FRISCO, Texas – For the first time in franchise history, this Cowboys’ offense finished the ballgame with a 400-yard passer, a 200-yard receiver, and a 100-yard rusher. Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, and Ezekiel Elliott feed off one another and open up opportunities for each other in the run and pass. There is a new group of triplets in Dallas.
I spoke with Jason Garrett and he said, “ Amari has been embraced by everyone. He loves ball and works very hard at it. He is a well-respected guy and his performance helps. He is trying to get himself integrated into this team and has done that really quickly and has had a big impact on our team. The more weapons you have when the ball is snapped, the better it is going to be for everybody and it starts with the run and pass. To have Ezekiel Elliott as our runner and have defenses look around the quarterback and say, ‘OK where is that guy? We have to stop that guy.’ It makes a big impact. It impacts the coverages they call, how they play those coverages, how many guys are around the line of scrimmage, and what opportunities the guys outside have. It works hand in hand. When you have a receiver making the impact Amari made yesterday, they have to then make a different choice. ‘Do we double a guy and give him more attention?’ Which in turn sets up some opportunities for the running game and with the passing game as well. “
The addition of Cooper into the Cowboys’ offensive scheme has changed the dynamic of their offense and how defenses play against them. Now they have a weapon in the passing game, as well as the dominant player they have in Elliott in the ground game. They are all intertwined. Cooper’s ability to create separation from corners on man-to-man coverage and fluid routes helps out Prescott with an open target and confidence that Amari will make the play. The two changed Cooper’s route to a go route instead of a stop route before the 75-yard TD pass. Cooper remarked in the locker-room that he told Dak in the huddle to change it and once Dak saw the coverage at the line of scrimmage after the snap, he knew Cooper was right and motioned him to change the route. That shows a lot faith and chemistry between the two players that a QB trusts a teammate that joined the team mid-season. Amari is exactly the trade the Cowboys needed to make to rejuvenate their passing game and in turn, it has opened up the running game for Elliott.
Prescott finished the Eagles game 42 of 54 for 455 yards, three TD’s, and two interceptions. Elliott had 28 carries for 113 yards, and a 4.0 average on the carry. Cooper had a star night with 10 receptions for 217 yards, a 21.7 average after the catch, and three TD’s. These three players dominant performances on the field controlled the clock, put points on the board with their resilience in the fourth quarter/OT, and gave America’s Team a victory.
