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IRVING – It was a one-of-a-kind game, an instant classic that will be replayed and talked about for years to come.
But was the 51-48 loss to the Denver Broncos also a template for the rest of the Dallas Cowboys’ season?
With an explosive offense, a suspect defense and a schedule that includes several opponents that boast strong-armed, highly skilled quarterbacks, it only stands to reason that more shootouts are in store for the Cowboys.
While it’s hard to imagine the offense replicating the awesome firepower they unleashed on the Broncos, key players on that side of the ball believe the 48 points are a benchmark for which they can strive each week.
“Offensively, this needs to be the standard by which we play,” tight end Jason Witten said after the game.
Told of Witten’s comment on Monday, receiver Dez Bryant agreed with the eight-time Pro Bowler.
“That’s the standard,” Bryant said. “There’s no other way to put it. We are explosive. We are. And that’s our identity. We’re an explosive offense. We showed that (Sunday).”
The Cowboys gained 522 yards – the 12th highest total in club history – against Denver, with Tony Romo’s team-record 506 yards with five touchdowns on 25-of-36 accuracy leading the way.
Before throwing the interception that paved the way for the Broncos to kick the winning field goal as time expired, Romo connected with Witten seven times for 121 yards and one TD, Bryant six times for 141 yards and two scores and Terrance Williams four times for 151 yards with one TD. It was the just the third time in franchise history the Cowboys have had three receivers top 100 yards.
Add it all up and the Cowboys were on the attack from start to finish Sunday.
“Yeah, it’s a word we like to use a lot,” coach Jason Garrett said. “You want to be on the attack. You want to play downhill at them. You want to be able to attack them different ways. You want to be able to run it, you want to be able to throw it, throw it to different guys, throw it a lot of different ways. We did that. To a certain extent, we had to keep up with them. But I think if you evaluate that game, we went into that game feeling we had to do that and we wanted to do that. That’s the way we want to play.”
Garrett knows it’s ridiculous to expect the offensive production to be as high as it was against Denver, but he also believes the offense can strive for it.
“It can be attacking,” he said. “Attacking doesn’t mean throw it every time. Attacking doesn’t mean get in empty every time. You want to be able to attack with plays that you like, that can get after the defense. And based on what the week is and what the plan is and what they’re trying to do, that might look different. You still want to play with the same demeanor.”
Garrett suggested that Romo can set the tone each week by replicating his approach to how he attacked the Denver defense.
“The thing he did best in the ball game was consistently, aggressively taking what they gave him,” Garrett said. “When the short throw was there, he took it. He was glad to take it. When the deep throw was there, he took it and was glad to take it. He did that over and over again.”
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But was the 51-48 loss to the Denver Broncos also a template for the rest of the Dallas Cowboys’ season?
With an explosive offense, a suspect defense and a schedule that includes several opponents that boast strong-armed, highly skilled quarterbacks, it only stands to reason that more shootouts are in store for the Cowboys.
While it’s hard to imagine the offense replicating the awesome firepower they unleashed on the Broncos, key players on that side of the ball believe the 48 points are a benchmark for which they can strive each week.
“Offensively, this needs to be the standard by which we play,” tight end Jason Witten said after the game.
Told of Witten’s comment on Monday, receiver Dez Bryant agreed with the eight-time Pro Bowler.
“That’s the standard,” Bryant said. “There’s no other way to put it. We are explosive. We are. And that’s our identity. We’re an explosive offense. We showed that (Sunday).”
The Cowboys gained 522 yards – the 12th highest total in club history – against Denver, with Tony Romo’s team-record 506 yards with five touchdowns on 25-of-36 accuracy leading the way.
Before throwing the interception that paved the way for the Broncos to kick the winning field goal as time expired, Romo connected with Witten seven times for 121 yards and one TD, Bryant six times for 141 yards and two scores and Terrance Williams four times for 151 yards with one TD. It was the just the third time in franchise history the Cowboys have had three receivers top 100 yards.
Add it all up and the Cowboys were on the attack from start to finish Sunday.
“Yeah, it’s a word we like to use a lot,” coach Jason Garrett said. “You want to be on the attack. You want to play downhill at them. You want to be able to attack them different ways. You want to be able to run it, you want to be able to throw it, throw it to different guys, throw it a lot of different ways. We did that. To a certain extent, we had to keep up with them. But I think if you evaluate that game, we went into that game feeling we had to do that and we wanted to do that. That’s the way we want to play.”
Garrett knows it’s ridiculous to expect the offensive production to be as high as it was against Denver, but he also believes the offense can strive for it.
“It can be attacking,” he said. “Attacking doesn’t mean throw it every time. Attacking doesn’t mean get in empty every time. You want to be able to attack with plays that you like, that can get after the defense. And based on what the week is and what the plan is and what they’re trying to do, that might look different. You still want to play with the same demeanor.”
Garrett suggested that Romo can set the tone each week by replicating his approach to how he attacked the Denver defense.
“The thing he did best in the ball game was consistently, aggressively taking what they gave him,” Garrett said. “When the short throw was there, he took it. He was glad to take it. When the deep throw was there, he took it and was glad to take it. He did that over and over again.”
Continue reading...