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2020-2021 Regular Season: A Falcon Attack, A Wild
Comeback, And Visiting Seattle For Second Win To Stack
September 25,
2020 At 9:35 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
- All the fan excitement over the
potential of a new season, a new head coach, a largely-new staff, an
upgraded roster, new-and-modified systems, more
creative-and-aggressive play-calling was met with a game one result
pretty galling. “America’s Team” – dressed in 2020 clothing – put on
a 2019 performance which “Cowboys Nation” is still, STILL loathing.
YES, Yes, yes, one uninspired game does not guarantee 15 more will
be aimlessly pushed out the production door. Cue the visiting
Atlanta Falcons (who underwent a Seattle Seahawks throttle after
which the Dallas Cowboys were surely hoping to model).
Short Shots And Hot Spots – Another Slow Start
After exchanging a few punts to begin the game, Atlanta Falcons'
quarterback Matt Ryan would give the Cowboys' secondary an excellent
chance to tame his aim. Ryan (on 3rd-and-4 from his own 32) would
take the shotgun snap and – with wide receiver Russell Gage – he
appeared to be on the same page. Cowboys’ rookie cornerback Trevon
Diggs – by assignment design – let Gage go after initial contact,
and Ryan fired for maximum impact to the near-mid-field line. Dallas
reserve safety Daryl Worley (Las Vegas’s cornerback castoff, picked
up in the preseason for versatility reasons) got their first – with
both of his Crisco-covered hands ready to haul in the ball – but
failed to fulfill his interception thirst.
The Cowboys would come to regret that early game momentum
claim, as a one-sided points explosion would soon change the 0-0
game, seemingly leave a potential Dallas victory far out of frame.
It was time for Dallas to get their offensive attack on track and
sidestep the punting that was suffocatingly stunting. Cowboys
quarterback Dak Prescott – on 3rd-and-7 from his own 22 – took the
shotgun snap but had zero no time to react. Rookie right tackle
Terence Steele was too slow to get out of his stance, forcing
running back Ezekiel Elliott to block Steele’s assignment, allowing
another defender to have an overloading impact on a suddenly poor
alignment. Prescott caught just enough of a glimpse of Falcons
linebacker Deion Jones to at least begin his escape but, then,
everyone’s mouth went collectively agape. Dak – who has had a KNOWN
history of “shipping and handling” issues on such precious cargo –
held the ball like Seinfeld’s loaf of marble rye. He
clearly-yet-foolishly intended to flip the ball to tight end Dalton
Schultz to avoid the sack but – like a careless dip – he lost his
grip, with the ball recovered by an Atlanta guy. So unnecessarily
out of whack.
It took all of seven seconds – following that “tremendous” turnover
– on 1st-and10 from the Dallas 22 for Matt Ryan to fake to running
back Todd Gurley and (after barely sidestepping pressure from
Cowboys' nose tackle Trysten Hill) launch a left sideline shot to
wide receiver Calvin Ridley. He stopped his momentum (at the
Cowboys’ three) from taking him out of bounds, twisted his body in
the direction of the end zone, and dove for the touchdown (with not
a single sniff from Dallas’ secondary hounds). It was seven to
nothing, but the Falcons were eager to tug the self-destructive
thread from the Cowboys’ stuffing.
On the Cowboys' very next offensive possession – with 9:34 remaining
in the first quarter, on 1st-and-10 from the Falcons' 46 – Dak would
handoff to hard-charging running back Ezekiel Elliott. He broke
through a couple defensive line tackles to reach linebacker depth,
and he was smellin’ it. Dak – of course – was not the only key
Cowboys player with a butterfingered past, and the communicable,
clumsy die was clearly cast. Zeke coughed up his own loaf of bread,
and some (but not all irritated) fans were suddenly muttering about
whether or not he should have continued to be “fed.” It was his
SECOND fumble (but first to be lost) on the same series. There was
no time to grumble (as there would very shortly be a cost), and he
could surely appreciate fan furies.
Following that fortuitous fumble, Matt Ryan rolled out right with
not a single Dallas defender in sight (as Aldon Smith – the nearest
– arrived too late to alter the fate of Ryan dearest). The Falcon’s
QB threw deep left towards his WIDE-OPEN tight end Hayden Hurst (who
would easily reach the end zone to quench Atlanta’s scoring thirst).
With no defense through which to slog, Hurst must have felt like Bo
Derek in “10” demonstrating the perfect beachfront jog.-
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- Upon further
review, Jaylon Smith was casually convening with what appeared to be
Atlanta’s ENTIRE offensive line on the left side of the field. He
barely noticed as – right by him so dim – Hurst speedily wheeled.
