Plankton
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As we transition into December, where temperatures generally get cooler around the country, for at least one night, the temperature in and around the coaching offices for the Dallas Cowboys cooled just a bit.
After all, in the month of November, there were unseasonably warm temperatures percolating in and around the on-field leadership of the football team, with fan discontent and apathy rising to a level not seen in at least 8 years. Since the suspension of offensive lynch pin Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys had transformed from a 5-3 team right in the thick of the playoff chase into a 5-6 rotting pumpkin left over from Halloween, featuring a broken, unimaginative offense and a defense that would hang in for 30 minutes, then get steamrolled for the remaining half of the game.
As yesterday’s 38-14 defeat of the Washington Commanders embarked, empty seats dotted AT&T Stadium, and the emotions of fans smoldered under the surface. Recent polling on this website viewed the remainder of the season as being a slow, revealing slog, exposing the coaching staff as being unimaginative, uninspiring, and generally unable to right a listing ship.
As the game started, the play of the team didn’t exactly do much to assuage those feelings. The Cowboy offense looked like the same broken, inefficient operation, going three and out on their first four possessions, gaining a grand total of eight yards in those possessions. The running game looked labored, and Dak Prescott, losing some of the luster that he had built up during his season-saving effort in 2016, continued to look scatter shot and lost without his running mate Elliott in the backfield. Following a sack that ended the Cowboys second drive deep in Dallas territory, a Chris Jones punt only advanced the ball to the Cowboy 49 yard line. The Commanders began to mount a drive, and looked poised to take an early lead, and put even more pressure on a struggling Cowboy offense.
Then, there was a unicorn sighting of sorts. Something very rare involving the Cowboy defense.
A turnover.
Commander slot receiver Jamison Crowder had the first bad moment in what turned out to be an awful evening for the third year wideout by allowing a Kirk Cousins pass to glance off his hands, and the gift landed in the waiting arms of safety Jeff Heath. The Cowboy offense once again did nothing with this good fortune, and Jones lifted another punt, this time in the direction of Crowder. Kyle Wilber stripped the ball from Crowder as he returned the kick, and this resulted in yet another turnover. The Cowboy offense was so inspired by this turnover that they went three and out yet again, and it was at this point that the special teams, by far the steadiest unit during this very unsteady season, helped turn the game.
Kavon Frazier, an absolute demon on punt coverage this season, downed a Jones punt at the Commander one yard line. With field position finally in their favor, the Cowboys forced a three and out, and a punt from the Commander end zone. After taking over at their own 41 yard line, the Cowboy offense finally woke up from its deep slumber. Dallas went 59 yards, largely on the backs of Morris and Prescott on the ground, and finished the drive with a Prescott bullet to Jason Witten for the first points of the game. It was at this point that you could feel a palpable exhale from the Cowboy sideline, and the tide of the game definitely swung.
A sack by DeMarcus Lawrence, one of two that he had in a dominant performance, caused a Cousins fumble and the third Commander turnover in four series. The offense again was stuck in the mud, but the lead was extended to a two score game. Another three and out for Washington led to another game swinging play by the Dallas special teams, with Ryan Switzer, a popular whipping boy early in the season, but showing recent signs of breaking a big return, showing some of the skill he demonstrated at North Carolina. Switzer took a long Tress Way punt on a winding odyssey, buoyed by a crushing Geoff Swaim block, and taking it the distance from 83 yards. This return made it a three score game, and with the Commander offensive line resembling a JV unit, and Cousins running for his life, the game was effectively over at that point.
This was even though the Cowboys had been outscored 72-6 in their last three games in the second half. Despite allowing a late touchdown in the first half, cutting the lead to 10 points, the defense continued to lock down the Commander offense, and then the Cowboy offense turned to the formula that had been so successful in 2016.
Run first, run last, and run effectively.
Alfred Morris, ignored by the Commanders when he hit free agency following the 2015 season, got a measure of revenge against his former team. Morris ran for 83 yards in the second half alone, on the way to a season high 127 yards on the ground. With the offensive line blowing open huge creases in the Commander front, Morris broke off chunks of yards, and ground the clock in the process. The Cowboys scored touchdowns on their final three possessions of the game, and ultimately broke the backs of the Commanders.
This turn of events was built largely on the backs of turnovers, the running game, great special teams play, and the contributions of young draftees.
Sound a bit like last season?
Rookies Chidobe Awuzie (zero catches allowed, three passes defensed), Jourdan Lewis and Switzer all had terrific games. Taco Charlton got his second sack of the season, and forced a fumble on the play. Frazier, a second year player, was a force on both special teams and in supporting the run in spot duty at safety. David Irving continued his strong play post-suspension, notching a sack on a brutal hit on Cousins, as well as deflecting a pass that resulted in an Anthony Brown interception in the fourth quarter.
