The impact of the rust was obvious, as was the impact of the rest. After five weeks on the sideline, quarterback Dak Prescott returned to the field to lead the Dallas Cowboys. Their opponent, the 1-4 Detroit Lions were coming off a bye week. Detroit sported the league’s worst defense, but with the week off and with the help of a disjointed passing game, were able to keep the Cowboys’ attack one dimensional.
Fortunately for Dallas, that one dimension was good enough when it had to be and the defense was stout once again. The week off didn’t help Detroit find their own offensive mojo, missing in Week 5. Dallas turned the Lions over four times, including on 1st and goal, and kept the No. 3 scoring offense out of the end zone. Including a dominant first drive of the second half, the offense did just enough to earn their fifth win of the season to the tune of 23-6.
Once again, the Dallas defense was the star of the contest, holding their sixth opponent in seven games to under 20 points. It’s the third time they’ve kept the scoring to 10 points or less.
Prescott was a little off in his return sailing a couple of passes and trying a couple throws that could have been turnovers. He also wasn’t helped by two early drops by his receivers. Still, Cowboys fans should be breathing a sigh of relief to have him back under center. Albeit against a much easier opponent, things looked to be in much better rhythm than they did against Philadelphia in Week 6.
The seventh-year quarterback finished the contest passing 19 for 25 for 207 yards and a 113.2 passer rating. A late touchdown to UDFA rookie tight end Peyton Hendershot got him his first touchdown pass since the 2021 season.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott, who suffered a knee injury right before halftime, scored two touchdowns while Tony Pollard had 89 yards on a 6.9 average as the run game once again shined.
On defense, rookie Sam Williams played his best game of his young career, notching two sacks, two tackles for loss including a game-sealing strip sack of Jared Goff. Micah Parsons put the exclamation mark on the game with a strip sack on the next drive to lead to the victory formation.
Dallas improved to 5-2 on the season, with a home date against the struggling Chicago Bears in Week 8.
- Prescott performed much better than he’s being given credit for in Cowboys return
- Good, Bad & Ugly from Cowboys’ 24-6 victory over Lions
- Here’s what Jourdan Lewis’ injury could mean for Cowboys secondary moving forward
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