Cowboys Nation has increasingly seen as true that Jaylon (with rare
and exciting exception) has not a coverage clue. The score as 14-0
Atlanta on two timely Dallas giveaways, but there was plenty of time
for more cringeworthy plays.
Short Shots And Hot Spots – Falling Apart
Following a failed 3rd-and-3 conversion where Atlanta’s defensive
goons forced a backpedaling Prescott to pass too soon, head coach
Mike McCarthy authorized a fake punt, hoping to expose the Falcons
as a collective, unprepared mental runt. Chris Jones had no desire
to go from Puntisher to plain demure, but when his 4th down pass
attempt to fellow special teamer C.J. Goodwin went splat in the left
flat, Cowboys Nation was left screaming “OH [DRAT]!” Was the fake a
dangerous play call? Absolutely and especially considering where the
Falcons received the ball. It is not the call that was wrong but the
low-ball execution (that impressed no one). The Dallas defense
managed to hold Atlanta to a field goal for a 17-0 lead but points
of their own the Cowboys would eventually need.
Prescott - on 1st-and-10 with 4:21 remaining in the first quarter –
looked to finally, mercifully shake up the order. He took the
shotgun snap, faked the handoff to Tony Pollard, and went back to
pass. When Dalton Schultz lost position on his blocking assignment,
he slipped out into the flat for an unexpected passing alignment.
Dak connected with him two yards behind the line of scrimmage, and
Schultz – suddenly nearing first down yardage – needed a lil’
spinach to get past the oncoming defensive roughage. And yet – just
like Dak and Zeke before him – Schultz’s ability to keep the rock
tucked-and-tight was a bad bet. The Cowboys' fourth and FINAL fumble
on the day – at their own 40 – fell the Falcons' way. Good Lordy.
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- The Cowboys’ defense was able to avoid “taking the fifth” thanks to
a timely third down tackle (of a scrambling Matt Ryan) by defensive
end Aldon Smith. After another Falcons field goal made the score was
Atlanta 20 and Dallas nothing, the Cowboys’ offense had to do
“something” to help their defense (which could have eventually been
reduced to no more than huffing and puffing).
The Cowboys (with still, STILL over a minute to go in the first
quarter) began to mix in some Los Angeles Rams-esque pre-snap
action, which continued into the second quarter when a determined
Dallas offensive finally gained some traction. Dak and a
single-minded Zeke (with some sprinkles of Amari Cooper, CeeDee
Lamb, and Blake Bell, what the hell) methodically drove the offense
all the way down for a Zeke ground game score (leaving one
particular Falcon's sternum pretty sore). While 20-7 was a
humble-yet-hopeful start, recovery (by a Cowboys team built to play
with a lead) momentarily remained a mystical art.
The Falcons would come all the way back (including a fourth down
conversion against which the Cowboys could not successfully stack)
to remain on their point-scoring track. Falcons receiver Calvin
Ridley – with 6:03 remaining in the second quarter on 3rd-and-goal
from the Cowboys' three – would shake Dallas cornerback Jourdan
Lewis like a weak leaf from a towering tree. Ridley would dip
inwards then juke out (to the right corner of the end zone for
another touchdown to tout). Atlanta's decision to go for two,
however, did not come through (with Trevon Diggs seemingly and Lewis
narrowly preventing another Ridley reception from coming true).
Those two points would prove to be a – but perhaps not THE –
difference maker later in the game. The score was 26-7 but for
Atlanta (with Dallas still in no position to threaten), it was like
heaven.
Short Shots And Hot Spots – A Spark In The Dark?
A revitalized Cowboys offense would go on another long-distance
drive, seeking another scoring scenario in which they might
immediately thrive. Dak – with 5:35 remaining in the first half on
2nd-and-10 – took the shotgun snap and dumped it over the
short-middle to Zeke (who momentarily turned up field like an oaf
holding yet ANOTHER loaf which nearly caused Cowboys Nation to
freak). Elliott would (thankfully) reposition to avoid further
mental attrition. Dak – at the two-minute warning before the end of
the first half on 3rd-and-19 from the Falcons’ 26 – received the
shotgun snap and (rather than wait for the pocket to potentially get
too close for comfort) took off up the right seam to personally move
the sticks. Prescott and Co. could do no more than reach the Atlanta
15, thus, triggering Greg Zuerlein onto the scene. 26-10 and then,
and THEN, the Cowboys’ offense began discovering their Zen.
