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I stubbed my toe on Monday morning. You know what that’s like… it’s the smallest of pains, but it looms so large. It’s both annoying and agonizing. After I shrieked I audibly said, “Oh well. 8-1!”.
8-1. It’s so beautiful.
The Dallas Cowboys have the best record in the NFL, and they achieved it by ripping victory out of the jaws of one of their oldest rivals – the Pittsburgh Steelers. I witnessed the game in person and have some thoughts, here are my 10 Takeaways From The Cowboys Thrilling Win In Pittsburgh.
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There Is Nobody On Earth Like Dez Bryant
The devotion, discipline, and overall character of Dez Bryant has been questioned time and time again over the past six and a half seasons (can you believe it’s already been that long?). That needs to end now. Forever.
Dez Bryant suited up and played for the Cowboys on Sunday in Pittsburgh just 24 hours after learning that his father had passed away. The impact of this on someone is not measurable, and Dez Bryant is no exception to that. He managed to play through this, and did so heroically.
Dak Prescott looked Bryant’s way more than any other Cowboy (9 total times) and connected with him six times for a whopping 116 yards, not to mention a 50-yard touchdown. Dak also told Dez that his father had “the best seat in the house” for the game, and what a house it was Sunday evening.
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Leon McFadden Deserves A Lot Of Credit
Had the Pittsburgh Steelers won this contest – they didn’t, suckers – the play of the game would have undoubtedly been the fake spike that Ben Roethlisberger turned into an Antonio Brown touchdown.
Jason Garrett said in his Monday Press Conference that Leon McFadden, unlike his teammates, was not caught off guard by that play… and the film backs that up.
While every other Cowboy was repeating their post-Cleveland mannequin challenge, Leon McFadden was playing football. He ran step for step with Antonio Brown, he just got beat. It happens. That’s the best wide receiver in the NFL, but Leon McFadden was prepared for him. Kudos.
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Terrance Williams Is Very Valuable To This Team
In the days of the offseason, the cries for Brice Butler to replace Terrance Williams as this team’s number two wide receiver were very loud. When Terrance had a mental lapse in Week 1 (the Cowboys only loss) those reached uncontrollable levels.
Terrance Williams has been huge for this team, in many different ways. Near the end of the first quarter Dak Prescott found Ezekiel Elliott on a screen pass that went 83 yards to the house, but that doesn’t happen without Terrance.
Williams threw a block at the Pittsburgh 45-yard line that gave Zeke the final level of freedom to score on the play. Simply put, the touchdown does not happen without Terrance Williams. Give the man some love.
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DeMarcus Lawrence Is Beginning To Dominate
The Cowboys are masters of duct tape when it comes to the pass rush. You know how to run? Cool, Rod Marinelli will make it work. It certainly felt like this was the strategy through the first four games of the season when DeMarcus Lawrence was absent due to suspension.
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DeMarcus was all over the Steelers throughout the contest. His stat line only credits him with four tackles, but it was because of DLaw and his consistent pressure that the Cowboys were able to keep the Steelers at bay.
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Dak Prescott Can Definitely Do Things Tony Romo Can’t
The quarterback discussion – controversy is such a tired word – in Dallas still has life in it in my opinion (check back here at Inside The Star later in the week), but there is truth to the claim that Dak Prescott can do things Tony Romo seemingly can’t anymore.
Take a look at the Dez Bryant touchdown from Sunday. Seconds after this I said to my Dad in the stands, “We haven’t seen Tony Romo move in the pocket like that in quite some time.”
Ryan Shazier breaks through Lance Dunbar and Jason Witten to generate some serious pressure on Prescott. Dak plants his right foot and explodes to his left, evading Shazier, and immediately plants his feet before delivering a ball that travels about 50 yards. As Tony Romo apparently mouthed on the broadcast moments later, it was a dime.
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The Cowboys Could Go The Whole Season Without Allowing A 100-Yard Rusher
Rod Marinelli’s defense is through nine games and they have yet to let an opposing running back hit triple digits when it comes to yardage. Stand up and applaud them, please.
Le’Veon Bell – one of the best backs in the game – could only muster 57 yards on the ground against this crew. He is arguably the most talented running back that the Cowboys will face through the end of the regular season, and they protected their streak against him. Double digits are awesome!
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Only Good Things Come From The Lucky Whitehead Jet Sweep
Lucky Whitehead picked up 26 yards on a jet sweep near the end of the first half in Green Bay that allowed the Cowboys to keep their drive alive and score a touchdown. I fully believe the jet sweep was the catalyst that changed the game at Lambeau Field.
On the Dak-to-Zeke 83-yard screen play touchdown, the Cowboys ran a fake jet sweep to Lucky. Look how many Steelers are concerned with Lucky, this allowed Zeke to sneak out to the opposite side of the field. This play is magic. Run it 500 times a game, please.
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Going For Two Has A Price
Since the NFL moved the extra points back, Mike Tomlin has notoriously gone for two more than any other Head Coach in the NFL. Obviously there are pros and cons to this methodology, but there’s no denying that the Steelers inability to convert any of them plagued them late.
Jason Garrett said on Monday that the Cowboys devoted a bit more time in preparation for this last week, and it obviously paid off. Coach Garrett preaches a “day by day” and “play by play” mentality, and the fact that the Cowboys were able to respond and hold Pittsburgh to no successful conversions one play after giving up a touchdown each time is highly impressive.
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Ezekiel Elliott Has Surpassed The Ridiculously High Hype
209 yards of total offense. 3 touchdowns, including the game-winner. Ezekiel Elliott is a yardage-eating monster that the NFL has been fearful of since the moment Roger Goodell read his name aloud as the 4th Overall Pick.
Take a moment to think back on this hype. This is Ezekiel Elliott, from The Ohio State University, playing for the Dallas Cowboys, he has the best offensive line in the game, he wears crop tops, he gets analysts suspended… this 21-year old has obliterated it all.
Ezekiel Elliott is the NFL MVP. There is no debate.
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The Cowboys Took The Steelers Best Shot, And They Came Out With The Win
I highly encourage you to read what Bob Labriola wrote at Steelers.com regarding this game, this is obviously Pittsburgh’s official team site so it’s written from their perspective and out of total objectivity. It’s phenomenal.
The Steelers played very well. Ben Roethlisberger topped 400 yards. They connected on a fake spike of all things late in the fourth quarter to take the lead… they did everything right. The Cowboys just did more, because they’re an elite football team. There is no more hype, there is no hyperbole… this is the best team in the National Football League.
What were your takeaways from the Cowboys thrilling win in Pittsburgh? Let us know! Comment below, Email me at RJ.Ochoa@SlantSports.com, or Tweet to me at @RJOchoa!
