Following Sunday’s decisive victory over the Cowboys, we have some reflections on the entire event.
With their decisive 43-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys continued their perfect home record this season. The Cowboys got off to a quick lead and effectively put the game out of reach by halftime. The Rams simply lacked the firepower necessary to win the game. Here are ten observations regarding the Cowboys’ dominance over the Rams, which included many positive aspects.
1. FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, IT DIDN’T LOOK GOOD
Although it’s difficult to believe that this game offered us any cause for concern, there was a very brief instance in which we were. Following Tyron Smith’s inactive status as a left tackle, the team turned to Chuma Edoga to shield Dak Prescott’s blindside. It didn’t go well at all as edge rusher Michael Hoecht got around Edoga to sack Dak on the opening play of the game. After two plays, Prescott was fired once more. This year’s offensive line struggles for the Cowboys haven’t exactly made for the ideal start for everyone.
2. A GOOD BREAK
After the offence went three-and-out due to two sacks, it looked as though the Cowboys’ opening drive of the game would stall out. Fortunately for the Cowboys, an unlawful contract on Rams safety Quentin Lake’s part led to a new set of downs and an opening-drive score. Their first drive did not go as well for the Rams. After Jourdan Lewis placed his left arm on Cooper Kupp’s hip, the officials failed to call a pass interference penalty, forcing them to settle for a field goal. It was evident that the collision made a difference in Kupp’s ability to catch the ball.
3. BRANDON AUBREY IS GOOD
Although it appeared that Dak Prescott’s third-down sack would have put them out of field goal range, that isn’t the case when Brandon Aubrey plays for your team. Similar to his past kicks this season, the rookie kicker opened up and made a 58-yard field goal that was straight down the middle. Although Aubrey has been quite good this year, he has mostly been successful on kicks shorter than thirty yards. He flashed that huge leg today. Long or short kicks are equally effective. The novice keeps dividing the uprights. This season, Aubrey has a perfect 18 for 18 record on field goals.
4. KEEP THROWING TO CEEDEE LAMB
The Cowboys’ most potent offensive weapon is CeeDee Lamb, therefore it’s wrong not to find methods to get the ball into his hands. The squad had a 7-1 record going into the contest and scored 30 points per game on average when Lamb had at least eight catches. He finished with 12 catches for 158 yards, both career highs, so he obviously got a lot of balls. He added two touchdowns as well. It was good to see the club use its best players and play to their strengths. In relation to which…
5. A DIFFERENT DAK
Prescott had not thrown more than one touchdown in a game in four outings before to this one. It’s sparked a lot of discussion regarding Prescott’s skills and whether or not he can successfully guide this offence. Prescott completed more than 80% of his passes for more than 300 yards and four touchdowns against the Rams. Prescott was becoming loose and tossing the ball down the field during this game. In all honesty, it was a sight for sore eyes and further evidence that Dak was never a problem in the first place—rather, it was a “how to use Dak” issue. On Sunday, he was used appropriately.
6. STAFFORD’S HARD DAY
Getting under Matthew Stafford’s skin and making him make poor passes is the key to containing the Rams’ offensive line. That’s just what the Cowboys’ pass rush did, as they gave him fits in the backfield all the time. Even though he was only fired once in the course of this game, he was under a lot of pressure. And one of those hits resulted in a misdirected pass that DaRon Bland caught and ran 30 yards for a touchdown. The Rams found themselves suddenly down by 14 points after a pivotal play in the game. Stafford eventually had enough when he was forced to leave the game due to a thumb injury.
7. NO PUKA, NO KUPP, NO OFFENCE
Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, two of the Rams’ more troublesome receivers, were nowhere to be seen on Sunday. Kupp was limited to just four receptions for 21 yards and Nacua to three receptions for 43 yards by the Cowboys’ defence. Nacua, a rookie, led the league in receptions coming into the week. The Rams’ longest receiving play was a 32-yard screen throw to Darrell Henderson Jr., indicating that their passing game was virtually nonexistent. The two main offensive weapons of the Rams were effectively neutralised by the Cowboys.
8. DEJA VU
With his pick-six against the Giants in the season’s opener and again against the Patriots, Bland’s interception was his third of the year. It’s beginning to feel like a habit for him. A crucial play was made by the Cowboys special teams in the second quarter when Sam Williams stopped a punt. Dorance Armstrong helped the Cowboys last season with both a blocked punt and a defensive touchdown against the Rams; this was the second straight game in which they had both.
9. KAVONTAE, SO CLOSE!
KaVontae Turpin almost had a punt return taken to the house on the free kick after the safety, and then he did take one the distance in the fourth quarter only to have it taken off the board due to a holding penalty from Nahshon Wright. Had it counted, the Cowboys would have reached 50 points. One of these days, Turpin is going to return a kick for a touchdown and it’s going to count.
10. HOME SWEET HOME
The Cowboys have been on the road a lot this season with four of their first games played away from the confines of AT&T Stadium. They were at home on Sunday where they have done extremely well this year. When they have played at home, they are not only winning, they have been destroying teams. With previous blowouts over the Jets and Patriots and now 23 against the Rams, the Cowboys are 3-0 at home with an average margin of victory of 26 points.