Dallas Cowboys Team Grades: Cowboys Win With Strong Run Game
By Shawn Lealos
The Dallas Cowboys struggled in their opening week loss to the San Francisco 49ers, but changed their offensive theory in their week two game against the Tennessee Titans. Along the way, the Cowboys looked like a completely different team, one that might actually be able to compete in the second week of the 2014 NFL season. Here is a look at the team grades for the Dallas Cowboys vs. Tennessee Titans week two contest.
Quarterback
In the opening week loss to the San Francisco 49ers, it was the same old Dallas Cowboys look, with quarterback Tony Romo trying to carry the entire team on his shoulders. While Romo remains one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL, he is coming off his second back surgery and really should be more of a team player. In the first week, Romo threw three interceptions and actually checked off on one of the worst audible calls in recent memory. This week, Romo just played the role of a complimentary quarterback. He finished with a stat line of 19-for-29 for 176 yards and one touchdown. Romo didn't turn the ball over once in the game and controlled the offense perfectly.
Grade: B+
Offense
While the Dallas Cowboys have always been a high percentage passing team, they played one of their most balanced games of the last two seasons this week. Dallas threw the ball 29 times and ran it 43 times, a very unusual look for the current Cowboys squad. However, as Troy Aikman said while working as commentator, it was more like the Cowboys when he played for them.
Dallas took an early lead and then used the running game to control the clock and keep their defense off the field. DeMarco Murray carried the ball 29 times for 167 yards and a touchdown. Lance Dunbar also ran 10 times for 27 yards while Joseph Randle carried the ball three times for 26 yards. This was how Dallas was able to accomplish what they could not do in 2013 – control the clock and hold on to their big lead.
Dez Bryant looked to hurt his shoulder early in the game, but returned and finished with 10 receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown. However, outside of Jason Witten's four receptions, the other Cowboys receivers were not needed. This was a game where the Cowboys and Romo relied on the run, and they controlled this game from start to finish behind what might be one of the NFL's most impressive young offensive lines.
Grade: A
Defense
It is hard to believe that this defense was called a candidate for the worst in NFL history before the season started. After the first week, Dallas ranked as the 10th best defense in the NFL and they improved this week. The Cowboys intercepted Jake Locker twice in the game, one a brilliant pick by Rolando McClain, which should have resulted in a touchdown if not for a bad official's call. McClain also led the defense for the second week in a row with tackles with seven, five solo, and recorded his first sack of the season.
Barry Church had the second interception in the game while Kyle Wilber and Henry Melton shared a sack. Dallas also hit Jake Locker five times and defensed nine passes. In the stat that really counts, Dallas held Tennessee to 234 passing yards and only 82 rushing yards, while only giving up one long touchdown pass and a field goal. This defense is a lot better than anyone imagined.
Grade: A
Special Teams
The return team was almost non-existent this week. Dwayne Harris returned one of the four Tennessee punts for 15 yards and never returned a kick. However, Dan Bailey was perfect on the day, hitting all four field goal attempts. The field goals were all from long distance as well, with the shortest coming from 44 yards out and the longest a 51-yard attempt. Chris Jones did his part as well, averaging 55 yards on four punts.
Grade: A-
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Shawn S. Lealos is a freelance writer who graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2000 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He writes for a variety of national publications and has over 15 years of sports journalism experience. Follow Shawn on Twitter @sslealos. Examiner.com.
