-
-
-
2021-2022 Regular Season:
Cowboys Come Up
Huge Against Big Blue And Head To Foxboro To Deal With You Know Who
October 15,
2021 At 11:21 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
-
After caging some (allegedly) competitive cats, “America’s Team”
faced an NFC East opponent for the second time in three weeks (with
another opportunity to do that of which no supportive fan speaks).
“Win, right? Right? Sweet VICTORY?! Beat the cleats off the visiting
New York Giants!” you scream with maximum defiance (perhaps
momentarily forgetting that NFC East games – no matter the disparity
in talent between contestants so valiant – do not always follow
logical compliance).
ALL of the paid prognosticators saw New York’s previous winning
performance against the New Orleans Saints as a
completely-unexpected surprise, yet some of those pundits also
viewed that result as a launch point for the Dallas Cowboys’ demise.
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones had finally shown some real,
late-game stones, and running back Saquon Barkley seemed all the way
back (since suffering a week two, season-ending, torn ACL that
practically knocked New York’s 2020 potential completely off-track).
YES, Yes, yes, the Cowboys (absent star quarterback Dak Prescott for
1.5 games last year) struggled in 2020 to defeat (and lost to) the
Giants. New York – just like Philadelphia and Washington – need only
hear a faint whisper of “Dallas Cowboys” or “America’s Team,” and
instantly tap a renewed well of defiance . . . again, regardless of
any perceived deficiency that could, should, or would halt their
sudden sense of urgency.
After all, the Cowboys “for the better part of three decades” have
not always consistently played their winning part in the art of
heart. Still, STILL
this contest (coincidentally?) landing on the
to-the-day anniversary of Giants cornerback Logan Ryan’s tackle that
would shatter Prescott’s ankle should, SHOULD have provided Dallas
with enough raw emotion and energy to channel the right
all-three-phases synergy.
Slow Illusion, Powerful Conclusion
Dallas would start the game with Dak and Co. on the field, hoping to
weather an early defensive storm and begin with a (touchdown)
scoring yield. And – "once again" – no matter the difference in
condition or attrition, the "lesser" team was determined to make
early success by Dallas into a much harder mission.
The Cowboys' opening drive would stall, leaving them with a
4th-and-2 on the Giants' 46. Head coach Mike McCarthy – as he has
shown a propensity to do – gave offensive coordinator Kellen Moore
the go-ahead to try to move the sticks. Dak would take the shotgun
snap, and Amari Cooper would clear out his defender on the left,
leaving running back Ezekiel Elliott all alone for an easy swing
pass towards the necessary conversion heft. Dak – however – neither
saw nor expected Giants linebacker Lorenzo Carter (inconveniently
hidden behind offensive tackle Tyron "Man Mountain" Smith) to have
leapt and tipped to intercept. And yet it would happen (leaving
members – some but not all – of Cowboys Nation with shorts a crappin').
"See? SEE?! I just KNEW the Cowboys would – ONCE AGAIN – lower
themselves to the level of their unworthy competition! The talking
heads – all week long when everyone thought they were wrong – warned
of what might happen it the Giants were able to light their own
ignition!" you yelled (with but one play that made you so
compelled).
Before fans could lose their collective mind, "The Mighty Quinns"
would ensure the Giants would fail in kind. New York (on 3rd-and-5)
was unable to come alive. A certain Giants offensive lineman
showcased laughably poor technique against a Dallas defender still
nowhere near his production peak. 6'9" 316lb left tackle Nate Solder
was getting rolled backwards like a boulder by 6'5" 240lb Randy
Gregory (a comparatively-skeletal defensive end who is getting
better and better at chasing targets around the bend). Gregory had
Solder backpedaling so fast that Giants quarterback Daniel Jones
(seemingly unaware before narrowly getting out of there) was nearly
caught in the blast. "They say" speed kills, and Gregory barely
missed providing some sacktastic thrills. Following that
three-and-out, over a narrowly-missed 54-yard field goal Cowboys
Nation would happily shout.
