How Cowboys looked like a Super Bowl contender in Sunday's win over the Rams
On Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys looked like legit NFL contenders. You might not agree with that and I fully understand it. You see, it's definitely an unfinished product we're discussing here. But with no starting quarterback and a bothersome groin injury to their defensive superstar, the Cowboys still managed to pull the win off as […]
On Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys looked like legit NFL contenders.
You might not agree with that and I fully understand it. You see, it's definitely an unfinished product we're discussing here. But with no starting quarterback and a bothersome groin injury to their defensive superstar, the Cowboys still managed to pull the win off as they beat the Rams 22-10 on the road.
How did they do it?
Big moments from its elite unit: the defense. To be even more specific, the pass rush.
Everyone knew the Cowboys would have to win this one by keeping Matthew Stafford under incessant pressure and forcing him to play superhero. The one problem? To be able to pin their ears back and get after the quarterback they had to stay ahead on the scoreboard. Cooper Rush would have to answer the call.
Only the Cowboys' pass rush would single-handedly put them in front since the start of the game with a strip-sack made y Dorance Armstrong taken into the end zone by DeMarcus Lawrence. Later in the first quarter, a blocked punt would set up a field goal to push the lead to nine points.
The Cowboys finished the game with 11 quarterback hits and five sacks, all four from different players. They also had six tackles for loss, from five different players, too! Osa Odighizuwa lead the team with four quarterback hits and two tackles for loss.
In today's NFL, elite contending units are usually high-powered offenses led by the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. But every once in a while, there's a defense that can win games even against the toughest of opponents. That's exactly the kind of thought Dan Quinn's defense inspires.
The Rams even used a fake punt and a trick play in this game. That's the kind of tools NFL teams use against heavyweights. The fact that Los Angeles went to such a resource twice alone speaks volumes as to how they perceived the Cowboys coming into the game.
When the Cowboys needed it most, Micah Parsons waved off his coaching staff, indicating he wouldn't be taken out of the game in such a spot. In that game-defining drive, Osa Odighizuwa would step up with a sack. One play later, he'd pressure Stafford again in a play resulting in a game-sealing interception by Malik Hooker.
The Cowboys need to clean things up on offense. That goes beyond the quarterback position. After all, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb both had big-time drops on third down on good passes by Cooper Rush.
But this defense should make this Cowboys team a legit contender once Dak Prescott comes back from injury.
Featured image via Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
