Blogging The Boys
A week ago, we debated whether or not the season was already lost. Now, it seems hope springs eternal. Winning will do that to you.
Yes, yes, it was just the Raiders. But the Cowboys crushed a team they were supposed to crush, and most importantly, the defense looked darn good doing it. And yet, it was still just the Raiders. Up next is a gauntlet that features the Eagles, Chiefs, Lions, Vikings, and Chargers.
For those keeping track at home, the Cowboys’ odds to make the playoffs went up to 10% with the win, underscoring how bleak the outlook is. They played well against the Raiders, but can they do the same against much better teams? That is the question that our own Tom Ryle and David Howman attempt to answer.
Tom: This may have been just a tease before reality rears its ugly head against the Eagles. But there are certainly some things that hint that the Cowboys may have a decent chance against the division leader.
The obvious one is the immediate positive impact Quinnen Williams had on the defense. Not only did he get 1.5 sacks and five QB hits, he opened things up for the rest of the defensive line. Three of the team’s four sacks came from the interior D line. While Donovan Ezeiruaku didn’t get one of those, he did contribute two tackles for a loss. That increased pressure up front, including a total of 11 QB hits, seemed to directly benefit the secondary as well. The return of Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker had to help, as did the good play of Caelen Carson and Shavon Revel. The linebackers played their part, with Logan Wilson solid and DeMarvion Overshown finally getting back on the field.
Yes, it was the Raiders. But after so many dismal performances by the defense, this has to be encouraging.
David: The defense was exactly what we’ve been waiting to see. Williams opens up a lot of things for others, Wilson was a bright spot, and who realized just how much this defense missed Malik Hooker?
As good as that side looked, though, defense is largely dictated by the quality of offense they’re facing. In that regard, the Eagles will do much better against this unit than the Raiders did, though they should still be able to get some stops here and there.
What I’m more focused on is the offense. Dak Prescott was cooking against the Eagles in the season opener but the offense went quiet in the second half. A lot of that had to do with CeeDee Lamb’s drops, but that wasn’t the only issue. In the end, the Cowboys lost that game because their offense disappeared when they needed it most.
That cannot happen again. The Raiders game was a sort of rediscovery of their offensive identity, and just in time. They’ll need to dominate against the Eagles – at home, mind you – to have a shot at winning. And, by the way,...
