Dallas Cowboys Team Grades: Cowboys Take Control Of NFC East With Overtime Win Over Eagles
The Dallas Cowboys have surpassed everyone's expectations this season. Even if Tony Romo had started the season healthy, no one really expected Dallas to be 6-1 by Week 8 of the 2016 NFL season. With a rookie fourth-round draft pick starting all seven games, it is almost unheard of.
However, Dak Prescott has now led his Cowboys to their sixth straight win and is making his case to remain the starting quarterback even when Romo returns to health. The Cowboys beat their division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, 29-23, in overtime on Sunday Night Football. Here is a look at the Dallas Cowboys team grades for this huge NFC East win.
Offense: A-
Dak Prescott struggled through most of this big NFC East game. He threw his second interception of the season in the first quarter and Dallas had to settle for two field goals and only one touchdown through the first three quarters of play, something very unusual for the fast-starting Cowboys in 2016. However, Prescott redeemed himself at the end. He really heated up in the fourth quarter, where he led the Cowboys on a game-tying, 90-yard drive, throwing a touchdown to Dez Bryant. Prescott then drove down the field in overtime with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Jason Witten touchdown reception.
It was a huge clutch win by a man who will lead the Dallas Cowboys for many years to come. Prescott also added 38 yards rushing and scored on a touchdown on the ground, accounting for all three Cowboys' touchdowns in this game.
As for Dez Bryant, he made his return after missing three games due to an injured knee and caught four passes for 113 yards and a touchdown while Cole Beasley continued to be one of Prescott's favorite targets, with four catches for 53 yards. The NFL's rushing leader Ezekiel Elliott had an off-game, but still ran for 96 yards on 22 carries and picked up some valuable yards on the Cowboys' final two touchdown drives.
Defense: B+
No one expects the Dallas Cowboys defense to do much but coordinator Rod Marinelli has them playing over their heads this season. As usual, the Cowboys rarely got to the quarterback, although they did knock Carson Wentz down six times in the game. However, they really buckled down in the fourth quarter and recorded two sacks after the Cowboys tied the game, one caused by a blitzing Sean Lee and the other by cornerback Orlando Scandrick. Darren Sproles ran for 86 yards and Dallas limited Carson Wentz to just 202 passing yards on 32 completions, a very low 6.3 yard-per-completion.
Special Teams: B+
Dan Bailey is still automatic, hitting all three field goals and both extra points in regulation. His longest came at 49 yards and he is there any time Dallas needs to kick the ball. Chris Jones had to punt the ball five times, which is high for Dallas, and only averaged 44.4 yards per attempt. On returns, Lucky Whitehead handled one kick and two punts for average numbers. However, Dallas did give up a long 53 yard return to Josh Huff although they did stop Darren Sproles from doing anything on punt returns.
Coaching: A
The Dallas Cowboys lost too many games in 2015 because they didn't trust their veteran backup quarterbacks. Something clicked this year though and they have all the faith in the world in rookie Dak Prescott. The coaching staff is letting him throw the ball on medium and long pass plays and they put the game in his hands at the end. The creative play calling helped the Cowboys take complete control of the NFC East with this victory. Add in a defense that is playing good enough to win and this is a Cowboys team that can beat just about anybody.
The overtime win puts the Dallas Cowboys at 6-1 on the season and two full games up in the NFC East with all three of their divisional rivals sitting with only four wins each. Next Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys head to Cleveland to take on the lowly Cleveland Browns, who are 0-8 and have allowed all opposing offenses to score 20 or more points in every game this season.