Red Dragon
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Cowboys Strike Last, Outscore Colts 35-31
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - We've known for a long time that this Dallas Cowboys defense can't be counted on to stop quality NFL offenses. Perhaps the only surprise of this game, then, was that Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck threw for only 350 yards and four touchdowns.
In a track meet of high-octane offenses, the Cowboys and Colts put points on AT&T Stadium's scoreboards early and often. Terrence Williams, seemingly invisible in this offense over the past few weeks, returned to prominence in the first quarter with a 90-yard pitch-and-catch touchdown pass from Tony Romo, the longest pass completion of the Cowboys' quarterback's career. Williams caught a short slant at the Dallas 15 and outraced the Indianapolis defense all the way to the end zone.
The offensive fireworks carried over in the second quarter for Dallas, as Romo found Dez Bryant in the end zone for a spectacular 12-yard touchdown in which Bryant made a leaping snag of the football with his outstretched right hand and somehow secured it behind his back with his left hand while going to the ground.
But just like last Sunday's game at Philadelphia, the Cowboys squandered a 21-10 halftime lead through shoddy defense. Luck and the Colts marched downfield on three straight touchdown drives in the second half to take a 31-21 Indianapolis lead. Luck completed sixteen of eighteen pass attempts in the third quarter and appeared unstoppable.
Again like last week's game, however, the Cowboys displayed resilience by answering back with a long, twelve-play touchdown drive that cut the Indianapolis lead to 31-28. Dallas then stopped the Colts on a key third down with four minutes remaining in regulation, forcing an Indianapolis punt. After converting two third downs, Romo hit rookie wide receiver Devin Street on a 35-yard post route for the go-ahead score just before the two-minute warning.
The Colts had one last chance but came up short on fourth down at midfield, when the Dallas defense stunned a television audience of millions by coming up with a sack of Luck when needed.
The Cowboys have been one of the league's enigmas this season, going 7-0 in their away games but a bafflingly bad 3-4 at home entering this game. Carried by one of the league's best offenses while hampered by an unreliable defense, Dallas was predicted by many to perform poorly but has turned out to be one of the NFL's most surprising success stories.
Unfortunately for Dallas, the Eagles drubbed the Commanders 35-13 the previous afternoon at FedEx Field, guaranteeing that Philadelphia's playoff hopes will live another day. The Eagles' victory meant that the Cowboys would not be able to seize a division title before Week 17. The Packers and Lions did the Cowboys no favors either by beating the Buccaneers and Bears respectively, making it virtually impossible for Dallas to fall back on a wild card berth should Philadelphia take the division.
The Cowboys must now wait another week for their chance at the NFC East title, which they can secure with either a win at Washington or an Eagles defeat in New York. A Dallas defeat and Philadelphia victory, however, would most likely keep the Cowboys out of the playoffs for a fifth straight season.
NOTES: DeMarco Murray still appears poised to shatter the Cowboys' franchise record for most rushing yards in a season, but Eric Dickerson's rushing record is probably well out of reach..........Only two NFL teams have ever finished 11-5 but failed to make the playoffs - the 1985 Denver Broncos and 2008 New England Patriots.
Cowboys Strike Last, Outscore Colts 35-31
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - We've known for a long time that this Dallas Cowboys defense can't be counted on to stop quality NFL offenses. Perhaps the only surprise of this game, then, was that Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck threw for only 350 yards and four touchdowns.
In a track meet of high-octane offenses, the Cowboys and Colts put points on AT&T Stadium's scoreboards early and often. Terrence Williams, seemingly invisible in this offense over the past few weeks, returned to prominence in the first quarter with a 90-yard pitch-and-catch touchdown pass from Tony Romo, the longest pass completion of the Cowboys' quarterback's career. Williams caught a short slant at the Dallas 15 and outraced the Indianapolis defense all the way to the end zone.
The offensive fireworks carried over in the second quarter for Dallas, as Romo found Dez Bryant in the end zone for a spectacular 12-yard touchdown in which Bryant made a leaping snag of the football with his outstretched right hand and somehow secured it behind his back with his left hand while going to the ground.
But just like last Sunday's game at Philadelphia, the Cowboys squandered a 21-10 halftime lead through shoddy defense. Luck and the Colts marched downfield on three straight touchdown drives in the second half to take a 31-21 Indianapolis lead. Luck completed sixteen of eighteen pass attempts in the third quarter and appeared unstoppable.
Again like last week's game, however, the Cowboys displayed resilience by answering back with a long, twelve-play touchdown drive that cut the Indianapolis lead to 31-28. Dallas then stopped the Colts on a key third down with four minutes remaining in regulation, forcing an Indianapolis punt. After converting two third downs, Romo hit rookie wide receiver Devin Street on a 35-yard post route for the go-ahead score just before the two-minute warning.
The Colts had one last chance but came up short on fourth down at midfield, when the Dallas defense stunned a television audience of millions by coming up with a sack of Luck when needed.
The Cowboys have been one of the league's enigmas this season, going 7-0 in their away games but a bafflingly bad 3-4 at home entering this game. Carried by one of the league's best offenses while hampered by an unreliable defense, Dallas was predicted by many to perform poorly but has turned out to be one of the NFL's most surprising success stories.
Unfortunately for Dallas, the Eagles drubbed the Commanders 35-13 the previous afternoon at FedEx Field, guaranteeing that Philadelphia's playoff hopes will live another day. The Eagles' victory meant that the Cowboys would not be able to seize a division title before Week 17. The Packers and Lions did the Cowboys no favors either by beating the Buccaneers and Bears respectively, making it virtually impossible for Dallas to fall back on a wild card berth should Philadelphia take the division.
The Cowboys must now wait another week for their chance at the NFC East title, which they can secure with either a win at Washington or an Eagles defeat in New York. A Dallas defeat and Philadelphia victory, however, would most likely keep the Cowboys out of the playoffs for a fifth straight season.
NOTES: DeMarco Murray still appears poised to shatter the Cowboys' franchise record for most rushing yards in a season, but Eric Dickerson's rushing record is probably well out of reach..........Only two NFL teams have ever finished 11-5 but failed to make the playoffs - the 1985 Denver Broncos and 2008 New England Patriots.
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