The Dallas Cowboys played their most complete game of the season, dominating the Los Angeles Rams 44-21 in Week 15. The game unfolded as many expected, a one-sided affair in the battle of good against Evil, only it was the Cowboys doing the butt whipping and running all over and around the Rams.
It was a narrative Cowboys fans have been breathlessly waiting weeks to see as the team executed in all three phases of the game, emerging out of the phone booth they shoved themselves into with super powers on full display. Dallas needed to get back on the winning track after three lackluster weeks sapped almost any belief this team had any ability to be special.
Here are some of the heroes and goats for the Cowboys in an outstanding win.
Heroes
Ezekiel Elliott: Running like a man possessed, Elliott was breaking tackles and exploding through holes for 117 yards and two scores. Those numbers were compiled in basically just three quarters or it could’ve been a monster day for Elliott. Still, he led the team in expected points, a rare feat for a bell-cow back. It feels as though Elliott is getting better and better as the season wears on.
Tony Pollard: The rookie RB had himself a day as well. Pollard played well when he was spelling Elliott in the first half and excelled when he was given the full load from late in the third quarter on. Rushing for a game-high 131 yards, it was Pollard’s second 100-yard game of the season and on his 44-yard touchdown run, the rookie showed great balance and acceleration.
The offensive line: The unit paved the way to a season-high 263 rushing yards and allowed two runners to eclipse 100 yards for the second time this season. They also didn’t allow a sack and kept QB Dak Prescott upright all game long.
The wily veterans: It’s been a popular opinion to bash some of the veterans on the Cowboys, but Jason Witten and Sean Lee both produced with stellar performances. Witten had a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch and caught three more balls for 36 yards. Most of Witten’s damage was done in the first half, before sitting most of the last 30 minutes out with the game in hand.
Lee didn’t practice all week, but his preparation in the film room definitely paid off. The savvy LB had an interception to set-up a touchdown that broke the will of the Rams near the end of the first half. Lee also added a sack, making it the first time in career that he’d had an interception and a sack in the same game. It was a vintage performance from the General.
Kai Forbath: It wasn’t the best start for the new Cowboys kicker, but Forbath did what the team needs, he made the kicks he’s supposed to make to put points on the scoreboard. Forbath made all of his extra points, nailed all three of his field goals, including a 50-yard kick and those pesky 40-something yard kicks that Brett Maher used to miss with regularity.
Goats
DeMarcus Lawrence, Dak Prescott and Walt Anderson: About the only thing that went wrong was the coin toss, which produced mass confusion. Prescott was convinced by Lawrence (who admitted it was his idea after the game) to defer when the Cowboys won the toss. Only Prescott slipped up that preference by saying Dallas wanted to kick, before remembering to say “defer.”
Referee Anderson bungled the whole exchange with Prescott and never acknowledged the Cowboys’ request to defer.
It was a strange beginning to the game and thank goodness the controversy ended when the league stepped in with the proper call. It was the only negative for the Cowboys in a game they embarrassed the Rams.
You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi.
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