The Dallas Cowboys look dominant on opening day

It wasn’t absolutely perfect, but the Dallas Cowboys exceeded all expectations in drubbing the overwhelmed New York Giants.

If there’s anything to nitpick about the Dallas Cowboys’ resounding 35-17 win over the New York Giants, it had to be on the defensive side of the ball. This was especially apparent in the first quarter when the Giants rolled through the Dallas defense en route to a 7-0 lead. Further, as the game wore on, there were several plays where New York was able to gain large chunks of yardage.

However, it never really mattered once the Cowboys’ offense found their stride. In fact, it’s difficult to recall an instance in which Dak Prescott and company looked so crisp right out of the gate. Credit to new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore for devising an aggressive game plan. But more credit probably goes to Prescott for executing that plan with such ruthless precision.

Ladies and gentlemen, we witnessed a master class in offensive football yesterday. It was as impressive as it was surprising. After ceding the early lead, the Cowboys reeled off five consecutive touchdown drives that spanned from late in the first quarter to well into the second half. The 0-7 hole became a 35-10 lead.

But it wasn’t just the ferocity of the comeback. It was the way the Cowboys went about their business. There was an aggressiveness to their plan. There was a frenetic-yet-controlled pace to their attack. Dak Prescott looked exquisitely comfortable as he distributed passes to seven different receivers. He ended the day with 405 yards and four touchdowns. He also posted a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3, which was only the second time a Cowboys’ quarterback achieved that feat.

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To that end, what difference does a new offensive coordinator make? With Kellen Moore calling the shots, the offense went with a pass-heavy game plan that might have caught the Giants off guard. In any event, Cowboy fans saw something they weren’t used to seeing: downfield throws. To be sure, as Prescott settled down and stepped into his realm, he delivered several perfect touch passes to the likes of Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper. There was also a passel of bullet throws in traffic that might make a lot of folks reconsider whether or not he’s worth the contract extension. Make no mistake, we saw a quarterback playing yesterday with the benefit of the uncluttered mind.

Of course, one game does not a season make. While the Giants have some nice pieces in place, they’re probably not going to be very good this year. It’s super easy to get excited about drubbing a divisional opponent on opening day, but better teams await down the line. Plus, the game film will present plenty of coachable moments on the defensive side of the ball. The Cowboys appear almost as good as advertised, but there’s still work to do, and that’s a good thing.

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So enjoy this for a day or so. For all of yesterday’s good vibes, the NFL is a week-to-week proposition. One game’s success doesn’t necessarily extend to the next. Plus, Washington blew a sizable lead yesterday, so it’s safe to assume they’ll be ready to rain all over the parade next Sunday. It’ll be up to the Dallas Cowboys to match the intensity and keep their roll going.

Published on 09/09/2019 at 11:30 AM
Last updated at 09/09/2019 at 11:30 AM

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