Cowboys’ Randy Gregory returns in fine fashion, Week 14 player of game

The Dallas Cowboys got a big bolt from a returning star, as Randy Gregory reconvenes his personal victory tour after four weeks away. | From @TimLettiero

It became clear early on in Sunday’s game, this unit led by defensive coordinator Dan Quinn came fired up and ready to play. The Dallas Cowboys were getting the returns of defensive tackle Neville Gallimore and defensive end Randy Gregory, following last week’s return of DeMarcus Lawrence, and as a result the front seven saw big gains in their productivity. As a unit, they allowed only two scores, both in the second half, while adding a score of their own on a fumble recovery.

Gregory’s impact was felt the most and felt early. His stat line might not have a lot of crooked numbers, but his impact certainly put the Washington Football Team’s offense in a pretzel. Gregory had a sack, a forced fumble, a pass deflection, and an interception and the timing of those impact plays made things all the more incredible.

Washington’s second drive of the game, began in great field position, after Dallas QB Dak Prescott sailed a pass intended for CeeDee Lamb that was intercepted by safety Landon Collins. Washington started on Dallas’ 37, trailing 3-0 and in position to even the score or take the early lead. On 3rd-and-10, quarterback Taylor Heinicke looked to pass left for a screen but Gregory saw it coming.

He leaped up, tipped the pass into the air and then intercepted the ball, gaining 12 yards on the return.

His great start would not stop though. Throughout the remainder of the game he’d rack up five quarterback pressures but its his one tackle that stemmed the tide.

Dallas had seen their 24-0 halftime lead evaporate thanks to a Prescott Pick-6 that shrunk the score to 27-20 with just over four minutes remaining. To make matters worse, the Cowboys went three-and-out on their next possession, leaving Washington an opportunity to tie the game, or worse go for two points and take the lead.

Gregory was not having any of it.

On 3rd-and-3, Gregory turned in this insanely clutch strip-sack fumble of backup QB Kyle Allen, which was recovered by Cowboy safety Jayron Kearse, sealing the win.

Gregory’s presence was missed the past few weeks. It was clear Quinn having all his pieces back makes this defense a scary unit to come up against, as it freed rookie Micah Parsons who had an incredible game himself with two sacks and a forced fumble. Having Lawrence, Gregory and Parsons together is something Dallas fans have been waiting for and it paid real dividends in their first outing together since Week 1.

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