The Cowboys came through in the clutch and we have some thoughts about it all.
The Dallas Cowboys pulled out the theatrics with a late-game 20-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game began with a weather delay that lasted over an hour, but once it got started, it had no shortage of excitement. After exchanging leads late, the Cowboys had the last laugh. Here are ten thoughts on the Cowboys’ Sunday night win.
1. Tolbert with the game-winner
The team’s third-year wide receiver had to step up in the absence of Brandin Cooks, and Jalen Tolbert delivered. He finished the game with seven catches for 87 yards. Both are career highs. But his biggest moment was when he hobbled onto the field and caught the game-winning touchdown on a crucial fourth-down play. The game was on the line and Dak Prescott put the ball in the perfect spot for Tolbert to make the play.
2. Rico time!
Fans have been asking for it for a long time, and on Sunday night they finally got it. Entering this game, Rico Dowdle’s career high in rushing attempts in a game was 12. Against the Steelers, he set a new career-high with 20 rushing attempts. He also added another 27 yards receiving, including a great catch in the end zone for the Cowboys’ first touchdown of the game. This was the first time in his career that he had over 100 scrimmage yards. The team still has a lot of things to figure out in the running game, but giving Dowdle more touches is a good start.
3. The most important fumble recovery
For most of the game, the Cowboys were absolutely horrible at recovering fumbles. Early in the game, it looked like the Cowboys forced a huge takeaway when Linval Joseph stripped the ball away from Justin Fields. Initially, Carl Lawson fell on the ball, but he wasn’t able to secure possession and Fields pulled it away from him and the Steelers kept the ball. On the ensuing drive, Prescott fumbled the ball, but the Steelers’ defense pounced on it. Even when an incomplete pass by Fields was initially ruled a fumble, the Cowboys couldn’t recover that either. They were bumbling fools.
Fortunately, the Cowboys recovered the most important fumble when Prescott fell on a Dowdle fumble near the end zone with time running down. This gave the Cowboys another chance to win the game, and they made it count.
4. Red zone ineptitude
The Cowboys delivered when it mattered, but man it was rough for most of the game. Every time the offense would move the ball down in the red zone, they would find a way to foul it up. Fumbles, interceptions, and even blocked field goals all contributed to deep possessions that ended in no points. In a game where points were scarce, those mishaps almost cost them. The Cowboys’ offense is still misfiring on some cylinders with some good things, but not enough finishing and Sunday’s game was no different.
5. Penalties won’t go away
The Cowboys are so bad at this. Last week, they were flagged for 11 penalties for 89 yards. This week it was 11 penalties for 87 yards. It’s like deja vu. Tyrus Wheat, Donovan Wilson, and even Brock Hoffman (who barely played) were all flagged for personal foul penalties. When it happens once in a while, that’s normal. When it’s an ongoing issue, the Cowboys have a discipline issue and that’s indicative of the coaching staff. It’s nauseating.
6. Almost blew it
No one will talk too much about this because the Cowboys emerged victorious, but the clock management on the team’s final drive was horrendous. After Hunter Luepke stumbled his way down inside the five-yard line, the Cowboys were in great shape. They only needed three yards and could work the clock down if they didn’t get in right away. But instead of making it easy, the Cowboys chose drama. First, they called a timeout themselves rather than working the clock. Then they almost fumbled the game away at the goal line. It took them to fourth down to punch it in as they flirted with disaster.
7. Challenge failures
It’s hard to put our finger on it, but when it comes to challenging plays, the Cowboys are awful at it. When they challenge a play, they lose. When the refs make a bad spot and replay would correct it, the Cowboys don’t challenge it. We don’t know what is going on upstairs when it comes to getting Mike McCarthy the right intel, but they are terrible at this.
8. Losing Kneeland
The Cowboys’ defensive line was already down two starters without Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. That left them short along the edge, opening the door for Marshawn Kneeland to get his first NFL start. Sadly, that start was cut short as he was injured on the fourth play of the defense’s first series of the game. He was taken back to the locker room on a cart. Chauncey Golston, Carl Lawson, and Tyrus Wheat had to handle the edge work for the rest of the game.
9. Losing Guyton
The injuries kept piling up as left tackle Tyler Guyton exited the game late in the second quarter. The team slid Tyler Smith over to tackle and inserted second-year lineman T.J. Bass in at left guard. The good news was nothing changed that much. They held up okay and allowed Dak time to operate. The bad news was nothing changed that much. There were still intermittent pressures and penalties. Hopefully, Guyton will heal quickly, but it’s good to know the Cowboys can function without him.
10. Defense with another good showing
It was shocking that the defense did the heavy lifting in this one, especially in the first half. At halftime, the Steelers only had 89 total yards and just three points. Pittsburgh did score two touchdowns in the second half, but overall, the defense still did a good job. They held Najae Harris to 42 yards on 14 carries and Fields only had 27 rushing yards. They held the Steelers to 3 of 12 on third down. This was a promising showing from this group, especially considering how many defenders they were missing in this one.
