Dallas Cowboys: Unsung heroes step up when they needed to
The Dallas Cowboys got their revenge from a loss earlier this season, beating the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay. Winning their first road playoff game since the 90's. A big difference in this game was the impressive play of QB Dak Prescott. Playing as near a perfect game as you can ask, completing 25/33 (75.8%) of his […]
The Dallas Cowboys got their revenge from a loss earlier this season, beating the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay. Winning their first road playoff game since the 90's.
A big difference in this game was the impressive play of QB Dak Prescott. Playing as near a perfect game as you can ask, completing 25/33 (75.8%) of his passes for 305 yards, five combined touchdowns.
Including elite performances from players like Micah Parsons, Jayron Kearse, Dalton Schultz and Tony Pollard.
But what about everyone else? The non-elite players who had near elite performances? There were several.
On the offensive side of the ball it was Michael Gallup, Jake Ferguson and Connor McGovern who had maybe their best, and definitely most important performances on offense.
McGovern coming back in at left guard after Jason Peters had to leave the game with a hip injury. However, the offense wouldn't lose a step. Considering how out-of-position he looked at center, filling in for Tyler Biadasz the previous two weeks, it gives the Cowboys their original left tackle/guard combo that served them so well for the majority of the season.
As McGovern did his thing outside, Ferguson and Gallup were excellent outside. Combining for six catches, 80 yards and a touchdown.
Gallup displayed the power and separation at the line of scrimmage, as well as jumping ability. Ferguson only had the one catch but it was a beautiful run after the catch display that overshadowed just how good he was with Schultz at setting the edges in the run.
On the defensive side of the ball, the big talk from the Dallas Cowboys was the return of both Leighton Vander Esch and Johnathan Hankins. A big win for stopping the run, especially up the middle.
What we didn't expect was just how effective both would also be at pass rush as well.
Where as the rising play of DL Chauncey Golston, who continues to increase his workload, played plenty of 3-tech in this game, helping to stifle a near non-existent rushing attack but also adding some pressure from inside.
However, perhaps the most impressive, lesser-known play of defense came from Israel Mukuamu. The Dallas Cowboys were committed to a multiple safeties all game to avoid any CB3 issues (there were some).
Instead, he played a combination of corner and even filled in as the S/LB hybrid player for Jayron Kearse after leaving the game early. Finishing with four tackles and two pass breakups.
Players like Dak, Parsons, Schultz or Lamb will always get the majority of the focus. Especially when talking about the Cowboys. However, it's the unsung heroes who step up when they need to and the imprint is evident.
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement of USA TODAY Sports
