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The Dallas Cowboys entered Sunday Night Football with their backs firmly pressed up against the proverbial wall. They enter the ensuing bye week flying as high as any point this season, 37-10 winners in a division battle for first place.
Losers of three straight, the Cowboys began the contest in a tie with the Philadelphia Eagles, but with the situation seeming much more dire. Grumbles from disgruntled fans resonated in the echo chambers of social media, pleading for a coaching change and a reprieve from the Jason Garrett era, which despite having great regular season success is seen for his flaws more so than his talents.
A slow start Sunday, and the reaction at AT&T Stadium would be swift in judgment, cascading around in a tavern with the roof closed for maximum volume. But that never happened. Instead, the roars of exuberant fans bounced from eardrum to eardrum as Dallas took control of the game early and never relented. Garrett led a masterful performance from beginning to end, with a return to creative playcalling, and the emergence of a turnover-inducing defense to put together the club’s most complete performance of 2019.
The Cowboys forced two early fumbles, getting the ball in enemy territory for the first two times in the 2019 season, and quickly took advantage of them both. An early 14-0 lead was tentatively challenged when over agression led to penalties that setup Philadelphia for a return strike, but the defense stiffened from there, and the offense continued to roll.
Before it was all said and done, Dallas dog walked the Eagles to improve to 4-3 on the year and 3-0 in the NFC East.
The defense forced four turnovers and sacked Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz three times, stifling a moribund passing attack.
Wentz finished with an abysmal stat line, 16 of 26 for 191 yards, with an interception and a pedestrian passer rating of 80.8.
Meanwhile the Cowboys offense was opportunistic, full of fight and vigor while they demanded every extra yard possible after contact. The running game was stout, with Ezekiel Elliott having a big day and the other pieces such as Tavon Austin, Tony Pollard and Dak Prescott.
Prescott improved to 5-2 against the Eagles in his career, with another dynamic performance that is only furthering the distance in the conversation about 2016’s quarterback draft class. He clearly outperformed Wentz with an array of big passing plays and tough runs, including a fourth-quarter score that broke the Cowboys’ team record for rushing TDs by a QB (21), formerly held by the great Roger Staubach.
With Amari Cooper breaking another 100-yard receiving game, his third of the year and sixth in a Cowboys uniform (including playoffs), the passing offense hummed along at 8.9 yards per attempt. Prescott finished 21 of 27 for 230 yards with a score and a pick, along with another rushing TD.
Elliott recorded his 23rd 100-yard rushing game of his young career.
The game started off well for the Cowboys. After going the first six games of the season without starting a single drive in opponent’s territory, the defense got rid of that black cloud almost immediately. After a cancelled DPI penalty on Chidobe Awuzie, Wentz found TE Dallas Geodert wide open across the middle.
Only the linebackers closed quickly and Jaylon Smith forced the ball loose to have it pounced on by DT Maliek Collins. The Cowboys took over at the Philadelphia 45-yard line.
The offense, appreciative of their first short field of the season, went to work quickly. Quarterback Dak Prescott found Ezekiel Elliott on a couple dump offs, converted a 3rd-and-1 by making a sneak into a long gain, and then Kellen Moore’s offense pulled out a wrinkle.
With Tony Pollard in the backfield, Dallas faked an end around to Tavon Austin coming in motion from the right, but he stopped, took the pitch from Prescott and went back right, with another move to make cornerback Orlando Scandrick – yes that Orlando Scandrick – even more foolish on his way to the end zone.
The Cowboys liked the formula so much, they pulled it off again.
A holding penalty kicked the Eagles back to the 10-yard line to start the next drive, and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence made sure they understood he was serious in his early-week trash talk. Working his way around a solo block by right tackle Lane Johnson to strip QB Carson Wentz from behind. The Cowboys pounced on it and took just two plays to widen the lead.
Elliott trucked Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins on a 14-yard run to the goal line (initially ruled a TD), but they went over the left tackle to secure the 14-point lead early in the first quarter.
And then the Cowboys couldn’t reel in the emotions.
Dallas earned a three-and out on the next Eagles drive, when Philadelphia was once again buried inside their 20. Smith came in high on the pressure and hit Wentz in the head, earning a roughing the passer. A few plays later after Alshon Jeffrey dropped a pass, safety Xavier Woods came in with another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, this for a defenseless-receiver hit, moving the Eagles into Cowboys’ territory.
A few plays later Wentz lofted it over Vander Esch’s head for the 29-yard score to shrink the advantage to seven points.
The team’s traded punts on the next two possessions before Dallas got back to work.
The team had 2nd and 2 at midfield but got stuffed twice, leading to a fourth-and-short and a beautiful rollout option that ended as a pass to Elliott for the first.
The Cowboys would take that drive down and score after a nifty balancing act by Tony Pollard got Dallas a new set of downs and they eventually scored on a play-action bootleg pass to a state-wide-open Blake Jarwin.
Dallas would once against mute the Eagles offense, this time thanks to a Jourdan Lewis sack, and added three points to their halftime score after a disgusting Sluggo route by Amari Cooper gained 46 yards before the two-minute warning.
The drive ended in a field goal, but Dallas wasn’t done scoring. Getting the ball at their own 30-yard line with just 22 seconds remaining, three passes for 25 yards went to TE Jason Witten, and after a fourth snap went incomplete, Brett Maher came in and promptly nailed a 63-yard field goal as time expired to stretch the lead to 20 points, 27-7.
And they never really looked back.