The Dallas defense would hold Atlanta to another field goal, and a
quickening pace would slowly begin to take its toll. The Cowboys’
offense would, once again, march from one end of the grid iron to
the other. There was more collaboration between Prescott, Zeke,
Schultz, and a 37-yarder by CeeDee, and the shaky Falcons defense
began to look around for Mother (who could do nothing to slow the
smother). Dak – with 12:27 remaining in the third quarter on
2nd-and-goal from the Falcons' two – faked the inside handoff to
Zeke (on which Atlanta would brutally bite heading to the right) and
ran the touchdown keeper through a gaping hole on the left, tried
and true. 29-17 was suddenly the tally, and a fight was finally
picking up in the alley.
Short Shots And Hot Spots – A Crack In The Enemy’s Attack?
Midway through the third quarter on 3rd-and-2 from the Cowboys’ 41,
the Falcons – on an unexpected wildcat play purposely designed to
stun – narrowly-missed an otherwise-easy touchdown catch.
Receiver-turned-momentary-reliever Russell Gage lofted the ball to
star wide receiver Julio Jones (normally their lead point producer)
who was well-clear of a hustling Travon Diggs (who was giving
desperate chase to their prime-time scooter). The ball hit Jones
right in his normally-reliable hands, but he inexplicably blew the
hatch. Diggs was helpless to stop Jones (who would have given
Atlanta at least a 36-17 lead if not for his sudden
hands-turned-stones).
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- Dak – with 6:30 remaining in the third quarter on 2nd-and-2 from his
own 25 – took the snap from under center, faked the handoff to Zeke,
and slowly rolled right. And – with a defender bearing down on him –
he let a 58-yard strike take flight to a straining Amari Cooper (who
resembled Dez Bryant from a 2016 regular season battle with the
Minnesota Vikings with a catch that was similarly super-duper).
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- Shortly thereafter, Dak would keep-and-sneak his second
made-to-order rushing touchdown of the third quarter. It was surely
made easier by the purposely-distracting, Refrigerator-Perry-esque
presence of nose tackle Antwaun Woods set as the lead blocker for
Zeke (whom the Falcons certainly figured might be toting the goods).
The score was 29-24, and there would soon be plenty more.
Matt Ryan – with 1:41 remaining in the third quarter from the Dallas
43 on 2nd-and-4 – aired it out to Calvin Ridley, but Travon Diggs
quickly made-up ground to catch a touchdown-turned-interception
(which then became a drop for diddley). Still, THAT is why Diggs was
selected. THAT is why expectations for Diggs have been so
promisingly projected. Diggs would also help Jourdan Lewis force a
fourth down (redeeming himself from momentarily-resembling a
butterfingered clown). The Falcons, however, insisted (with
cornerback Chidobe Awuzie unable – on that fourth down – to close
fast enough to “encourage” a struggling Julio Jones to be
ham-fisted). Soon thereafter, a touchdown pass to Gage might have
been enough Cowboys’ momentum to drown. Dallas defenders were tryin’
but it was the fourth scoring pass on the day by Matt Ryan. 36-24
appeared an unwieldy differential, but there was still, STILL more
in store with a nail biter so eventual!
On the Cowboys' next possession, they would suffer a lil'
regression. Dallas had Chris Jones ready to punt (with about 13
minutes remaining in the fourth quarter on 4th-and-5 and operating
from their own 39), they attempted another fourth down stunt.
Reserve safety Darian Thompson took the direct snap and – with
Atlanta unwilling (for the second time on the day) to take a
conveniently-timed nap – the desired conversion would not come
online.
Still, STILL, the Cowboys’ defense was starting to feed off their
awakened offense and – by inconceivably holding the Falcons to yet
another field goal (without selling their collective soul) – they
were getting closer to converting a one-sided blowout into a
competitive battle chock full of suspense!
On one of the most encouraging plays of the game – in demonstrating
his continued evolution - Prescott would take the snap from shotgun
(with 7:27 remaining in the fourth quarter on 3rd-and-4 from his own
31), quickly pump-fake right, and begin to escape the pocket to his
left. Just as he was about to be impeded by a leaping linebacker,
Dak remained a step ahead of his backside attacker and tossed a
timely touch heft to wide-open, reserve tight end Blake Bell to
achieve the desired first down smell. Dak was almost Roethlisberger-esque
in his willingness to see the play to a more productive end (no
matter what was coming around the bend). Dak would add two more key
strikes to CeeDee and momentarily-bulldozing Schultz before capping
his methodical effort to "matriculate the ball down the field" with
a now-desperate scoring yield. He took the shotgun snap at the
Falcons' 10 "and then, And Then" found Dalton Schultz who (after
beating safety coverage) clearly knew what to do on 2nd-and-2.-
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Cowboys were suddenly looking to close the gap on a 39-30 difference
but – on their two-point conversion (involving Dak pitching right to
Zeke ready to fight) – Dallas failed to execute the necessary
run-blocking excellence.