Fans were preparing to see Dak and Co. roar back down the field
(rather comfortably from their own 44 no less) on the strength of a
couple, patient Zeke runs along with running back Tony Pollard
dashing for a 17-yard yield. Once they got inside the Giants' 20,
however, their drive became an unexpected-yet-familiar red zone
mess. Dak (with 6:27 remaining in the first quarter on 3rd-and-7)
would take the shotgun snap and find tight end Dalton Schultz just
past the Giants' goal line, but on a seemingly simple touchdown
catch Dalton would not dine. Though Schultz has become quite adept
at catching passes accidentally or purposely tossed slightly behind,
this time he was unable to collect it in kind. Dallas’ high-powered
offense would stall out at the New York 12, and an early opportunity
the Cowboys would be forced to shelve. A 31-yard field goal went
online courtesy of Greg "The Leg" Zuerlein (with 6:17 remaining the
first), but it would thankfully not quench Dallas' growing
(through-four-games) scoring thirst.
While this fifth game of the Cowboys' 2021-2022 NFL regular season
was the anniversary of the fifth contest of last season against the
very same competition – one during which Dak Prescott was
devastatingly detoured from the Cowboys' (seemingly unending) "next
championship" mission – it was Giants running back Saquon Barkley
who (after his own lost year of ACL hell) would inconceivably suffer
more untimely attrition. Daniel Jones – from his own 25 with 6:17
remaining in the first quarter (and the reinvigorated determination
to be less brick and more mortar) – took the shotgun snap and
overthrew Barkley as he was heading across the middle from the left
flank. Had rookie linebacker Micah Parsons (in coverage on Barkley)
been keeping one eye on Jones, as well, he might have placed his
first career interception in the bank. Split seconds later, Saquon
accidentally stepped on cornerback / safety Jourdan Lewis' foot
(which would sideline Barkley with a ballooned left ankle and the
rest of his game day efforts being kaput). Though Jones would follow
that up with a 3rd-and-9 pass to wide receiver Kenny Golladay –
which nearly succumbed to cornerback Trevon Diggs’ interception sway
– the receiver’s body weight would rankle the cornerback’s left
ankle (and almost prevent Diggs from returning to play).
It was once again assumed the Cowboys’ offense would aggressively
get their scoring opportunities on track upon Dak and Co. getting
the ball back. Cowboys receiver and punt returner CeeDee Lamb would
start the expected fireworks with a modest-yet-exciting 17-yard
juke-and-jive (into Giants territory to help his offensive teammates
come alive). The Cowboys faced a 4th-and-1 (from the Giants' 29 with
3:02 left in the first). While McCarthy did not hesitate to go for
it, New York wanted Dallas to work for it (with nothing to lose and
an unexpectedly-close game to enthuse). Alas, the Giants were too
slow to react to wide receiver Cedrick Wilson going in motion from
the left slot and heading right with the handoff from Prescott.
Wilson would just make it around the conversion corner with tight
end Blake Jarwin literally delivering "some" last-second blockin' to
keep the drive rockin'.
Though Zeke Elliott would ground out 12 more yards of distance
(giving the Cowboys a 1st-and-goal at the New York five with another
scoring chance for which they could strive), a Prescott-fumbled snap
was far more impactful than the Giants' actual resistance. No, for
once, embattled Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz was not a low-snapping
dunce. The Giants would – of course – go three-and-out, proving more
spastic than opportunistic.
The game was more and more resembling lyrics from Mickey and
Sylvia's "Scoring Touchdowns Is Strange," err, "Love Is Strange."
"Come here, TOUCHDOWN scorers."
"And if they don't answer?"
"Ohhhhh, TOUCHDOWN SCORERS?"
"And if they STILL don't answer?!"
Well, Dak and Co. (mercifully) end their micro-scoring drought
before "The Tortured Cowboys Fan" began to seriously pout. It took
but four plays for Dallas to return to their potent scoring ways. A
Zeke 14-yard run started the fun, but an in-stride 49-yard strike to
CeeDee Lamb would deliver the touchdown stun! And while the Cowboys
were up 10 to nothin', the Giants (on 3rd-and-10 from their own 25)
showed they were not (yet, YET) bluffin'.
Though "The Mighty Quinns" (particularly linebacker Micah Parsons,
defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, and defensive end Chauncey Golston)
were on a jailbreak blitz to "collect" Daniel Jones' bones, Giants
feisty rookie Kadarius "Human Joystick" Toney showed at least one
New York wide receiver had some competitive stones (with a 38-yard,
toe-tapping, sideline catch after cornerback Anthony Brown slipped
down the coverage hatch). The Dallas defense would – once again –
force a field goal, with the Giants finally (albeit diminutively)
filling three points of their scoring hole.