Now, despite the margin of victory, this was not a banner game for the offense by any means. Prescott continued to struggle, and was not helped by damaging his throwing hand on an option play, taking a helmet to his hand. He managed the game, but still had issues with accuracy and field vision. The offensive line had some poor moments in pass protection as well. But, the defense and special teams stepped up when the offense was flagging, and provided the boost necessary to get a much needed win.
While this win lowers the heat on the coaching staff perhaps a degree or two, it still doesn’t completely wipe away the stench of the previous three games. With ten days to prepare for a Giant team that has mailed in the season, and a meeting the following week against a middling Raider team, the Cowboys have an opportunity to keep themselves afloat in the playoff chase, but will need a ton of help to leap frog the teams ahead of them.
In the NFL, you never throw a win back.
The larger question for the Cowboys is whether this win is a sign of better things to come, or just a win over a depleted team that was incapable of mounting true opposition.
The answer to this question will determine whether it will be a hot or cool December for the Cowboy coaching staff.
Other notes on this week’s game:
After all, in the month of November, there were unseasonably warm temperatures percolating in and around the on-field leadership of the football team, with fan discontent and apathy rising to a level not seen in at least 8 years. Since the suspension of offensive lynch pin Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys had transformed from a 5-3 team right in the thick of the playoff chase into a 5-6 rotting pumpkin left over from Halloween, featuring a broken, unimaginative offense and a defense that would hang in for 30 minutes, then get steamrolled for the remaining half of the game.
As yesterday’s 38-14 defeat of the Washington Commanders embarked, empty seats dotted AT&T Stadium, and the emotions of fans smoldered under the surface. Recent polling on this website viewed the remainder of the season as being a slow, revealing slog, exposing the coaching staff as being unimaginative, uninspiring, and generally unable to right a listing ship.
As the game started, the play of the team didn’t exactly do much to assuage those feelings. The Cowboy offense looked like the same broken, inefficient operation, going three and out on their first four possessions, gaining a grand total of eight yards in those possessions. The running game looked labored, and Dak Prescott, losing some of the luster that he had built up during his season-saving effort in 2016, continued to look scatter shot and lost without his running mate Elliott in the backfield. Following a sack that ended the Cowboys second drive deep in Dallas territory, a Chris Jones punt only advanced the ball to the Cowboy 49 yard line. The Commanders began to mount a drive, and looked poised to take an early lead, and put even more pressure on a struggling Cowboy offense.
Then, there was a unicorn sighting of sorts. Something very rare involving the Cowboy defense.
A turnover.
Commander slot receiver Jamison Crowder had the first bad moment in what turned out to be an awful evening for the third year wideout by allowing a Kirk Cousins pass to glance off his hands, and the gift landed in the waiting arms of safety Jeff Heath. The Cowboy offense once again did nothing with this good fortune, and Jones lifted another punt, this time in the direction of Crowder. Kyle Wilber stripped the ball from Crowder as he returned the kick, and this resulted in yet another turnover. The Cowboy offense was so inspired by this turnover that they went three and out yet again, and it was at this point that the special teams, by far the steadiest unit during this very unsteady season, helped turn the game.
Kavon Frazier, an absolute demon on punt coverage this season, downed a Jones punt at the Commander one yard line. With field position finally in their favor, the Cowboys forced a three and out, and a punt from the Commander end zone. After taking over at their own 41 yard line, the Cowboy offense finally woke up from its deep slumber. Dallas went 59 yards, largely on the backs of Morris and Prescott on the ground, and finished the drive with a Prescott bullet to Jason Witten for the first points of the game. It was at this point that you could feel a palpable exhale from the Cowboy sideline, and the tide of the game definitely swung.
A sack by DeMarcus Lawrence, one of two that he had in a dominant performance, caused a Cousins fumble and the third Commander turnover in four series. The offense again was stuck in the mud, but the lead was extended to a two score game. Another three and out for Washington led to another game swinging play by the Dallas special teams, with Ryan Switzer, a popular whipping boy early in the season, but showing recent signs of breaking a big return, showing some of the skill he demonstrated at North Carolina. Switzer took a long Tress Way punt on a winding odyssey, buoyed by a crushing Geoff Swaim block, and taking it the distance from 83 yards. This return made it a three score game, and with the Commander offensive line resembling a JV unit, and Cousins running for his life, the game was effectively over at that point.
This was even though the Cowboys had been outscored 72-6 in their last three games in the second half. Despite allowing a late touchdown in the first half, cutting the lead to 10 points, the defense continued to lock down the Commander offense, and then the Cowboy offense turned to the formula that had been so successful in 2016.
Run first, run last, and run effectively.
