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2017-2018 Regular Season:
Dallas Pummels Prospectors . . . And Prep For
Another Age-Old Foe
- October 25, 2017 At 7:32 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- “America’s Team” destroyed the San Francisco 49ers 40-10 . . .
in a Levi’s Stadium contest that could not have been further from
resembling the titanic battles “back then.”
The 49ers – on a day when they celebrated “Dwight Clark Day”
(evoking still crystal-clear memories of “the catch”) – had hoped a
victory from a disinterested Dallas Cowboys team they might snatch.
Anything was possible for a Cowboys team having gone into their bye
week in a cross-eyed funk . . . with Cowboys Nation bracing for
another inconceivable mental skunk.
Dallas, much to fan delight, showed up – in all three phases – ready
to fight and (for at least one week) set things right.
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- Ezekiel Elliott enjoyed his best game as a Cowboy . . . gaining over
200+ combined yards from scrimmage and otherwise treating the 49ers’
defense like a child’s toy. Dak Prescott was kept free from grass
stains and – as a result – efficiently caused the 49ers three
touchdown pains. Even Dez Bryant caught a majority of the passes
thrown his way, though the Cowboys’ “number one wide receiver” still
has yet to force a defense into coughing up a 100-yard receiving
day. Jason Witten also lulled yet another defense to sleep, leaving
the 49ers touchdown-bitten.
Fans, however, should make no mistake. While on solid play-call
execution Cowboys Nation can always be sold, playing the 49ers was
not akin to discovering gold. San Francisco merely offered a low
threshold break. Dallas did what “good teams” are supposed to do.
The Cowboys – instead of falling on their mistake-laden sword –
outperformed their opponent and ran them through.
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- Understandably (but temporarily) diminished in the celebration
of such domination was the pregame loss of kicker Dan "Makin' 'Em
Daily" Bailey . . . to the always untimely and debilitating groin
injury. Special teams maven and safety Jeff Heath deserved a special
mention wreath . . . in providing some (backup kicker) instep to
give the kicking game some entertaining pep.
Moving forward, the rest of Dallas’ regular season is filled with
teams that will most certainly not be 1-6 or 0-7. Their contests
will be far more hell than competitive heaven. The Cowboys must be
mentally selective, physically protective, and maintain clear
perspective.
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- Short Shots And Hot Spots
The Cowboys have been able to remain relatively injury-free, but in
learning Dan Bailey's ailment could cause a multigame absence of at
least three . . . Dallas chose to add journeyman kicker Mike Nugent
and show defensive end Damontre Moore the exit door. Time will
quickly tell if missing pass rusher Moore from the defensive line
rotation . . . provokes a hat-in-hand call with the hope he has not
found a new dance partner and remains on forced vacation.
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- The Cowboys also called up practice squad defensive tackle
Richard Ash . . . to help prevent opposing runners from continuing
an alarming defensive line gash.
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- The Cowboys chose to elevate rookie 3rd string QB Cooper Rush to
the active 46 by dropping veteran backup QB Kellen Moore from their
game day core. Before a minority segment of Cowboys Nation had a
chance to say "that decision will prove inevitably flawed," Moore
– to no one's surprise – instantly cleared waivers and was added to
Dallas' practice squad.
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- While Scott Linehan continues to view Moore as a mental marvel
and system savant, his physical skills have seemingly guaranteed he
will never be asked to display any further game day thrills. If he
is, indeed, a QB coach in waiting, someone should tell Wade Wilson,
because he has no (currently confirmed) interest in leaving or retiring.
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- The Dallas Cowboys – and an equally anxious Cowboys Nation –
expect to possibly find out on Monday, October 30th if Zeke Elliott will
receive the wonderful Halloween treat of a PI (Preliminary
Injunction) that allows him to play for the rest of the
season . . . or if he will be told to smell Roger Goodell's feet, suddenly finding himself on an immediate six-game
"vacation," none too pleasin'.
Will They Or Won’t They?
While Dallas did what it was supposed to do against San Francisco,
the Cowboys always (maddeningly) struggled – even against
shorthanded teams within their own division – to give it a
dominating go.
Dallas – as much as they might like – must dismiss any
self-assuredness
spike in facing a clearly-wounded division rival. The Cowboys must have
all-brains-on-deck against the Washington Redskins who – against all
logic – may prove an annoying handful.
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- Will Linehan’s Clan be able to continue delivering an even-handed
run-to-pass mix . . . or will they be forced by a familiar foe to
indulge in some historically risky cute play tricks?
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- Will Dez Bryant – against a playing-hurt "Jawing" Josh Norman – rise to the occasion and breakout for 100+ yards so
defiant . . . or will he remain a mere component of the
receiver-by-committee upon which the Cowboys have become regularly
reliant?
Will Marinelli’s Men – specifically their linebackers and secondary
– allow the dangerous-but-oft-injured Jordan Reed to continue
looking deep-seam scary? Will their inconsistent zone – against Kirk
Cousins and some talented Redskins receivers – turn the Cowboys’
young secondary into heavy breathers as they are (potentially) cut
down to the bone?
Will the Cowboys do what they need to do – for the second straight
week – so that they can continue in the direction of where they want
to go . . . or will they gag against a long-time enemy who will do
anything for a game-winning chance to crow?
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- Will the Cowboys continue to own FedEx Field . . . or will the
Redskins – for the first time since 2012 – get them to yield?
We shall see. We always do.
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