The Dallas Cowboys Week 10 Grades: Domination

The Dallas Cowboys bounced back in impressive fashion today. They dismantled a very good Vikings in their own house. I don’t know what was more impressive: scoring 40 points or holding the Vikings to just three points?

This was a statement win as any I have seen from the Dallas Cowboys in recent memory. They didn’t linger on last week’s loss. They showed real football character and resolve.

Let’s hand out grades:

Dallas Cowboys Run Offense

Terence Steele and Tyler Smith were fantastic in controlling Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith. Neither was a factor today. The whole offensive line unit deserve praise. They manhandled the Vikings in the trenches.

Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are as lethal as any running back duo in the entire league. Their strengths and weaknesses complement each other. They combine for 122 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

This was a statement win as any I have seen from the Dallas Cowboys in recent memory. They didn’t linger on last week’s loss.

Tony Pollard’s ability to go from zero to one hundred is the Infinity Gauntlet to this team’s offense. Every time he touches the ball he can take to the house.

Their rushing attack made things for Dak Prescott and the offense.

Side not: the Dallas Cowboys were 12 for 17 on third downs. This is how you sustain drives and score 40 points on the road.

Grade: A

Dallas Cowboys Pass Offense

Dak Prescott was fantastic today. He was 22 for 25 for 276 passing yards, two touchdowns, no INTs. 11 yards per pass completion. It all started with the protection upfront. The offensive line kept him clean, resulting in no sacks.

Dak was in full command and spreading the wealth to six different players for catches. This is the stabilizing presence you want to see from your franchise quarterback. This version of Dak Prescott could lead Dallas to places that have not been in 20-plus years.

Tony Pollard adds a other world dimension to the offensive game plan.

He had 189 yards from scrimmage, catching  two TD passes, of 30 and 68 yards, without being touched by a single Vikings defender after either completion.

Grade: A

Dallas Cowboys Pass Defense

Micah Parsons set the tone early and often. The young lion with a strip sack blunted the very first drive by Minnesota. It resulted in a Cowboys field goal. The pass rush was hunting today with seven sacks. The back end did their jobs as Justin Jefferson was MIA with 33 yards receiving. Trevon Diggs took the challenge of covering the best WR in the NFL.

Grade: A

Dallas Cowboys Run Defense

It is far fixed but much better effort and gap detail. Devin Cook was having a good game with 11 carries for 72 yards, but the Vikings fell behind. Once that happened, the running game became a moot point after the 2nd quarter. The Cowboys defensive ends need to be better at setting the edge because the only edge who can play the run is Lawrence.

Grade: C

Dallas Cowboys Special Teams

Every time Brett Maher attempts a kick, I keep hearing the voice of Trent Walker. Maher has been an excellent off season signing. He drilled kicks of 27, 53, 60 (twice) and 50 yards. His second 60-yard kick with a second left was the last dagger driven into the heart of the Vikings before halftime.

Ka’Vontae Turpin continues setting up the Cowboys in excellent field position. He is very close to busting one.

GRADE: A

Dallas Cowboys Coaching

Mike McCarthy and his staff had the Cowboys locked in. They punched the Vikings in the mouth and they never recovered. Excellent game preparation in all three phases.

GRADE: A

Overall, The Dallas Cowboys response to the Green Bay loss was outstanding. They circled the wagons and came out playing fast and physical. They out last Sunday behind them and dominated an excellent football team. Their schedule is about to get easier and the Cowboys can really separate themselves from the NFC pack.

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Up next the New York Giants.