ARLINGTON, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys clinch the NFC East divisional title heading into playoffs with their 27-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cowboys started off firing on all cylinders. Ezekiel Elliott had patience at the line of scrimmage waiting for holes to open and exploded with his speed to gain yardage and put the Cowboys in the red zone. On a perfectly executed play action fake, Dak Prescott snuck in the end zone on a 7-yard run, to give the Cowboys an early lead.
The offense stalled during the second quarter but the defense kept the momentum going with Randy Gregory’s strip sack recovered by Jaylon Smith for a 69-yard touchdown return. Things picked back up in the second half with Cole Beasley and Michael Gallup finding chemistry with Prescott and making critical catches to move the chains.
Following the game Dak stated, “ They are going to double team guys so it is important to get other guys activated. “
Last week, the Colts used a cover two defense on Cooper and tonight the Cowboys adjusted the game plan utilizing Beasley and Gallup to take some of that pressure off of Cooper and get the passing game going. Beasley has always been a receiver in the slot that Dak relies on in critical third down situations. Gallup has matured and grown more and more consistent on the field in his routes and it showed up tonight in a big way. He led the team in receiving yards and finished with three receptions for 53 yards, an average of 17.7 yards after the catch, and a TD. That says a lot about the player and person that Gallup is. He has been through a rough month with the loss of his brother, but has remained focused and has continued to absorb information from the sideline with fewer touches since Cooper’s arrival, and in meetings. He was a difference maker tonight on the field for Dallas and led his team to the divisional crown.
In the fourth quarter, Gregory’s forced fumble on the Buccaneers’ handoff, set up the four-yard TD pass from Prescott to wide open Michael Gallup in the end zone a couple of plays later. Gallup got separation and Prescott fired in his direction to seal the win. Gallup and Gregory were the players of the game. By their efforts, 21 points went to America’s Team.
The two constants for the Dallas Cowboys team heading into playoffs with one regular season game left, is their dominant defense and their ground attack. The question mark is the passing game. The defense set up 14 points for the Dallas Cowboys both by Randy Gregory’s efforts knocking the ball out. The Cowboys’ defense is the only D in the league that has not allowed an opposing team more than 30 points in a game. Their performance is constant lights out, in preparation for their final game and playoffs, the Cowboys’ offense has to minimize penalties, capitalize on third downs, and in the red zone with TD’s not field goals. Prescott had a solid game and finished 20 of 25 for 161 yards and a touchdown. The o-line did a more efficient job winning at the line of scrimmage, providing Dak with enough time in the pocket to release the ball. Vita Vea was the only player to record a sack on Prescott and the line has to continue that performance protecting their QB from power edge rushers moving forward.
On the opposite side of the ball in the defensive line, the Cowboys received positive news after DE Tyrone Crawford’s scary exit from the field strapped to a cart. He gave the thumbs up to his teammates as he was carted off the field, and the Cowboys reported the tests he received later were positive and that he was able to return home tonight from the hospital. Great news for the Cowboys’ on their defensive captain and one of the guys in the ‘hotboyz’ squad that elevates those around him and that players look up to. This team is now 9-6 and they control their future.
