INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – The Dallas Cowboys got shutout by the Indianapolis Colts 23-0. The Cowboys five-gain win streak is over and their opportunity to clench the NFC East title with the win against Indy was blanked. A lot of missed opportunities for the Cowboys during the game on both sides of the football. The team was missing the energy and relentless effort they have been playing with over the past five games, and it showed up on the scoreboard.
In the first half, Dallas led the clock in time of possession controlling it for 19:18 and the Colts having it for 10:42, but came away with no points. The Cowboys came close but Denico Autry blocked Brett Maher’s 48-yard field goal attempt and Darius Leonard recovered the ball. In the second quarter Dallas went for it on fourth and one but Ezekiel Elliott could not get across the goal line with the Colts’ impressive defensive performance. Dallas had 90 total passing yards in the first quarter and 89 rushing. They were three of seven in third down efficiency and things got progressively worse in the second half.
The Colts got the ball to start the second half and marched right down the field. Marlon Mack walked right into the end zone after a six-yard rush for the touchdown. Their offensive line won the line of scrimmage and the Cowboys’ defense allowed over 100 yards (178) on the ground, the first time since week nine against Tennessee. The defense could not stop RB Marlon Mack who finished with 27 carries for 139 yards, a 5.1 average after the catch, and two touchdowns. The defense could not win at the line of scrimmage clogging up holes and Mack had open running lanes to move the chains for the Colts. LG Quenton Nelson did an outstanding job in the interior of their o-line to pave the way for Mack, helping to open up their running game and get Marlon into the end zone. Indianapolis has traditionally used a west coast offensive approach, relying on their passing game and benefiting T.Y. Hilton and Eric Ebron. However against the Cowboys, the Mack attack is what made the difference for the Colts.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Cowboys offense could not find their rhythm. The triplets of Dak, Prescott, Amari Cooper, and Ezekiel Elliott dominated against the Eagles with 400 plus passing yards, 200 plus receiving, and 100 plus rushing last week. That dominance was nowhere to be seen against Indy. They could not make the necessary in-game adjustments against the Colts’ blitz. The Colts used a jumble formation with more linebackers in the box, to jam at the line of scrimmage. Indianapolis took advantage of Dallas’ banged up offensive line at its interior: Joe Looney at center, Connor Williams at RG, and Adam Redmond at LG. The Colts sacked Dak three times, bringing the season total to 51. He was sacked 32 times in 2017 and 25 times in 2016. Their offense could not shut down OLB Darius Leonard, who finished with nine solo tackles and two assisted tackles. Leonard wreaked havoc with pressure during the ballgame and his innate ability to get to ball carriers and make tackles. He holds the franchise record for tackles in a season for the Colts. Denico Autry made a critical impact in the game with his field goal block and sacked Dak for a loss, forcing the ball out and George Odum intercepting the ball to seal the shutout late in the fourth.
The Cowboys finished 4-12 in third down efficiency and 1-5 in fourth down efficiency. They were 0-2 in the red zone and concluded the ballgame with 292 total yards and 28:12 in time of possession. This team will need a resurgence of energy and effort before facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday!
