Dallas Cowboys Make Clutch Plays Late, Top Washington

The maligned Dallas Cowboys’ defense was a sieve for most of the afternoon. But a key late takeaway sparked a rally that ultimately produced a win.

In this “golden” age of NFL parity, there is very little margin for error during a given game. A questionable decision here or a boneheaded turnover there can spell doom. Both scenarios were in play for the Cowboys in the later stages of yesterday’s game against the Redskins.

Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott had just given his team a 20-17 lead with a savvy six-yard touchdown run through the heart of the Washington defense. Head coach Jason Garrett then decided to catch the Redskins off guard and try an onside kick. Kicker Dan Bailey whiffed on the attempt. The ball never went went the requisite ten yards. The Cowboys’ defense was saddled with a short field to defend.

While the decision to attempt the onside kick wasn’t necessarily a bad one, the lack of execution made it one of those classic armchair hater debates. If it had worked, it would have been a brilliant move that kept the defense off the field. It did not work, however, and that would have blown up local sections of the internet and sports radio had the final result not worked out in favor of the home team. For now, Garrett’s call should get overshadowed by the win.

The next bad omen occurred with 1:39 left in the third quarter. The Cowboys’ defense had just stepped up and allowed only a field goal after the botched onside kick. But with the score deadlocked at 20-20, rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott fumbled at the Cowboy forty. The beleaguered defense was left with a short field. Again, they would allow only a field goal.

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It should definitely be noted that giving up only six points during that sequence was huge. For a defense that was out of sorts most of the day, they must be given credit for tightening up when it mattered.

A Redskins’ touchdown during any point in that stretch would have almost certainly sent the Cowboys to an 0-2 record.

They gave up several big plays, but the bend-don’t-break philosophy came into stark clarity in the fourth quarter.

This bunch showed some true mettle in the clutch, and that is an encouraging sign for a fan base grasping for positives.

The crucial turning point occurred with 10:35 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Redskins were threatening to put the game away when quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a bad interception to Cowboys’ safety Barry Church in the end zone. It was the lifeline the Cowboys needed.

The Cowboy offense took the cue and proceeded to drive down the field and score. The drive was punctuated by running back Alfred Morris scoring against his former team to provide the final margin of victory.

Next: Dallas Cowboys Top the Washington Redskins 27-23: Postgame Quick Takes

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Here’s the thing. As bad as the defense has looked, the Dallas Cowboys have given up 20 and 23 points in consecutive weeks. They’ve put themselves in position to win both games. The rookie quarterback plays beyond his paper, and rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott looks first round worthy. Nothing is given with this bunch, but there is a formula for victory that wasn’t there last year.

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