10 Takeaways From The Cowboys Statement Win In Green Bay

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In 2014 the Cowboys had a road game in the house of an NFC contender the week after moving to 4-1 on the season with a home win against an AFC team. That road game was in Seattle, and it was FOX’s America’s Game Of The Week that featured Thom Brennaman filling in for Joe Buck (who was out doing baseball).

On Sunday the Cowboys had a road game in the house of an NFC contender the week after moving to 4-1 on the season with a home win against an AFC team. That road game was in Green Bay, and it was FOX’s America’s Game Of The Week and featured Thom Brennaman in for Joe Buck once again.

https://twitter.com/rjochoa/status/787751129442492416

Just like they did two years ago in Seattle, the Cowboys took care of business at Lambeau Field and sent a message to the NFL — this team is for real.

Today is most importantly #VictoryPoloMonday, but since it is the day after a Cowboys game it also means it’s time for my 10 Takeaways. Shall we? Here are my 10 Takeaways From The Cowboys Statement Win In Green Bay.

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The 2016 Dallas Cowboys Are For Real

Ready for some truth? The Dallas Cowboys are the second-best team in the NFC, the third-best team in the NFL, and they’re only going to get better.

If we’re being objective then I’d still take the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots over this team, but that’s it. They’ve won in the division, against the opposite conference, and most recently against one of the NFL’s darlings.

The Cowboys haven’t just beaten the top teams they’ve faced (Cincinnati and Green Bay). They’ve obliterated them. This squad means business and they let the world know that on Sunday. Not to mention reinforcements are on the way at various positions!

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Jason Garrett Is One Of The NFL’s Best Coaches

These are all players that Jason Garrett has lost at some point this season: Tony Romo, Kellen Moore, Dez Bryant, Tyron Smith, La’el Collins, Orlando Scandrick, Morris Claiborne, Randy Gregory, Rolando McClain, and Dan Bailey (ish).

He’s 5-1. FIVE AND ONE. To have that record, while enduring all of those obstacles, this season is completely unfathomable.

I mentioned the 2014 Seattle game up top. After that victory the Cowboys were 5-1 on the season, just like they are now. It’s a stupid level of impossible when you consider that two years later Jason Garrett’s squad is in the exact same position with a different QB, less Dez, and a different running back in Ezekiel Elliott (who is leading the NFL in rushing just like DeMarco Murray was then). Think about that!

Think about how, technically, Dak Prescott is this team’s third quarterback. When the Cowboys landed in Oxnard, CA during the summer Dak Prescott was by definition this team’s third-string quarterback (at best considering he was competing with Jameill Showers).

The NFL world lost its collective mind (rightfully so) when Patriots Coach Bill Belichick beat the Houston Texans with his third-string rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett. That game was used as a case for Belichick’s greatness.

Jason Garrett isn’t Bill Belichick, but he is 5-1 with his third-string rookie quarterback (who was drafted after Brissett!). Give the man his due.

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 The Cowboys Defense Can Bend But Not Break

“Bend but don’t break.” It’s a simple message, and one that we tweet every week in regards to the 2016 Dallas Cowboys Defense.

Rod Marinelli’s unit completely terrorized Packers QB Aaron Rodgers throughout this contest. They caused four fumbles and Barry Church even hauled in an interception! This side of the ball has generated a turnover in all but one game this season (Bengals).

Is this team’s offense and their ability to control the clock helping the defense? Yes. Of course. Duh. That doesn’t take away from the outstanding effort that these guys are giving when it’s their time to shine.

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Dak Prescott Is Better Than Tom Brady

First I compare Jason Garrett to Bill Belichick and now this. Today is spicy!

History has been made. Congrats @Dak! #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/wvfsNDWmZI

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 16, 2016

Dak Prescott is, from a statistical standpoint, on track to be better than Tom Brady. How freaking cool is that?! Obviously there’s some joking going on here, but it really is impressive/encouraging that Dak is following in/surpassing the footsteps of perhaps the finest quarterback to ever play this game.

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Ezekiel Elliott Eats Everything, Including Cheese

He may not have found the endzone, but Ezekiel Elliott carried the ball 28 times to the tune of 157 yards. Why is this particularly epic?

Zeke became the first rookie in NFL History to cross 130 yards in four straight games. Doing something no one else has ever done is a cool thing, right? Well that wasn’t the only first for Zeke in this game.

The Green Bay Packers hadn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher all season long. Whoops. Such a shame that Zeke had to go and ruin the fun for the Cheeseheads. Oh well!

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Sean Lee Is Forgotten But Still Dominating

Thanks to the emergence of the Cowboys rookies and infatuation with other new players, guys like Sean Lee have almost been forgotten by Cowboys Nation.

The General was en such fuego during this game that he actually knocked out his own teammate, Morris Claiborne! He settled down though and was all over the field, and almost picked off Aaron Rodgers before bobbling it away.

Dallas had high levels of success in 2014, and while that might feel like a long time ago to some… it’s something Sean won’t forget. He missed that entire year and all the fun that came with it. This is the first time in his Cowboy Career that he’s experienced being 5-1. Good for him.

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The David Irving Hype Is Justified

In 2015 Cowboys fans saw this no-name guy who went by David Irving step up and surprise us at times. It was intriguing, but would it translate over to 2016?

The Irving hoopla had almost become an afterthought, and then bam! He exploded in Green Bay! Whoa!

Irving had a big sack and was all over the field defensively. Rod Marinelli has a knack for making guys like Irving pay off at some point, and it seems that time has arrived. Sometimes things are just too good.

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Eddie Lacy No Longer Owns The Dallas Cowboys

I preached caution regarding Eddie Lacy in the week leading up to this game. Why? Historically Eddie Lacy has completely owned the Dallas Cowboys.

In three career games Lacy averaged 5.72 yards per carry and 122 yards per game against America’s Team. On Sunday? Lacy only managed to average 3.8 yards per carry as he drearily put together a 65-yard performance. Womp womp.

The Cowboys finally figured out how to contain Eddie Lacy, and that’s a beautiful thing.

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Lucky Whitehead Won This Game

Near the end of the first half the Cowboys were backed up near their own goal line, and it seemed like they were content to try and get a first down so they could clock it and get to halftime.

Cowboys ran on first and second down, both of which were followed by Packers timeouts. On third down the Cowboys ran the famous Lucky Whitehead Jet Sweep play that appears once a game, and Lucky picked up 26 yards!

This completely changed the disposition of the drive for the Cowboys. They got more aggressive and aired the ball out. Terrance Williams made a big catch, actually stepped out of bounds, and then Dak Prescott found Brice Butler for a touchdown. This allowed the Cowboys to go into the locker room up 17-6 as opposed to 10-6, which completely changed the complexity of the game. That is 100% attributable to Lucky Whitehead and his 26-yard pickup.

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The Bye Could Not Have Come At A More Perfect Time

The Cowboys are 5-1, but they’re banged up.

Players like Tyron Smith, Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Orlando Scandrick, Barry Church, and Morris Claiborne just to name a few are in drastic need of some extra time off to properly heal up.

Dallas will need to be at full-strength once things get started up again on October 30th and they welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to town. The next target date for the Cowboys as far as this marathon is concerned is Friday, December 2nd.

The Cowboys play the Vikings on Thursday, December 1st so that extra amount of time after that game will prove vital as they prepare for the stretch run of the season. This bye is perfectly timed as it spreads out their rest time pretty evenly across the season.

What were your takeaways from the Cowboys statement win in Green Bay? Let us know! Comment below, Email me at RJ@RJOchoaShow.com, or Tweet to me at @RJOchoa!