A pass from Dak to Dalton would come up one yard short on 3rd-and-9
during their next series, giving New York another chance to (at
least temporarily) provoke fan worries (about mental attrition
preventing the Cowboys from ever igniting a full 60-minutes of
gridiron fighting).
The Giants would waste no time and – though they would lean into
their no-huddle offense to make key, mismatch plays – it was a crime
for the Cowboys to get themselves caught in a poor tackling haze.
Even New York tight end Evan Engram – a familiar miscreant and
oft-injured irritant – would gain some traction. "But, BUT" before
the Giants could get their own touchdown-scoring satisfaction (with
3:11 remaining in the second quarter on 3rd-and-goal from the Dallas
one), Daniel Jones would fake the handoff and immediately roll left
to personally handle the point-scoring heft. Defensive end Chauncey
Golston and linebacker Jabril Cox (in particular), however, would
concussively-collide with Jones (so vehicular) and take New York's
stumbling signal caller completely out of action. New York's backup
quarterback Mike "Great Job If You Can Get It" Glennon came in and -
following a handoff - running back Devontae Booker would go up, (kinda’)
over the top, and in. Reality the banged-up Giants had defied, and
the game was disappointingly tied.
"And then, And THEN, AND THEN" - as if heard from afar in "Dude! Who
Stole My Car!" - Dak and Co. finally came to (waste-not-want-not)
life. The Dallas defense ensured there was blood in the water and
(with 2:25 remaining in the half on 2nd-and-12 from their own 23),
it was time for the VAUNTED Dallas offense to help twist the knife,
get hotter, and go on a scoring spree.
Dak – in less than two minutes – would play rope-a-dope with many a
New York defender (going back and forth from trusty safety valve
Dalton Schultz to sure-handed wide receiver Amari Cooper to Dalton
again until a final 24-yard pass to Cooper put the Giants back in
the blender). A Zuerlein extra point would make the score 17-10. The
Giants would only get more beaten and battered as the game wore on,
and 17-13 would be as close as they would ever get again.
The Cowboys scoring party would officially, truly begin to unleash
(with 10:04 remaining in the third quarter on 3rd-and-6) from the
Dallas 40. Prescott would do a lil' moonwalk left, then, escape the
pocket right, appear ready to scramble downfield yet find Schultz
for a 30-yard yield. Dak would get 15 more from Amari next. After a
seven-yard run around the bend would land Zeke quite literally on
the sideline to momentarily mend, Dak would fake the handoff to
Pollard "and, And, AND" fake the toss to Elliott before finding
Elliott again (completely uncovered on the right) for a Walter
Payton high-stepping, four-yard touchdown pass that left the nearest
New York defenders totally vexed. The officials were unnaturally
friendly towards Zeke's flamboyance but – upon upping the score to
24-13 – the Cowboys were greeted with no such flag-throwing
annoyance.
On the Giants’ very next possession, Mike Glennon went deep to
reserve wide receiver C.J. Board, and Trevon Diggs (for the fifth
game in a row) took the Giants’ quarterback to confession (before
Giants fans could scream “NOOOOOO!”). Diggs’ sixth interception on
the season was just another day at the office, oh so pleasin’.
Cedrick Wilson (after an underwhelming trick play referenced later
in this article) would make it up to his teammates with a nice,
over-the-shoulder, 35-yard sideline catch followed by a 13-yard,
right-side touchdown run by Zeke Elliott (with Dallas’s scoring
opportunities becoming near-farcical).
Following the Cowboys' final OFFENSIVE points of the day, Anthony
Brown (with 1:37 remaining) produced a timely pick-six play (over
which the Anthony Brown "fan club" would resort to zero
complaining).
The Dallas Cowboys would win 44-20 and – while America’s Team would
continue to struggle with that 60-MINUTE theme – insistence by
opposing fans and prognosticators alike that New York would be able
to REALLY take it to ‘em turned out to be (initially nerve-wracking
but – in the end – comfortably funny). The Giants created an early,
slow illusion, but the Cowboys delivered a powerful conclusion.