Gallery
Week 7 Player Power Rankings: Cowboys injuries marring good offense
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Continue reading...
Losers of three straight, the Cowboys began the contest in a tie with the Philadelphia Eagles, but with the situation seeming much more dire. Grumbles from disgruntled fans resonated in the echo chambers of social media, pleading for a coaching change and a reprieve from the Jason Garrett era, which despite having great regular season success is seen for his flaws more so than his talents.
A slow start Sunday, and the reaction at AT&T Stadium would be swift in judgment, cascading around in a tavern with the roof closed for maximum volume. But that never happened. Instead, the roars of exuberant fans bounced from eardrum to eardrum as Dallas took control of the game early and never relented. Garrett led a masterful performance from beginning to end, with a return to creative playcalling, and the emergence of a turnover-inducing defense to put together the club’s most complete performance of 2019.
The Cowboys forced two early fumbles, getting the ball in enemy territory for the first two times in the 2019 season, and quickly took advantage of them both. An early 14-0 lead was tentatively challenged when over agression led to penalties that setup Philadelphia for a return strike, but the defense stiffened from there, and the offense continued to roll.
Before it was all said and done, Dallas dog walked the Eagles to improve to 4-3 on the year and 3-0 in the NFC East.
The defense forced four turnovers and sacked Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz three times, stifling a moribund passing attack.
Wentz finished with an abysmal stat line, 16 of 26 for 191 yards, with an interception and a pedestrian passer rating of 80.8.
Meanwhile the Cowboys offense was opportunistic, full of fight and vigor while they demanded every extra yard possible after contact. The running game was stout, with Ezekiel Elliott having a big day and the other pieces such as Tavon Austin, Tony Pollard and Dak Prescott.
Prescott improved to 5-2 against the Eagles in his career, with another dynamic performance that is only furthering the distance in the conversation about 2016’s quarterback draft class. He clearly outperformed Wentz with an array of big passing plays and tough runs, including a fourth-quarter score that broke the Cowboys’ team record for rushing TDs by a QB (21), formerly held by the great Roger Staubach.
With Amari Cooper breaking another 100-yard receiving game, his third of the year and sixth in a Cowboys uniform (including playoffs), the passing offense hummed along at 8.9 yards per attempt. Prescott finished 21 of 27 for 230 yards with a score and a pick, along with another rushing TD.
Elliott recorded his 23rd 100-yard rushing game of his young career.
The game started off well for the Cowboys. After going the first six games of the season without starting a single drive in opponent’s territory, the defense got rid of that black cloud almost immediately. After a cancelled DPI penalty on Chidobe Awuzie, Wentz found TE Dallas Geodert wide open across the middle.
Only the linebackers closed quickly and Jaylon Smith forced the ball loose to have it pounced on by DT Maliek Collins. The Cowboys took over at the Philadelphia 45-yard line.
The offense, appreciative of their first short field of the season, went to work quickly. Quarterback Dak Prescott found Ezekiel Elliott on a couple dump offs, converted a 3rd-and-1 by making a sneak into a long gain, and then Kellen Moore’s offense pulled out a wrinkle.
With Tony Pollard in the backfield, Dallas faked an end around to Tavon Austin coming in motion from the right, but he stopped, took the pitch from Prescott and went back right, with another move to make cornerback Orlando Scandrick – yes that Orlando Scandrick – even more foolish on his way to the end zone.
The Cowboys liked the formula so much, they pulled it off again.
A holding penalty kicked the Eagles back to the 10-yard line to start the next drive, and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence made sure they understood he was serious in his early-week trash talk. Working his way around a solo block by right tackle Lane Johnson to strip QB Carson Wentz from behind. The Cowboys pounced on it and took just two plays to widen the lead.
Elliott trucked Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins on a 14-yard run to the goal line (initially ruled a TD), but they went over the left tackle to secure the 14-point lead early in the first quarter.
And then the Cowboys couldn’t reel in the emotions.
Dallas earned a three-and out on the next Eagles drive, when Philadelphia was once again buried inside their 20. Smith came in high on the pressure and hit Wentz in the head, earning a roughing the passer. A few plays later after Alshon Jeffrey dropped a pass, safety Xavier Woods came in with another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, this for a defenseless-receiver hit, moving the Eagles into Cowboys’ territory.
A few plays later Wentz lofted it over Vander Esch’s head for the 29-yard score to shrink the advantage to seven points.
The team’s traded punts on the next two possessions before Dallas got back to work.
The team had 2nd and 2 at midfield but got stuffed twice, leading to a fourth-and-short and a beautiful rollout option that ended as a pass to Elliott for the first.
The Cowboys would take that drive down and score after a nifty balancing act by Tony Pollard got Dallas a new set of downs and they eventually scored on a play-action bootleg pass to a state-wide-open Blake Jarwin.
Dallas would once against mute the Eagles offense, this time thanks to a Jourdan Lewis sack, and added three points to their halftime score after a disgusting Sluggo route by Amari Cooper gained 46 yards before the two-minute warning.
The drive ended in a field goal, but Dallas wasn’t done scoring. Getting the ball at their own 30-yard line with just 22 seconds remaining, three passes for 25 yards went to TE Jason Witten, and after a fourth snap went incomplete, Brett Maher came in and promptly nailed a 63-yard field goal as time expired to stretch the lead to 20 points, 27-7.
And they never really looked back.
Gallery
Week 7 Player Power Rankings: Cowboys injuries marring good offense
view 30 imagesContinue reading...