The Dallas Cowboys picked up a much-needed win on Monday night.
A trip out to Las Vegas, the first ever in the regular season for the franchise, to play the Raiders felt rather meaningless given the events that transpired since we last saw the Cowboys play a football game. The recent death of Marshawn Kneeland clearly hung over the Cowboys and will for some time, but the team played their hearts out while they were clearly hurting.
It was an admirable performance on the field where the Cowboys had all sorts of success on both offense and defense. They scored touchdowns on every possession between the second and third quarters and in the process made the fourth quarter a formality more than anything.
This team is now 4-5-1 and has a big date at home against the Eagles on Sunday before hosting the Chiefs for all the world to see on Thanksgiving. Those matters will come and we will deal with them as they do, but for now the Cowboys are winners for the first moment in some time and that feels good.
Way to go, Cowboys. That was a job well done.
First Quarter
The Raiders won the toss and deferred which put the Cowboys offense on the field first.
Vegas had to be feeling great about that decision early on as the Cowboys went three and out to start the game. Matters seemed easy for them given that CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were not on the field for Dallas which was strange. The ESPN broadcast noted as Dallas was taking the field for defense that Lamb and Pickens were absent due to a “coach’s decision” with an implication that it was some sort of disciplinary decision. We will see.
The Raiders were unable to do anything with the possession that they were effectively given. They punted it to the Cowboys who actually then gave them the ball. Well, Maxx Crosby took it away.
Thankfully the Cowboys defense buckled and held the Raiders to only a field goal. Still though, early on things felt a bit treacherous for the silver and blue side of things.
SCORE: COWBOYS 0, RAIDERS 3 (Daniel Carlson 35-yard field goal)
Early on in their next possession the Cowboys moved the chains by way of George Pickens which was great to see. Javonte Williams was running hard early on which was also a positive sign. Ultimately things stalled a bit, but not before it came time for Brandon Aubrey.
SCORE: COWBOYS 3, RAIDERS 3 (Brandon Aubrey 50-yard field goal)
It was more of the same in a lot of ways on the next possession for the Raiders.
They were moving the ball in a relatively un-challenged way… until they got near the redzone. The Cowboys defense managed to stand tall and force another field goal attempt.
SCORE: COWBOYS 3, RAIDERS 6 (Daniel Carlson 45-yard field goal)
The first quarter ended with Dallas driving and threatening in Las Vegas territory.
Second Quarter
The Cowboys were indeed threatening as the first quarter ended and made good on it shortly into the second.
After hitting George Pickens just out of bounds in the endzone, Dak Prescott found CeeDee Lamb in the heart of it.
SCORE: COWBOYS 10, RAIDERS 6 (Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb 18-yard touchdown)
The positive momentum continued for the Cowboys which is a strange thing to say given that they were on defense.
But this is a defense that now features Quinnen Williams and he got his first sack with a star on his helmet. It was epic.
The Raiders punted the ball and Dallas went to work. Serious work.
It was one of the best offensive drives we have seen from the Cowboys in some time. Dak Prescott looked fully and totally in control and CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were in sync, maybe coach’s decisions are a good thing after all.
Jake Ferguson was the one who capped it off with a score to make everything feel great.
SCORE: COWBOYS 17, RAIDERS 6 (Dak Prescott to Jake Ferguson 5-yard touchdown)
It looked like things were going to break a little bit after this. The Raiders were marching and marching and hey, you can’t stop them every time.
But can you?
Geno Smith had a pass tipped and it found the hands of Markquese Bell for a Cowboys interception. Boom.
At this moment the previous two Cowboys possessions each ended in touchdowns and to different players in CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson.
This one followed that trend. Dak Prescott continued his form and so did George Pickens. That harmony made for the perfect scoring song.
SCORE: COWBOYS 24, RAIDERS 6 (Dak Prescott to George Pickens 37-yard touchdown)
Pickens was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the celebration (maybe a coach’s decision looms next week?!), but Brandon Aubrey nailed the extra point anyway.
The Raiders were able to grind out a field goal to end the half.
SCORE: COWBOYS 24, RAIDERS 9 (Daniel Carlson 38-yard field goal)
Third Quarter
The Raiders went three and out to start the second half so the positive momentum kept right on rolling.
That roll extended to the offense. The second quarter ended with them hot and the group picked up right where they left off.
George Pickens was arguably the star of the drive as he continued to make incredible play after incredible play. Things ended with another Dak Prescott passing touchdown and this one went to yet another different wideout in Ryan Flournoy.
SCORE: COWBOYS 31, RAIDERS 9 (Dak Prescott to Ryan Flournoy 2- yard touchdown)
The third quarter ended with the Raiders on the verge of scoring.
Fourth Quarter
The Raiders were indeed threatening as the fourth quarter began. They were soon faced with a fourth down and Geno Smith was able to scramble to move the chains.
One play later the Raiders were in the endzone. Sometimes that’s how it goes. It was their first touchdown of the night.
SCORE: COWBOYS 31, RAIDERS 16 (Geno Smith to Tre Tucker 6-yard touchdown)
The Cowboys finally punted (their first time not scoring a touchdown since the first quarter) and cooled off. You can’t throw heat forever, I guess.
The punt worked out really well for Dallas though and especially so as Donovan Ezeiruaku was able to handle Ashton Jeanty for a safety!
SCORE: COWBOYS 33, RAIDERS 16 (Dallas Cowboys safety against Las Vegas Raiders)
Unfortunately the Cowboys got down the goal line area but were unable to convert a 4th and 2. You can’t win ‘em all!
That was about all she wrote and the Cowboys were the winners. Ballgame!
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