Alfred Morris, ignored by the Commanders when he hit free agency following the 2015 season, got a measure of revenge against his former team. Morris ran for 83 yards in the second half alone, on the way to a season high 127 yards on the ground. With the offensive line blowing open huge creases in the Commander front, Morris broke off chunks of yards, and ground the clock in the process. The Cowboys scored touchdowns on their final three possessions of the game, and ultimately broke the backs of the Commanders.
This turn of events was built largely on the backs of turnovers, the running game, great special teams play, and the contributions of young draftees.
Sound a bit like last season?
Rookies Chidobe Awuzie (zero catches allowed, three passes defensed), Jourdan Lewis and Switzer all had terrific games. Taco Charlton got his second sack of the season, and forced a fumble on the play. Frazier, a second year player, was a force on both special teams and in supporting the run in spot duty at safety. David Irving continued his strong play post-suspension, notching a sack on a brutal hit on Cousins, as well as deflecting a pass that resulted in an Anthony Brown interception in the fourth quarter.
Now, despite the margin of victory, this was not a banner game for the offense by any means. Prescott continued to struggle, and was not helped by damaging his throwing hand on an option play, taking a helmet to his hand. He managed the game, but still had issues with accuracy and field vision. The offensive line had some poor moments in pass protection as well. But, the defense and special teams stepped up when the offense was flagging, and provided the boost necessary to get a much needed win.
While this win lowers the heat on the coaching staff perhaps a degree or two, it still doesn’t completely wipe away the stench of the previous three games. With ten days to prepare for a Giant team that has mailed in the season, and a meeting the following week against a middling Raider team, the Cowboys have an opportunity to keep themselves afloat in the playoff chase, but will need a ton of help to leap frog the teams ahead of them.
In the NFL, you never throw a win back.
The larger question for the Cowboys is whether this win is a sign of better things to come, or just a win over a depleted team that was incapable of mounting true opposition.
The answer to this question will determine whether it will be a hot or cool December for the Cowboy coaching staff.
Other notes on this week’s game:
- A second unicorn was seen in this game. The Cowboy defense finally generated a holding penalty. Never mind that it was declined, but it actually happened. Doesn't make up for the travesty of the previous weeks, but it's a start.
- Anthony Hitchens was all over the field in this game, and played perhaps his best game as a Cowboy. Hitchens was in on 15 tackles, with two stops behind the line of scrimmage and forced what should have been a second fumble by Crowder on a somersaulting tackle. Hitchens was a big factor in limiting the Commanders to 2.9 yards per rush, and helped make the Commanders one dimensional on offense. He’s not a great player, but he’s more effective than most give him credit for. With the Cowboys needing multiple linebackers in the offseason roster building, Hitchens is making a strong case to be brought back.
- There had been a number of questions about Lawrence, and his lack of sack production of late. Lawrence took full advantage this week, and was a game wrecker for the defense. He ended up with two sacks, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and one forced fumble. Lawrence should get strong consideration for Defensive Player of the Year, and has made himself a lot of money in a contract year.
- Awuzie, going into this game, had been a bit of a disappointment due to his hamstring issues. Yesterday, he showed why the Cowboys were so high on him. With three passes defensed, and no completions allowed, he showed terrific burst to the ball, and excellent hand-eye coordination to break up the passes. It was in stark contrast to how Anthony Brown had struggled in the previous weeks. Great debut for the rookie, and he is one to keep an eye on for the rest of the season.
- Despite the glowing reviews of Awuzie and Lewis, the struggles at safety were still there. Both touchdowns scored by Washington were the result of late reactions by safeties Jeff Heath and Byron Jones. Cover two can make covering the deeper sideline routes more of a challenge, but the duo needs to be more aware of receivers getting downfield.
- Give credit to La’el Collins for a gritty effort yesterday. Despite not practicing this week, he came in and battled with Ryan Kerrigan, and fought him to a stalemate. Kerrigan did not have a sack or QB hit in the game. Collins has shown improvement as the season has moved on, and may finally be putting it together. His run blocking in the game last night was outstanding.
- The upcoming schedule sets up for a possible run at a wild card berth, but the chances are very low. The Cowboys lose tie breakers with the Falcons, they are three losses behind the Saints and Panthers in the standings. They will need a lot of luck to overcome their poor run in November, and are probably kicking themselves over their losses to Denver and Green Bay, two teams that have slid into the abyss due to injury and poor play.
- Did this win do anything to prevent a coaching change at the end of the season? Hard to say, but a loss to the Giants next week may be difficult to overcome. My belief is that the 13-3 season from 2016 has bought Jason Garrett a lot of rope with the Joneses, but I think that neither Scott Linehan nor Rod Marinelli should feel comfortable about their spots for next season.
