Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams become the newest sufferer of the stifling Dallas Cowboys protection.
The Rams watched as Cowboys rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey endured his very best season, tying the NFL record for many made box targets with no omit as he advanced to 18-of-18.
But the Cowboys additionally unlocked every other size in their recreation that they hadn’t proven this season, a size that may ratchet up their risk stage if they may be able to proceed to seek out it.
Dallas’ offense used to be explosive. It used to be environment friendly. And fairly than simply following the protection’s lead as in earlier-season wins, the Cowboys’ offense guided the 43-20 blowout. The Cowboys posted a season-best 387 offensive yards in a competition that may have been extra lopsided if Dallas didn’t pull starters with about 12 mins to play.
The Cowboys, now getting ready for an necessary contest vs. the Philadelphia Eagles subsequent week, advanced to 5-2. The Rams fell to 3-5, additionally shedding beginning quarterback Matthew Stafford partway via the 1/3 quarter because of a thumb damage.
Credit the connection between Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb with the dominant day. Prescott finished 80.6% of passes (22-of-31) for 304 yards, 4 touchdowns and an interception. Even with the red-zone interception, which used to be tipped via tight finish Sean McKeon earlier than Rams protection Jordan Fuller nabbed it, Prescott posted his preferrred passer score in additional than 11 months at 133.7.
CeeDee Lamb stuck 12 passes for 158 yards, each occupation highs in his 56-game résumé, together with a couple of touchdowns.
“We wanted to make sure to continue to build. I think we did that today,” Prescott mentioned. “We wanted to take a step in the passing game. I know that was a point for Mike [McCarthy] to get some more attempts out there, and the guys did a great job protecting and getting.
“In all three phases … guys were ready to go.”
Cowboys piled an early lead they by no means misplaced
The first few performs of the recreation appeared to spell a some distance messier day for the Cowboys’ offense than would spread.
Capitalizing on the Cowboys fielding a backup left take on, Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht sacked Prescott from in the back of on the first play of the recreation. Two performs later, as the Cowboys confronted third-and-11, Prescott used to be downed once more — this time courtesy Byron Young coming from Prescott’s proper. A Rams penalty talented Dallas a primary down. All-Pro defensive take on Aaron Donald wrapped that present with his personal sack.
Four performs. Three sacks. Eight web yards misplaced.
The Rams have been trying out McCarthy’s pass-heavy recreation plan. But Cowboys proper guard Zack Martin advised teammates, in keeping with middle Tyler Biadasz: “Keep pounding, boys. Keep pounding.”
Prescott discovered Lamb in the slot, positioning the receiver to tack on 11 yards after the catch for 17 overall and a primary down. Prescott discovered receivers Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks for a couple of double good points, earlier than threading an 18-yard landing go between Rams defenders and into the outstretched fingers of tight finish Jake Ferguson.
The remodeled power — from 3 sacks to ten performs, 75 yards and a landing — as a substitute set the tone for the remainder of the day.
“That’s an example of just playing one play at a time,” Prescott mentioned. “Just take it one play at a time and get in the momentum. Don’t think about the last, as sh**** as it was or could have been. Just move forward.
“We could have easily put our heads down and started pouting or griping or got down on ourselves after the first couple of plays. [But] we responded.”
The rout started as the first quarter elapsed, Stafford concentrated on receiver Cooper Kupp with a cross-body throw. But the duo miscommunicated on the direction idea, Rams head trainer Sean McVay showed after the recreation. Kupp wasn’t taking a look again, a lot much less in place, to catch the go that Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland as a substitute reeled in and returned 30 yards for his 1/3 pick out 6 of the season, one clear of tying the NFL document.
The Cowboys’ protection then compelled the Rams right into a three-and-out when Micah Parsons swam previous Rams middle Coleman Shelton … which used to be the least punishing of 3 directly performs for the Rams. Because as they tried to punt, Cowboys defenders broke via for a blocked punt credited to defensive finish Sam Williams and tallied as a security.
The kickoff take a look at in a while? Cowboys receiver Ka’Vontae Turpin raced it again 63 yards. Two snaps later, Prescott fired every other laser via the heart of the finish zone to Lamb, who shook off cornerback Derion Kendrick alongside his direction.
“I got started early and it kind of opened up the offense for us, giving us the ability to call any plays with no restrictions,” Lamb mentioned. “I feel like that’s when we’re at our best: When we’re playing fast and making plays.”
The lead used to be relaxed sufficient to resist a red-zone interception off a go Prescott threw into visitors that tipped rookie tight finish Luke Schoonmaker’s fingers however landed as a substitute with the Rams’ Fuller. It used to be relaxed sufficient even to resist Rams touchdowns going into and popping out of the part.
Still, after Stafford discovered Ben Skowronek for the tight finish’s first occupation receiving landing, the Rams trailed via 18 issues. So McVay, training his first recreation since turning into a father, dialed up two-point conversion shenanigans that featured receiver Tutu Atwell passing to Stafford.
The play labored, in the micro sense: Stafford dove for the just-short go and secured the conversion. The Rams were given two issues. But they misplaced Stafford, who hit on the flooring the thumb he’d already banged in opposition to a helmet in the recreation. Backup quarterback Brett Rypien performed the ultimate 26 mins. Rypien finished 5 of 10 passes for 42 yards.
Before exiting, Stafford had finished 13 of twenty-two makes an attempt for 162 yards, a landing and an interception along with catching a 9-yard go for the 2-point conversion.
“It’s definitely very tough,” Fuller mentioned of shedding Stafford. “In my opinion he has Hall of Fame talent, so losing a player like that is hard. It’s a next-man-up mentality …
“His value is still really, really important to this team.”
Can Cowboys offense repeat explosiveness vs. Eagles?
The Cowboys emerged buoyant from the win, their eleventh directly house victory tying a franchise document. Parsons credited the offense for beginning speedy — “Dak helped us create opportunities on defense,” he mentioned — whilst Lamb famous Prescott did greater than make performs.
“Everybody’s got a reason, but we need a why,” Lamb mentioned. “And Dak is our why.”
The eighth-year Cowboys quarterback performed his maximum whole recreation of the season, even with the interception. He threw 4 landing passes for the 8th time in his occupation and used his legs to select up first downs in an component of assault the Cowboys hope to proceed the usage of to stay defenses fair.
And but, Prescott didn’t have a good time when advised that Cowboys crew proprietor Jerry Jones had deemed the efficiency his preferrred recreation for a 2d directly contest.
“Let’s make it three next week,” Prescott mentioned, earlier than agreeing: “Yeah, I’m in a rhythm.”
The Cowboys know they want to raise that rhythm to Philadelphia subsequent week to construct towards the place they need to move.
The Eagles advanced to 7-1 with a 38-31 win at the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The Cowboys can’t catch them subsequent weekend, however a win would chop the hole to part a recreation. The groups haven’t confronted off with every in their beginning quarterbacks on the box since September 2021.
Cowboys protection Jayron Kearse mentioned he, Parsons and defensive finish DeMarcus Lawrence advised one every other earlier than kicking off in opposition to the Rams: “Let’s get this game over quick because we know what we got ahead of us next week.”
And Prescott, when advised Jones didn’t need to “poke the bear” giving the Eagles bulletin board, veered in the wrong way.
“If you see me and a bear fight, pour honey on me,” Prescott mentioned. “We can poke it. It’s part of the National Football League. Whether we talk or not, we know what’s ahead of us.
“Big, big, big rival. Division game. … It’s a matchup we’re looking forward to.”
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