ARLINGTON, Texas — The Washington Football Team abused the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving in a dominant 41-16 win, claiming the top of the NFC East. It is back to the drawing board for the Cowboys at 3-8.
Dallas had a number of puzzling coaching decisions, a defense that gave up 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, missed assignments, key injuries, offensive turnovers/inability to convert on third down (4-13)- not a winning formula. Washington imposed their will.
Injuries:
Early on, players began dropping like flies due to injury and it set a negative tone. To add insult to injury, both left tackle Cam Erving and right tackle Zack Martin exited the game on the opening offensive series. Martin did not return to the ballgame with a calf injury and neither did Erving (knee).
To make up the Cowboys’ patchwork O-Line, Brandon Knight came in to replace Erving at left tackle and Terence Steele stepped in at right tackle for Martin. Ezekiel Elliott had his first 100-yard game last week against Minnesota running behind Zack Martin and Connor McGovern for the majority of the ballgame, and the six-time Pro Bowl veteran’s absence in the line was felt. Dallas had to stick to a pass-heavy scheme with an inability to establish the run once again.
Questionable Coaching Calls:
Sure, if a play does not work out in a favorable manner then it is normally analyzed. Plays can determine the outcome of a ballgame and swing the momentum at any given time, and today many play calls raised questions.
For instance, the decision to try a fake punt (which opponents are on to with the repeated efforts to do so) in the fourth quarter deep from Dallas’ 24-yard-line. The staff dialed up a jet-sweep reverse to Cedrick Wilson and he was tackled behind the line of scrimmage. Then, one play later Antonio Gibson scored his second touchdown of the day and extended Washington’s lead by double digits in the fourth.
In addition, another play call puzzled. On fourth-and-one, Andy Dalton threw a pass to CeeDee Lamb that was incomplete. Many expected to see a quarterback sneak or the team’s high-paid featured back, Ezekiel Elliott plowing forward for the first. Tony Pollard has been consistent breaking tackles and moving the chains forward but neither running back was utilized on the fourth-and-short. However, things got worse from there. A 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Dalton Schultz gave Washington a short field and the ball at the Dallas twenty. The WFT easily scored with a five-yard Logan Thomas catch.
Third Down/Red Zone Conversions:
The Cowboys could not consistently sustain drives or stay on the field. Dallas could not get the ground game rolling and when the Cowboys could reach the red zone, largely due to Amari Cooper who continuously owned Ronald Darby on routes, they had to settle for field goals. Sound familiar? On each of the Cowboys’ three trips, they only came away with three points each time. From week-to-week the staff has preached the importance of getting seven points as opposed to three and being able to achieve a balanced attack early on; get the run game going on first and second down along with the play-action passing game, but it has never materialized on the football field.
Offensive Turnovers:
The turnover woes continued, marking the Cowboys 10th consecutive game with one. The squad had two. Ezekiel Elliott had his sixth fumble of the season (fifth lost). Jonathan Allen punched out the ball and Washington recovered. The WFT was only able to score three off the turnover, with DeMarcus Lawrence’s incredible burst off the line of scrimmage on third down with a sack on Alex Smith. Dallas was not quite so lucky on the other turnover. Andy Dalton’s pass was tipped and recovered by Montez Sweat for the touchdown. The pick six put the nail in the coffin and gave Washington the final lead, 41-16.
Defense:
The unit had some bright spots with Randy Gregory’s two-sack performance and Jaylon Smith’s interception that briefly fueled a fire. DeMarcus Lawrence was able to get off the edge quickly with his bend but in the fourth quarter, Washington put up 21 unanswered points. The defense completely collapsed. Antonio Gibson finished with 115 rushing yards and J.D. McKissic was productive on third downs. The Cowboys had no containment on the outside with poor gap integrity and the WFT took advantage. Dallas did not set edges and left wide-open lanes along the boundary for Alex Smith and the running backs.
The Cowboys were outplayed in all three phases and will have to reevaluate this week in facing the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday.
