Home/NFL
feature-image

via Imago

feature-image

via Imago

In the chaos of the Sunday night thriller, one moment hit the necessary pause for Dak Prescott. After Russel Wilson had thrown 450 yards and 41 points were scored in the fourth quarter, America’s QB had to ensure he had the last laugh. Tied at 37-37, in a scoreless OT, Prescott made a 14-yard run to place the ball for the final kick. Brandon Aubrey had a job to do. The most important one of the season, if you may. And he saw it down to the Tee.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

0.4 seconds on the clock, the placekicker drilled a 46-yarder to win the game 41-37 for the Cowboys. The next moment, Prescott hit a celebration that was all over social media. The Cowboys couldn’t lose this one. They hadn’t opened a season on a 0-2 record for the past 14 years. Prescott hadn’t lost a game to the Giants since his rookie campaign. Now ask him about the difference between 1–1 and 0–2, and he’ll keep it simple: “S–t, I don’t want to know.” Indeed!

Things could have gone rough in the locker room if Dallas had walked out with a 0-2 rather than a 1-1. The Cowboys were coming after a 24-20 loss to the Eagles. No surprise, the expectations before heading into Week 2 were palpable. But that is not where it ends.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Whether Sunday night’s ended in a win or a loss would define the rest of the season for Jerry Jones’ team. The Giants are touted to be one of the worst teams in the league this season. If you can’t beat them, forget playoff contention. That’s not a look the Cowboys could afford to wear after entering the season with all the big talks.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Fourth-year guard Tyler Smith had insisted that becoming ‘Super Bowl Champions was a realistic goal’ this season. Prescott himself has been bold enough to ask the spectators not to come to Oxnard if they don’t believe the Cowboys can make it to the Super Bowl. They have the means for it to: new leadership in Brian Schottenheimer, defensive cornerstone in DeMarvion Overshown, and Prescott’s Comeback Player of the Year odds at +325.

Tonight’s game was in no way a perfect picture with all the defensive lapses. But the QB notes: “That was complementary football right there to its finest. When they let them score, we came back and responded. When we didn’t score in overtime, they stopped and gave us opportunities.” Prescott is banking on the players’ ‘faith and belief’ in each other, and that reluctance to even imagine an 0-2, is the spirit that ties it all up.

With that being said, Jerry Jones has just made a move after the Cowboys clinched an overtime win.

What’s your perspective on:

Dak's 'I don't want to know'—a sign of confidence or just plain relief after the win?

Have an interesting take?

Is there a Micah Parsons replacement in Dallas?

There’s a clear difference in how the Cowboys’ defense is being talked about before their first win and after it. And it’s not just about what happened on the field—though that plays a part, too. Just a couple of days ago, Dallas brought in veteran pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney for a visit. But he walked out of the facility without a deal. Word around the league was that the Cowboys were interested in signing him, but Clowney wanted to test the market a little longer before making a decision.

Fast forward to now, and Jerry Jones has finally signed the three-time Pro Bowler. The reasoning of the signing is simple: Dallas traded one of the best players on their defense, Micah Parsons, and they now needed a difference maker. Sure, Clowney can’t replace Parsons’ caliber in Dallas, but the former first-rounder has been an explosive player in his NFL career.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

On top of that, looking at a troubling Cowboys’ defense, the decision to sign Clowney just makes sense. Take the Week 2 game, for instance. The box score says the Cowboys won 40-37 in overtime, sure. But there had been defensive wrinkles. The Cowboys allowed 422 yards through the air. Russell Wilson threw for 450 yards and three TDs. Malik Nabers had 167 receiving yards and a couple of scores.

New York averaged 6.6 yards per play on offense vs Dallas, and the reports say the Cowboys’ secondary was “abysmal all game long,” giving up big completions. So, when Jerry Jones finally brought the veteran to defense, it’s safe to say he watched the Cowboys’ defense with binoculars.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dak's 'I don't want to know'—a sign of confidence or just plain relief after the win?

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT