The tryptophan low from the Thanksgiving wine and turkey has long worn off, but many Dallas Cowboys fans were still walking in a fugue state yesterday, stunned by a run of ragged football that made them wonder what was reality, the sparkling 6-1 opening or the stumbling November run?
Thursday night’s 27-17 victory over the Saints may jolt some back into reality. Many injured Cowboys returned, and so did many of the qualities that propelled the Cowboys atop their division.
The receiver trio of Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup worked together for the first time since opening day. Cooper shuffled in and out of the lineup, showing a lack of 60-minute stamina. He was present for an opening scoring drive where all three passed the big-play baton among themselves.
Their presence coincided with improved accuracy from Dak Prescott, who logically showed more confidence in his primaries, and was bolder with his throws into traffic. One, a fourth-quarter laser to Lamb, whizzed past an unsuspecting Bradley Roby’s earhole into a window that wasn’t, until Prescott’s throw made it.
On defense Demarcus Lawrence reminded anyone who may have forgotten that he’s as big a pass-rush playmaker as Micah Parsons. Lawrence was a menace from his preferred left end spot, living in Saints quarterback Taysom Hill’s face. His reps, like Cooper’s, were limited, but his productivity augurs well for the future.
Lawrence and Parsons led a rush that forced four Saints interceptions, which chilled late Saints drives and ended a game that hung in question for too long.