Short Shots And Hot Spots – Cut The Crap, Close The Gap
All three phases of the Dallas Cowboys had under five minutes to
turn up the heat on a Falcons team equally-desperate to (avoid such
a cataclysmic comeback and) not get beat. On the Falcons' next
offensive series (with 4:32 remaining on 2nd-and-13 from their own
32), defensive end Everson Griffen finally broke through for the
Cowboys' first, only, and most important sack of the day. The
Falcons would soon-after have to punt, and another offensive
possession would never again come Atlanta's way.
Dallas (with 2:57 remaining) was gaining by the snap and proving
stubborn towards their 39-30 gap. Dak (with 2:13 to go on
1st-and-10) faked the handoff to Zeke and went back to pass. Upon
calmly scanning the grid iron land, he found a leaping,
left-sideline target in Michael Gallup (by whom carnival catches are
never bland). While his left-foot-and-elbow reception was in danger
of being "officially" treated like an infamous Dez Bryant
rejection), further review resoundingly ruled that Gallup's inbounds
butt helped his catch make the cut.
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- The Cowboys would be credited with yardage down to the Falcons'
four, and they were knocking – no, POUNDING – at the door. Moments
later, Dak would sneak into the end zone from just inside the one
(having his way for a third rushing touchdown on the day), but the
nail-biting was not yet done! There would be no two-point conversion
effort this time, as failure (and allowing themselves only a
game-tying opportunity on a potential final possession) would be an
inconceivably-wasteful crime. 39-37 was the score, and what came
next would shake the Falcons to their collective core!
The Cowboys had a trick up their sleave with a victory they were
determined to thieve. Even the best gadget play does not always go
your way and – with 1:49 remaining in the game - the Cowboys perhaps
expecting to face some serious shame. Greg Zuerlein (curiously
without a tee to pick) produced a "watermelon kick." It innocently,
efficiently twirled towards the Cowboys' sideline like a
kinetically-loaded fidget spinner. The Falcons' "hands team" seemed
possessed by this almost alien attempt from which their
(well-coached?) brains should have been instantly exempt. And yet -
And YET - they seemingly joined the Cowboys' own special teams unit
in watching, Watching, WATCHING until the football finally went 10
feet before deciding "Oh, it must be time to compete." As soon as
that fact became clear, the foggy Falcons had all-but-renounced, and
the incredibly-lucky, proactively-plucky Dallas safety C.J. Goodwin
pounced! Cowboys’ ball! COWBOYS’ BALL! “But, BUT” – even with 1:43
remaining – Dallas could still come up small.
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Dak (operating from his own 46) quickly found a wide open CeeDee
Lamb (who might have had a harder time if falling Falcons' safety
Chris Cooper had been more physically sound or had not been
oh-so-gently nudged to the ground). Lambs’ 24 yards would be more
than enough to allow Greg "Melon Man" Zuerlein to hit a 46-yard
field goal and do game-winning stuff! 40-39, game, set, match for a
Cowboys team that very easily could have remained a first quarter
scratch.
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Short Shots And Hot Spots – Indictment Before Excitement?
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What a comeback! WHAT A COMEBACK! What a great recovery from
flatline to avoiding a near heart-attack! But how long will it take
– and what can Dallas do – to help themselves to more aggressively
remain on the 60-minute track? Those Cowboys fans who are
(understandably) overjoyed with this unexpected result need to back
away from the overreaction cult, as there is some indictment mixed
with all the excitement.
While Dak Prescott went 34-47 for a fantastic 450 yards – with but
ONE sack, ONE fumble, and ZERO interceptions – he also had THREE
short-yardage rushing touchdowns yet ONLY one score from off the
ground (which certainly dampens 2020 expectations or maintains 2019
perceptions).-
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While Ezekiel Elliott had a solid-if-unspectacular performance with
89 yards on 22 carries – with ONE rushing touchdown – if your team
ideally relies on your production to control the clock and TWICE
(with one recovery) you sluggishly drop the rock, your overwhelmed
defense (with unnecessarily-shortened fields) can be made
irreversibly tired with less and less ability to prevent that
precious time from becoming expired.
