EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — sporting his headset on the sideline, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott lifted the speaker and howled a “Let’s go!” that was so loud that ESPN’s broadcast microphones picked it up.
Backup Cooper Rush, making his second start rather than the injured Prescott, had simply lofted a fantastically-positioned throw to receiver CeeDee Lamb for a one-yard touchdown that will put the NFC East-rival the new york Giants away, 23-sixteen.
The victory allowed the Cowboys (2-1) to protect on the heels of the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles, who’ve gave the impression to be the class of the division by means of the early going of the season. The efficiency, however, was not with out its vital faults.
listed right here are the takeaways from Dallas’ victory Monday night.
reliable Cooper Rush
Rush — as quickly as as quickly as extra — performed reliably and proved as quickly as extra that he is a reliable backup on this Dallas system. He accomplished the sport 21-of-31 passing for 215 yards with one touchdown.
He launched the ball quickly, throwing passes in a imply of two.fifty 4 seconds, and prevented errors. He distributed the ball to Dallas’ playmakers, regardless of going by means of a fragile dose of blitzes (forty eight.4%). particularly, Rush found gaps inside the second diploma of the large protection. In passes that traveled between 10 and 20 yards, Rush accomplished 5-of-6 throws for 108 yards.
So, although Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones’ suggestions about there being a doable quarterback controversy are nothing better than an try to drum up safety for a staff that likes to be inside the headlines, Rush gives one factor method extra priceless than manufactured intrigue: he is reliable. and that is all of the Cowboys want from him.
Jekyll and Hyde inside the pink zone
The Cowboys entered Monday night as a consequence of the NFL’s prime outfit in pink zone conversion cost, although that bought here with a vital caveat: Dallas had crossed the 20 simply twice inside the 2022 season. nonetheless, Dallas scored touchdowns in every of these journeys, each of which bought here in every week 2 victory over the Bengals.
By halftime Monday night, however, Dallas’ cost of conversion had been halved.
The Cowboys settled twice for non everlasting discipline goals inside the most important two quarters regardless of marching the ball contained in the Giants’ 10-yard line each occasions. the most important journey fell aside as a outcomes of communication factors on the highway of scrimmage and offensive penalties that pushed Dallas again. The second time, officers missed a clear defensive cross interference on receiver Noah Brown, however, regardless, Dallas’ factors Monday night remained: it did not full drives.
In an indication maybe that Dallas might even be larger equipped this season, it corrected course and recognized as performs extra aggressively contained in the pink space. And, extra importantly, gamers executed with precision. The Cowboys transformed each of their pink zone journeys inside the second half, permitting them to assemble a lead the Giants might not overcome.
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Unforced errors and penalty factors persist
In what’s quickly altering proper into a trademark of Mike McCarthy’s Cowboy squads, lapses of focus and unforced errors usually mar the staff’s momentum at inopportune moments. On Monday night these factors have been manifested in drops and penalties.
Third-yr wideout CeeDee Lamb, who has underwhelmed so far this season, had two early drops inside the sport, collectively with one all by means of which he was extensive open, streaking down the left sideline for a doable touchdown. Like Dallas’ course correction with its first half pink zone woes, Lamb shined after intermission and made one in every of many catches of the season when he hauled in a one-handed seize inside the nook of the tip zone.
He accomplished with eight catches for 87 yards with the rating.
The Cowboys have been primarily the most penalized staff final season with 141 infractions enforced in direction of them. by means of three weeks this season, Dallas is in the similar spot. Dallas is tied for thirtieth inside the NFL in penalties enforced after it was recognized as for eight extra extra in direction of the Giants for 70 yards. however it certainly wasn’t solely a question of quantity; the Cowboys confirmed a scarcity of situational consciousness, granting the Giants 4 first downs through penalties.
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