While it took over four quarters to score their first touchdown, the Cowboys have two in a single quarter. Still in the lead thanks to linebacker Micah Parsons’ third sack, quarterback Cooper Rush took the offense back out on the field for the second drive of the game and led a second touchdown drive. This time, he didn’t have to work as hard.
Mirroring the fourth-down strike to wide receiver Noah Brown that kept the first drive alive, Rush and Brown connected on a 28-yard gain on 3rd-and-10 to move the chains. Following the big gain, Kellen Moore called a deep shot to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb that was inches from connecting for a touchdown.
On the following play, running back Tony Pollard found a gap and almost outran the entire Bengals defense for a 47-yard gain that was initially ruled a touchdown but he was inches short. Dallas rewarded Pollard on the next play, and he dove through to make it a 14-3 lead in AT&T Stadium.
Tony Pollard. 47 yards!
📺: #CINvsDAL on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/AyfpfGIkql pic.twitter.com/3hgoBHpER7— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022
The lack of preseason snaps may be used as an excuse for the Cowboys offense finding form, but Rush’s early performance against Cincinnati is a calming sight for everyone in the Dallas corner. Pollard’s success adds to what’s been a picture-perfect start to Week 2.