After more analysis, the Cowboys defeated the Lions by stopping big runs and maintaining Dak Prescott’s rhythm.
The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Detroit Lions 20-19 on Saturday after a thrilling contest. On both sides of the conflict, there were moments to celebrate, but there were also moments when we wished for a little bit more. We should all be happy because Dallas ultimately prevailed and is now in control of their destiny to win the NFC East. After rewatching the game film, let’s have a clearer understanding of our feelings.
DAK IN RHYM
When his receivers are where they should be, Dak Prescott is very good, whether it’s Amari Cooper running routes or CeeDee Lamb cutting on the Hellas Matrix turf of AT&T Stadium. Playing on a smooth surface or a disgruntled receiving group are the only things that can slow him down.
Still, having enough time to toss the ball is another issue that troubles him. This season, the Cowboys’ offensive line has struggled, and Prescott’s internal clock is loudly ticking away. When he feels pressure, he quickly backs off, which is regrettably more frequent than we’d like. On 35% of his dropbacks on Saturday, Prescott was either moved or fired. That is not ideal.
Don’t get us wrong, Prescott had some impressive pass-play completions, such as the scramble that set up Lamb’s 92-yard touchdown, but when given enough time, he performs exceptionally well. Look at all the plays that Prescott has given Lamb, and notice how at ease and precise he is when he is in rhythm.
There were even a few nearly finished needle-threaded throws and a few obvious drops, but Prescott is a very accurate thrower when he can operate after his drop.
Not just Lamb gains from this, either. Jake Ferguson’s short over-the-middle routes are extremely profitable, and Brandin Cooks’ corner routes are increasingly turning into works of art. The bond between Dak and Cooks keeps getting stronger.
THE HARMFUL IMPACT OF RUSHING ATTACK
We weren’t expecting the Cowboys to solve their ground game problems in this game because the Lions have one of the best run defenses in the league, but wow was it good. Regardless of who was receiving the ball, there wasn’t much room for error; Tony Pollard will undoubtedly bear the brunt of the criticism.
Dallas’ problem stemmed from their inability to carry out their block assignments. Throughout this game, defenses frequently entered the zone unblocked or with inadequate blocking. Linebackers had unrestricted access to the running backs all day, and the Lions received pushback in the trenches that blocked their running lanes.
One might ask, what was with so many first-down runs, especially since the Lions were salivating at the mouth waiting to attack? That’s a fair question. The Cowboys wanted to show the ability to run the ball or else the Lions’ defense could just pin their ears back and come after Dak. Poor run blocking was not part of their plan. If you look at the times there was an inkling of room to run, Pollard ran hard and gained some yards (although one of those runs was called back from a phantom tripping penalty), but you can count those moments on one hand. For the most part, the Cowboys running attack went backward.
RUN DEFENSE BOUNCE BACK
The Cowboys’ offense wasn’t the only one getting tackled for losses in the backfield. Surprisingly, the Lions’ offense had some problems as well. On the surface, one might expect it to be a nightmare stopping David Montgomery and Jamyr Gibbs, and sure, both of them did have some nice runs. But there were also many instances where the Cowboys defense made huge run-stopping plays.
DeMarcus Lawrence embodied pure beastly strength. He was so fast off the snap that it appeared as though the Lions had decided to block him for no reason at all. Tank raced through the openings and devoured. Micah Parsons maneuvered around potential obstacles with ease and strength.
Although the Lions are usually a strong run-blocking team, they were unprepared for the Cowboys’ agility on this particular day. At certain moments during the game, the Cowboys’ run defense appeared unstoppable due to their poor timing and slight misdirection.
