The Dallas Cowboys came into Week 5 looking for their first win since defeating the New York Giants in Week 2. Thankfully, they got to play the winless New York Jets, and they handled business accordingly.
They improved to 2-2-1 on the season with a 37-22 win. It wasn’t a flawless performance, but the Cowboys played their best game of the year when combining both sides of the ball. Not only did Dak Prescott continue to show that he is one of best quarterbacks in the NFL, the Cowboys defense, from a pass-rush standpoint, had its most inspiring performance of the season.
Dallas will take on the 2-3 Carolina Panthers this Sunday on the road, and they cant afford a slip up or the win against the Jets will be all for not. With that said, here’s what we learned about the Cowboys going into Week 6.
Ryan Flournoy has arrived
Before last Sunday, Flournoy only had 10 receptions for his young career for 102 yards. With KaVontae Turpin on the shelf, Flournoy was among the stars of the offense for Dallas as he hauled in five passes for 104 yards in the first half which included a 40-yard catch and run on the Cowboys opening possession. He finished with six receptions for 114 yards, both career highs for the former sixth-round pick.
Flournoy showed that he has the ability to be a very viable option for the Cowboys in the passing game, and that’s even when Turpin returns. His size, athleticism, route running, and strong hands bring something that the other receivers on the roster not named CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens can’t. Going forward, Flournoy needs to be involved in what Dallas does offensively.
James Houston needs even more reps
Another element that stood out in Week 5 for the Cowboys was their pass rush, and Houston was the lead dog. He was credited with 1.5 sacks, upping his total to a team-high 3.5 on the season. It was also his third game in four weeks with a sack. What was impressive is that he did it in a variety of ways.
Houston got pressure by bull rushing, utilizing a inside spin move, using his inside hand to knock down the offensive lineman’s outside hand to bend the edge, and on stunts. His snap count has steadily increased over the past few weeks (22, 27), and the Cowboys should seriously consider him to take a starting role. Houston is easily the best pass rusher in Dallas right now.
Javonte Williams continues to be one of the league’s best runners
When the Cowboys signed Williams this offseason, he wasn’t expected to dazzle anyone, especially after not performing at a high level consistently since tearing his ACL in 2022. However, Williams has put the NFL on notice that he’s a force to be reckoned with as he tallied a career-high 135 yards versus the Jets, which gave him his first performance over the century mark since his rookie campaign.
Williams is currently third in the NFL in rushing with 447 yards and he’s tied for second in rushing touchdowns with five. He has made it extremely difficult for teams to defend the Cowboys when you couple the play of quarterback Dak Prescott with it. As long as Williams keeps running this effectively, the Cowboys will be in every game they play.
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