic.twitter.com/aLRZoTMS5h — All22Hype (@All22Hype) January 8, 2019

When Donald does apply pressure, Prescott needs to slide in the pocket to avoid pressure and create the space necessary to make throws. Unfortunately, Prescott has been inconsistent in this area this season, which is why he leads quarterbacks in sacks charged this season.

The Cowboys will need him to be better against Los Angeles.

Attack the edges in the run game

On top of being the best pass rusher in the NFL, Donald is also one of the best run defenders in the NFL. He's second among interior defenders in run stops (tackles where an offense is deemed "unsuccessful"), as he can be just as disruptive against the pass as he is against the run.

Simply "running the ball a lot" is not an adequate means to slow down Donald, and it's not the best way to attack the Rams defense.

The Cowboys must run the ball with a purpose attacking the edges of Los Angeles defense forcing Donald to cover as much space as possible to affect any runs.

Yards per carry allowed by direction from the Los Angeles Rams. Data from Sharp Football Stats. pic.twitter.com/PBRzIvnNLZ — All22Hype (@All22Hype) January 8, 2019

On top of that, the Los Angeles Rams have defended the run poorly this season, but they are especially susceptible on the edges, allowing 6.71 yards per carry to the outside (from the tackles and out) this season compared with 4.43 yards per carry to the inside (from the left guard to the right guard).

Pin-and-pull sweeps, crack tosses, zone reads and speed options should all be on the table this week for the Cowboys offense, as they are good, quick-hitting concepts to attack the edge.

While the Rams possess the best interior defender group in the NFL -- with Donald, Ndamukong Suh, Michael Brockers and Ethan Westbrooks -- they are weak on the edge and at the second level.

Dante Fowler is their best edge defender, but he's yet to play to his draft position in his career and isn't someone who Dallas should have to worry about much against Tyron Smith and La'el Collins. Inside linebackers Mark Barron and Cory Littleton have struggled mightily against the run all season. They both struggle with pursuit angles and have a tough time getting off blocks.

This is why it's important to attack the edges of Los Angeles' run defense. Why run into the area where the Rams have the most talent, when you can attack them in areas where they are less talented?

The Cowboys should attack the edges heavily in the run game and prosper because of it.

Final thoughts

It's not going to be easy to slow down Donald, but if Dallas can execute everything above, it will give them their best chance. Donald is a rare talent and dominant player who is impossible to stop. Still, he is human and capable of being slowed down.

Unless the Cowboys defense pulls another rabbit out of its hat and has another Saints-like dominant performance, the Dallas offense is going to need to move the ball and put some points on the board all while slowing Donald down or mitigating his effectiveness.

If the Cowboys are able to slow down the most dominant defender in the NFL today, they just may be participating in the NFC Championship game next week.

Twitter: @JohnOwning