A week ago, we debated whether or not the season was already lost. Now, it seems hope springs eternal. Winning will do that to you.
Yes, yes, it was just the Raiders. But the Cowboys crushed a team they were supposed to crush, and most importantly, the defense looked darn good doing it. And yet, it was still just the Raiders. Up next is a gauntlet that features the Eagles, Chiefs, Lions, Vikings, and Chargers.
For those keeping track at home, the Cowboys’ odds to make the playoffs went up to 10% with the win, underscoring how bleak the outlook is. They played well against the Raiders, but can they do the same against much better teams? That is the question that our own Tom Ryle and David Howman attempt to answer.
Tom: This may have been just a tease before reality rears its ugly head against the Eagles. But there are certainly some things that hint that the Cowboys may have a decent chance against the division leader.
The obvious one is the immediate positive impact Quinnen Williams had on the defense. Not only did he get 1.5 sacks and five QB hits, he opened things up for the rest of the defensive line. Three of the team’s four sacks came from the interior D line. While Donovan Ezeiruaku didn’t get one of those, he did contribute two tackles for a loss. That increased pressure up front, including a total of 11 QB hits, seemed to directly benefit the secondary as well. The return of Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker had to help, as did the good play of Caelen Carson and Shavon Revel. The linebackers played their part, with Logan Wilson solid and DeMarvion Overshown finally getting back on the field.
Yes, it was the Raiders. But after so many dismal performances by the defense, this has to be encouraging.
David: The defense was exactly what we’ve been waiting to see. Williams opens up a lot of things for others, Wilson was a bright spot, and who realized just how much this defense missed Malik Hooker?
As good as that side looked, though, defense is largely dictated by the quality of offense they’re facing. In that regard, the Eagles will do much better against this unit than the Raiders did, though they should still be able to get some stops here and there.
What I’m more focused on is the offense. Dak Prescott was cooking against the Eagles in the season opener but the offense went quiet in the second half. A lot of that had to do with CeeDee Lamb’s drops, but that wasn’t the only issue. In the end, the Cowboys lost that game because their offense disappeared when they needed it most.
That cannot happen again. The Raiders game was a sort of rediscovery of their offensive identity, and just in time. They’ll need to dominate against the Eagles – at home, mind you – to have a shot at winning. And, by the way, their playoff odds increase to 17% with a win.
Tom: The only real knock on the offensive performance was a bit of a slow start, which just maybe had something to do with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens sitting out the first series for undisclosed disciplinary reasons. But once they got into the fray, Dak Prescott and company really got to cooking. Pickens in particular was a force to be reckoned with. After the second possession was cut short by a lost fumble, they scored on the next five, a field goal and four consecutive touchdowns. With a considerable lead built up, they were able to take the foot off the gas in the fourth quarter while reducing the risk of injuries.
While the Philadelphia defense is formidable, Las Vegas is not all that bad with Maxx Crosby at work. It will be hard to replicate Monday’s performance. But they may be able to do enough. The running game is good enough with Javontae Williams leading the way that the Eagles can’t just pin their ears back and come after Prescott. If the offensive line can hold up for much of the time, the Cowboys should be able to score.
That leaves the Dallas D against the Philadelphia O. The Eagles are best when they go run heavy because Jalen Hurts is just not passing all that well. He only completed 50% of his passes against the Lions for 135 yards, and they mustered just 16 points in a defensive struggle on Sunday.
One surprising thing that may work to the Cowboys’ advantage is that Nick Sirianni seems to be making some really questionable decisions. He kept the door open for Detroit to come back and tie things up. Let’s hope he continues to come up with some bad choices.
David: As if living in Philadelphia wasn’t already a bad enough choice.
The opportunity is absolutely there in this game. Ever since the final whistle blew the first time these teams met, I’ve been convinced the Cowboys were going to win the next one. Now that we’re here, I’m only more confident. Dallas seems to have some momentum and the Eagles have won all but one of their eight games by one score, coming dangerously close to losing each time.
Given what lies ahead on the Cowboys’ road, a win here would be huge. The rivalry, the prestige of the Eagles, and the fact that it would be their first time this season winning back-to-back games; all of that together could provide a surge in confidence. That’s exactly what they’ll need the rest of the way, and it all starts this Sunday.
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