Short Shots And Hot Spots
For as slow as this game seemed to unfold, the Dallas Cowboys'
offense still generated mammoth numbers on which any fanbase would
be sold.
Dak Prescott would go an efficient 22-32 for 302 yards, and three
touchdowns (while absorbing an obscured-opponent interception, a
sleep-walking fumble, and two sacks before helping broom New York
right out of town).
Ezekiel Elliott continued resembling an early-career version of
himself (as his 110 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries were
critical towards putting the Giants on the shelf). Tony Pollard –
his running mate with 75 yards on 14 carries – looked just as great.
Key among the Cowboys' stable of receivers were CeeDee Lamb (four
receptions for 84 sleek yards and one sensational touchdown), Dalton
Schultz (six receptions for 79 workman-like yards), Amari Cooper
(three receptions for 60 quiet yards and one loud touchdown), Noah
Brown (three receptions for 36 yards with MUCH MORE not quite in the
cards), and Cedrick Wilson (who was ready to go for more than "just"
catching a 35-yard throw).
The game – for such potent point (and yardage) propulsion – was not
without moments of avoidable revulsion.
Dak – on 3rd-and-19 from the Giants' 33 with 2:56 remaining in the
third quarter (and Dallas somewhat-uncomfortably up 24-13) – would
find Tony Pollard for a wide-open screen (which ended as anything
but nice and clean). Pollard would break tackles and jitterbug his
way to 13-yard gain before being upended and (thanks to a
Johnny-on-the-spot center Tyler Biadasz) was only temporarily
exposed to fumbling pain. While the Cowboys would extend their lead
(to 27-13) on the leg of Greg, New York could have recovered that
ball and (perhaps on fight-or-flight adrenaline) turned it into a
touchdown haul.
Mike Glennon – with 12:26 remaining in the fourth quarter on a
4th-and-goal from the Dallas two – would roll right and throw into
the end zone to wide receiver Kadarius Toney (who could not get a
grip, would indulge a slip, and failed to follow through).
Cornerback Anthony Brown (who has enjoyed an aggressive resurgence
under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn) slipped right on top of Toney
but was luckily not flagged for being a hands-off phony.
What’s that you say? A rare referee with surprisingly-good vision
who recognized that Toney fell first, thus, being unable to penalize
Brown for starting the collision? Not likely. The Cowboys’
relationship with NFL officials will only continue to be unsightly.
Dak Prescott was not the only player performing on a Twilight Zone
anniversary. No, seriously.
Cedrick Wilson (not "just" wide receiver
Michael Gallup's serviceable reliever) at home – against these very
same Giants during the fifth game of 2020 – was a key component of a
trick pass play (thrown by him to Prescott) that was right on the
touchdown money.
Some (including "That Announcer Guy") would say it was the Cowboys'
version of the "Philly Special" (which the Eagles used to perfection
in 2017). Fast forward to the fifth game of 2021, and the Troy
Aikman-called result – however promising – was not nearly as clean.
Dak – with 10:33 remaining in the fourth quarter on 1st-and-10 from
the Cowboys' 17 – would take the shotgun snap, fake the handoff to
Zeke (on which most of the Giants' defensive front would try to
collapse), and throw a mild lateral to Cedrick. Three members of New
York's secondary immediately advanced on him but momentary
hesitation on Wilson’s eventual pass did not allow fellow wide
receiver Noah Brown to fulfill the expected scoring trick. Brown
would have to truncate his route just in time to give Wilson's throw
a successful place to go (at the not-so-great Cowboys' 38). If
Wilson had hit his wide-open target in-stride, Brown (or an
equally-available CeeDee Lamb for that matter) would have scored
with pride (leaving an already-wounded Giants’ defense further in
tatters).
The Tortured Cowboys Fan is occasionally fond of saying or reminding
that "There is never a bad time for a clever trick, as long as your
execution of that play does not fail to click."
Either the Giants' offensive line deserves great credit for
preventing any, ANY sacking, or The Mighty Quinns really could do no
more than apply pressure towards light snacking.
Before Giants receiver Kadarius Toney got himself ejected for
throwing a punch at Cowboys safety Damontae Kazee, he was driving
the Dallas secondary crazy. While Cowboys corners – against all
other Giants receivers – were far from rotten, Toney's 10 receptions
for almost 200 yards will not soon be forgotten.