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Aside from the Cowboys’ obvious defensive struggles (yes, Yes, YES,
with recognition of the plea that DeMarcus "Injuries Are No Excuse"
Lawrence has been playing on a wounded knee), the
painfully-familiar, slow offensive start (by a team not designed to
play from behind) cannot and should not become a continuous art. The
tremendous trick play will rarely be able to consistently and
consecutively save the day. If (as with the previous coaching regime
and regardless of scheme) the Cowboys are not mentally ready for the
situation, then they might as well skip the remaining 14 games and
begin their offseason vacation.
Prescott and Schultz fumbled once each. Elliott fumbled twice. "When
you allow for turnovers, you often lose the game" is what good
coaches historically, universally teach. And to those players who
fail to listen or remember, no one is particularly nice. “It is hard
enough to win in the NFL,” but the challenge becomes that much
harder when one or more KEY players (however momentarily) place
themselves under a self-destructive spell.
An important scene from the 1982 feature film “Star Trek II: The
Wrath Of Khan” demonstrated how eagerly and aggressively Khan (or
the Atlanta Falcons) wanted to overtake his enemy, Captain James T.
Kirk (or the Dallas Cowboys). But after sustaining severe damage to
U.S.S. Starship Enterprise – and with some command code sleight of
hand – the good Captain just barely got over on the galactic jerk.
Lazily viewing Khan and his not-so-merry-crew as part of “one, big,
happy [Federation] family (that would allow us to be so careless
without the desire to embarrass)” created an avoidable surprise.
"Sir, you DID IT!" – Helmsman Sulu.
"I did NOTHING! Simply caught with my britches down. Must be getting
senile." - Captain Kirk.
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Dallas miraculously recovered to BARELY claim victory due to a
variety of (divorced and unforced) errors that helped change their
pathetically-performing trajectory. Fans should allow Dallas
sufficient room to PROVE whether they were simply caught with their
britches down around their ankles . . . or if they are still
suffering from those miserable 2019 cankles.
Good Quote Or Garbage Bloat?
“Overall, we feel like we have the guys on campus that can
ultimately get the job done for us.” – Cowboys Vice President
Stephen Jones during an interview on 105.3 FM The Fan (indicating
that – no matter how loudly “some” members of the secondary cause
Cowboys Nation to cuss – new cornerback tryouts are not currently
part of the plan).
“Oh, you know it. That game we emptied it out, but we have a bullpen
full of them that we can fill it back up with.” – Cowboys special
teams coordinator John Fassel (confirming his bag of remaining
tricks is colossal, rather than coyly taking the fifth).
“I just got to be better, clean it up, make the game clean, and
respect the game. I definitely can be better and grow off it. I
learned in my first two games. I got two flags, so I kinda’ need,
not really tone it down, but play a lot smarter.” – Cowboys
sensational rookie wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (upon learning of his
$14,984 fine for a blindside block fine against the Falcons, which
will be less and less a problem with more and more control over his
game day ardor).-
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Just more proof that long gone are the days of a
Warren Sapp or a Golden Tate delivering an unexpectedly-damaging
t-boned fate.
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Misery Loves Injury
Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie – due to a significant-enough hamstring
boo-boo – will be moved to short-term injured reserve (with hopes
the oft-injured Awuzie will not fall victim to the same Miles Austin
or Sean Lee nagging hamstring voodoo). This loss (however temporary)
is “unhelpful” after seeing cornerback Anthony Brown (the previous
week) go down. The Cowboys’ secondary is no confectionary, but the
less “health power,” the more their performances will potentially
sour.
Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell – the first NFL player who will miss
a game because of COVID-19 – was on the field for over 80 plays
against the Cowboys with no one (else in the know?) in position to
intervene. All personnel have (allegedly but not with verification
so independently) tested negative this week, remaining available for
the Cowboys’ trip to the Great Northwest and their latest battle
with Seattle.
Will They Or Won’t They?
“What a difference a year makes.” When the Dallas Cowboys beat the
Seattle Seahawks in the 2018 wildcard round playoff game, it
appeared America’s Team was finally starting to make their own
(positive) breaks, but 2019 proved the Cowboys were only
inconsistent fakes.
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"Is the enemy of my enemy my friend or my enemy?" Is there something
helpful to be gleamed from Atlanta’s week one showdown with the
Seahawks? Or will the Cowboys also end up outlined in chalk?
Will the Dallas Cowboys be ready for another high-flying contest in
the Great Northwest?
We shall see. We Always do.
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