Instant Replay 2016 - Game 2 Washington (wPics)

[T-RO]

Not having much success stopping the Skins with their defense...Dallas tries to make something happen with their special teams.

They direct Bailey to try an onside kick. The play might very well have worked but Dan didn't kick it 10 yards. Might have just kicked it 6. Good idea maybe, but the execution made the Cowboys coaches look foolish.

Skins promptly move down to the 10, but a nice play by Claiborne and (finally) a little pass pressure...here by T McClain. Terrell was blocked by three different Skins but got a pressure that killed the play.

I couldn't help but think...neither of these two defenders are Cowboys in 2017. Uniform #97 is now Taco Charlton and #24 Nolan Carroll.

 

[T-RO]

Cowboys have been unstoppable, but in their ensuing drive--right after a Dez catch-- Josh Norman forces a Zeke fumble.

Due to an errant Cousins pass on third down, the Skins must settle for field goal. Skins 23-20.

Game moves to 4th quarter.

 

[T-RO]

Lucky return sets the Cowboys up at their 32 yard line.

-On first down Trent Murphy quickly beats Tyron Smith for a sack. (shock)
-Second down: Dunbar draw play runs into teeth of blitz. Loss.
-Check-down to Cole and the Cowboys must punt

Skins have the ball and all the momentum. DC fans into it now.

 

[T-RO]

If Cousins has more arms strength it's a quick TD to Doctson. Skins 'settle' for 50 yards.

 

[T-RO]

From the coaches film you could see how the Skins scheme worked. They stacked Desean and Jackson together on their left side. Three Cowboys tried covering Desean Jackson and Doctson was completely forgotten.

 

[T-RO]

A Reed catch sets Skins up first and goal at 7.

Then:
-Fade pass to Doctson is well defended by Claiborne
-Fade pass to the same spot to Reed is overthrown
-Third down: INTERCEPTION! Cousins throws the ball right into the arms of Barry Church

HUGE turn of events. Cowboys stay just 3 points down.

 

[T-RO]

After Zeke is buried for 4-yard loss...
-Dak finds Dez for first down
-Then Cole for another.

Beasley has such a knack for not only getting open, but doing so quickly and really separating. Dez had a nice game too.

 

[T-RO]

Skins front is doing a far better job in the second half.

Dak must dodge defender and salvage something in short pass to Swaim. Cowboys gain yet more on roughing-the-passer penalty.

 

[T-RO]

Nothing in this drive is easy and a couple of Skins penalties sure help. A second Elliott fumble is fortuitously secured by Doug Free.

Then Josh Norman separates the ball from Dez, breaking up what would have been a completion on second down.

Big third down upcoming.

 

[Alexander]

This was one of those games where we could have lost but we got some breaks.

Just one of those things that just pops up to blow the idea of "We were 13-3" apart.

I guess back when we were 8-8, we were just dadgum unlucky or something.

 

[T-RO]

On third and 11, Cowboys come out with Witten and 4 other receivers split out wide.

Who does Dak turn to...and who rewards him most consistently? First down.

 

[T-RO]

This was one of those games where we could have lost but we got some breaks.

Just one of those things that just pops up to blow the idea of "We were 13-3" apart.

I guess back when we were 8-8, we were just dadgum unlucky or something.

Agreed. 13-3 sounds dominant. We weren't. Not really. All our (meaningful) NFC East games were near coin-flips in the end...as were a number of other games. Our defense isn't good enough to dominate.

 

[T-RO]

After a Witten reception Morris walks one in untouched. Cowboys 27-23.

 

[Alexander]

Agreed. 13-3 sounds dominant. We weren't. Not really. All our (meaningful) NFC East games were near coin-flips in the end...as were a number of other games. Our defense isn't good enough to dominate.

They really were. Winning our divisional games will decide it.

 

[Sepia]

Ha! I forgot about that onside kick. Garrett caught a lot of flack for it.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Dallas was 5th in Red Zone TDs in 2016.

They were 2nd in 2014.

Maybe Im picky. But there should have been no reason why we were scoring field goals against Green Bay in the playoffs. If we had scored a TD on that last drive, we would have probably won the game.

 

[T-RO]

A lot can happen w/4 minutes left on a football game. Dallas and Pittsburg combined for 3 touchdowns in the last four minutes last November.

Dallas up by 4. The game clock sits at at 4 minutes and change.

 

[T-RO]

The Cowboys had so very few defensive splash plays but they got two of them in this late Skins final drive.

Dallas up 27-23 and the game clock sits at 4:45 as the Skins start their drive. The Skins are understandably not in the hurry up.

Skins get one first down and then face third and one. No problem, right? Two plays to get 1 yard.

Only the Skins had a problem...and a big part of was it this guy #50. Lee brought some heavy lumber with him on this hit and Durant shook off a block to help close the deal. No gain.

 

[T-RO]

Skins face 4th and one.

I like aggressive attacking defense. When I see the Cowboys in this kind of battle formation...makes me giddy as a school child.

This was how the defense was lined up, 4th and one. Only a deep safety is not in the picture.

 

[T-RO]

I suspect Cousins felt good about this pass when he released it. They only needed a few yards and his receiver looks open.