Good Quote Or Bad Bloat?
“This is very Deion Sanders like,” Aikman said of Diggs last Sunday.
“I saw this so many times. He lets the guy go to the deep post but
he’s got so much confidence in his speed and his make-up ability,
that he makes up the [distanced with his] speed. You see how he’s
able to close the gap. And then he’s like a wide receiver.” –
Current Fox Sports NFL analyst Troy Aikman (marveling at how seeing
Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs is almost, ALMOST like watching
former teammate, fellow Super Bowl XXX winner, and fellow Hall of
Famer "Prime Time" all over again).
“He’s just played outstanding. Boy, he has shown me he has a
long-term future in this game, and this game with the Cowboys.” – GM
Jerry during an interview with 105.3FM “The Fan” regarding right
tackle Terence Steele (who has gone from originally resembling the
former, forgettable, confidence-crushed Chaz Green in 2020 to
routinely displaying a winning look and feel).
"He reminds me a lot of Coach [Lincoln] Riley in college. So smart.
He KNOWS it. That’s why he brings so much to this offense." –
Cowboys second-year wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (happily acknowledging
that Cowboys’ offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has done much in
2021 to help steadily wash away so many prior years of constrictive
conservative nonsense).
Asked if he felt like his work this offseason was more mental or
physical, Zeke Elliott says “This year was definitely more about my
body. I had to come in and make up for my sh-tshow last year.” –
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (effectively restating –
understandably for the umpteenth time – how he has had to rededicate
himself to peak physical conditioning to ensure he is ready, week in
and week out, to consistently kick the Dallas ground game into high
gear). YES, Yes, yes, reliably-good health of the latest incarnation
of “The (Now) Great Wall Of Dallas” is an even greater deterrent
towards any offensive backsliding fear.
“A lot of people had a lot to say about Dak. Is he going to better?
Is he going to be the same? Is he going to be ready for the season?
Now, EVERYBODY? [Are you listening?] Quit [railing on him]. Dak is
in an MVP race right now. He is BALLIN’. So, give him his props.” –
Former New England Patriots linebacker, current NFL analyst, and
Hall of Famer Willie McGinest (celebrating how Dak is making the
most of his 2021 opps).
"Mike’s probably as good as anybody we play against. It hasn’t been
very often, and I’m happy about that. I wouldn’t want to play Mike
twice a year." – New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick
(before eventually acknowledging it is more the play-calling of
Kellen Moore and Dan Quinn which opponents really need to fear).
"I mean, they’re at the top of the league in everything, so whatever
stat you want to talk about, they’re at the top of the league in it.
[Dak]'s the trigger guy, so he’s making it all go." – Bill Belichick
(offering low-hanging insight to his typically information-starved
interviewers on whom his defense will aim to slow).
Misery Loves Viruses And Injury
After getting a bit dinged up against the Giants, GM Jerry still
expects left tackle Tyron Smith and cornerback Trevon Diggs to be
ready for this Sunday’s showdown (with plenty of confidence and no
time to slow down).
Right tackle La’el Collins – as an honorable mention mental injury
(following just ONE more week of being suspended) – will finally
receive a long-awaited change in his availability. While “a player
should never lose his job to injury,” inquiring minds will be eager
to learn if reserve right tackle Terence Steele’s surprisingly solid
play means in the starting spot he will stay.
Will They Or Won’t They?
While Dallas dispatched Big Blue, they are now off to Foxboro to
face “You Know Who.”
“Tom Brady, RIGHT?!” you inadvertently shout
(before remembering the
Cowboys faced him in TAMPA BAY in week one when Dallas nearly pulled
it out).
New England head coach Bill Belichick, “The Schemer,” and “Evil
Genius” – after an offseason of drafting rookie quarterback Mac
Jones and indulging a rather-expensive roster retooling – aims to
deliver results over which (Patriots) fans, prognosticators, and
sports books are once-again drooling.
 -
-
Will Dan Quinn and the Dallas defense give Patriots offensive
coordinator Josh McDaniel all he can handle or will New England
catch The Mighty Quinns in an untimely gamble?
Will Bill and son Stephen be able to stunt the flow of a Cowboys
offense that has been on the go, Go, GO or will Dak and Co. exit
Foxboro all aglow?
We shall see. We always do.
|
