For the primary time in what looks like eternally, the Dallas Cowboys have been capable of dominate an opponent. Though Dallas gave the Carolina Panthers some confidence on the finish of the primary half with a busted protection for a protracted rating, they managed to regain management and soundly beat the Panthers. Each side of the soccer have been sharp and commanded the second half. With their win, the Cowboys can take that constructive momentum into the following week, and the group can be ok with themselves. Nevertheless, a number of issues particularly have been distinctive for the Cowboys and carried them to victory.
Rico retains rolling
For the third week in a row, Rico Dowdle anchored the operating recreation for the Cowboys. The offensive line has been terrific these days, particularly alongside the inside, with nice outings from Brock Hoffman opening holes for Dowdle to use. Nonetheless independently, Dowdle has demonstrated he has the elusiveness and the burst to shake previous linebackers on the second stage of the protection and switch modest positive factors into chunk runs for the offense.
Dowdle hit a brand new profession excessive in speeding in every of the final three weeks, setting one other with 149 speeding yards this week. Courting again to Week 13, Dowdle has run for 392 yards. His latest tempo has him set to eclipse 1,000 yards speeding for the season, one thing that appeared inconceivable a number of weeks in the past. He has been a premier runner the previous couple of weeks and is exhibiting each bit the half because the group’s RB1.
Forcing turnovers
With Dallas lacking so many key gamers, successful the turnover battle is much more important. Dallas compelled turnovers in bunches towards a Carolina group that appeared to have resolved an issue that had plagued them. Bryce Younger has been having spirited performances these days, but all that halted as soon as the Cowboys’ protection compelled him into a number of turnovers. The flurry started with Marist Lifau punching out a fumble on Younger as they approached the top zone within the first quarter. The Cowboys adopted that up with a go deflection by Jourdan Lewis, which resulted in an interception for Eric Kendricks, his second of the season.
As they are saying, strain bursts pipes, and Dallas’ go rush washed away any possibilities the Panthers would possibly’ve had at successful the sport. Defensive deal with Osa Odighizuwa and the go rush dominated the second half versus Younger. He recorded two sacks within the first three performs to open the second half, together with a strip sack to set the offense up prime actual property for Cooper Rush and the offense. In all, Dallas recorded 4 turnovers towards the Panthers. Micah Parsons was additionally terrific speeding the passer. He sacked Younger twice and recorded two tackles for loss. Mike Zimmer’s protection was flying across the ball and wreaking havoc Sunday.
Calling a fantastic recreation for Cooper Rush
Recently, the offensive teaching employees has come below hearth for not placing their playmakers in one of the best place to achieve success and making issues troublesome for Cooper Rush. Towards Cincinnati, Dallas deserted the run at essential levels, and Rush had a subpar recreation. After his efficiency final week, you knew he was anxious to get again on the sphere, and he fared a lot better towards the Panthers. He thrived due to the teaching employees giving Rush a easy formulation he may execute. One mistake Dallas made final week was letting CeeDee Lamb be taken away from the gameplan for intensive intervals in the course of the recreation.
Lamb was closely focused and an integral a part of the offense this week. On their first landing drive of the sport, Dallas devoted the drive to creating Lamb the focus. On the 77-yard drive, Lamb was focused 3 times for 68 yards, together with a 14-yard landing throw from Rush. You could be assured Rush’s bounce-back recreation got here from not going away from Lamb too quickly within the recreation. They rectified that this week by cleverly countering Panthers’ defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s blitz-heavy scheme with screens towards man protection to free Lamb to make use of his imaginative and prescient as a receiver in area. Taking what the protection gave them allowed Lamb to have a giant day for Rush with 9 receptions for 116 yards.
Except for throwing to Lamb, Rush did effectively for himself. He improvised outdoors the framework of the offense with some mobility and made some superb throws. This throw to Jalen Brooks improvising out of the pocket was lovely.
Rush had three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer score of 119. The coaches did a fantastic job of creating issues for Rush, and aside from a number of hiccups right here and there, he was wonderful.
