Tag: 2021 Week 15

What We Learned: Cowboys conserving offensive energy, Tankathon were on display vs Giants

We learned from Cowboys at Giants is that Demarcus Lawrence is still that guy on defense, and the conservative offense could be the plan, not the result. | From @CDPiglet

The Dallas Cowboys have learned to win games ugly. They are a Pick-6 off the arm of quarterback Dak Prescott against the Washington Football Team from winning three straight weeks by double digits while on the road. It isn’t easy to win three straight travel games in and of itself as this is the first time it’s happened for Dallas since 1969.

Not every win is going to be beautiful.  The Cowboys have done a good job of scoring early and getting up on their opponent and then allowing the defense to win the game while the offense tries to not give it away.

Dallas has plenty of stars on their offensive ledger. That makes the fans worry about the lack of consistency from them lately. Really good defenses like the Cowboys have faced the last three weeks can take away parts of the team though. Whether it’s Dak, Zeke, any or all of the trio of receivers, some games the top guys aren’t gonna be able to produce to their standards. If that happens the role players have to be able to make enough plays.

Tony Pollard led the team in rush yards and averaged 6.2 yards a carry. Dalton Schultz led the team in receptions, yards, and caught the teams only touchdown pass. When the defense is playing at a top five level, and the offensive role players are stepping up, the Cowboys can win ugly games, and they count the same in the win column as a blowout. Here are some things that were learned from a third straight ugly road win.

 

3 Stars: Cowboys’ defense dominates in Week 15 win vs Giants

The Dallas Cowboys forced four turnovers and allowed just six points against the New York Giants to capture their 10th win of the season. | From @StarConscience

The Dallas Cowboys continued their undefeated December against the New York Giants with a convincing 21-6 victory. Much like it’s been all month, the Cowboys’ defense stood at the forefront by producing four turnovers (tied for the league lead with 31) for the third consecutive game and allowing just six points, their second-lowest total of the season.

The win improved the club’s record to 10-4 on the season, and combined with other Week 15 results, moved Dallas into second place in the NFC playoff seedings despite not yet securing their ticket to the dance with three games remaining.

While the offense looked better than it had in recent weeks, there are still things remaining to be sorted out. Meanhile, their defense had a plethora of defenders who made contributions to the shutdown of the Giants offense. However, these three players in particular spearheaded one of the Cowboys’ best defensive efforts of the season.

Cowboys ‘Tank’ Lawrence shows full arsenal in win over Giants, earns Week 15 player of game

For years the Cowboys defensive leader, Lawrence showed his range of abilities against the New York Giants on Sunday. | From @TimLettiero

In what felt like a repeat of last week’s game where the defense dominates and the offense keeps the opposition in the game, Dallas emerged victorious on Sunday against the New York Giants. The defense started off strong and finished even stronger only allowing six points on two field goals in the Week 15 divisional bout. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s unit impressed again and once again defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence played a starring role in the performance.

Lawrence played 40 snaps on Sunday and registered five tackles (four solo) and three quarterback pressures including two QB hits and a forced fumble, having a direct impact on 20% of his opportunities. All five of his tackles were considered stops (keeping the offense from what would classify as a successful play). He was making big plays from the outset of the game.

On the Giants’ first offensive play, they’d run Saquon Barkley to the right and Lawrence would put a stop to that immediately at the line of scrimmage.

This monstrous performance would not stop there, however. Five plays later Lawrence would break through a double team and hit quarterback Mike Glennon as he releases the ball, setting up the easy tip drill interception for corner back Jourdan Lewis.

A few more stops in run defense followed, like this one.

Lawrence would do what he does best and force a calculated fumble on Barkley with as great technique as one could ask for. It’s the first time Barkley has lost a fumble in his entire career.

Lawrence’s return from a season-long foot injury suffered in Week 1 has added a missing element to the Cowboys’ defense. He is continuously leading the club in pressure plays and has never wavered from being the unit’s leader even when he wasn’t able to be on the field.

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The one stat that defines how outrageously good the Cowboys defense has become

Every trailing team needs a glimmer of hope to turn the tide, regain momentum. Take a look at how the Cowboys’ defense has refused to allow it. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Momentum is real, even if it’s difficult or impossible to quantify. It doesn’t carry from one game to the next, when a team’s on a winning streak or losing streak, because each game is it’s own encapsulated product. Teams can certainly feel more or less confident as a streak grows, but a week of preparation has a tangible impact. Within games though, momentum is real and swings generally happen thanks to turnovers where a team is close to scoring but suddenly loses possession or is backed up on their side of the field and the opposition is immediately in scoring range.

That’s what makes this the one stat above all others that defines just what Dan Quinn’s defense with the 2021 Dallas Cowboys have accomplished. They have been able to quash momentum, consistently.

The Cowboys lead the league in interceptions now with 23 on the season, and are tied for the league lead in forced turnovers at 31, sharing the distinction with Matt Eberflus’ Indianapolis Colts. They are the first team since the 2007 San Diego Chargers (now L.A.) with a player who has 10 or more sacks (Shawne Merriman – Micah Parsons) and a player with 10 or more interceptions (Antonio Cromartie – Trevon Diggs).

For the first time since 1994, yes during one of the NFL’s best title runs, they’ve forced four or more turnovers in three straight contests. After winning a road game for the third-straight week for the first time since 1969, they are now 6-2 on the season and have allowed 20 points or less in six of those road games.

None of those amazing accomplishments exemplifies the impact the defense has had like this next one.

On the last four occasions the Dallas offense has coughed up the football, turning it over to the opposition, the defense has immediately stood tall and declared “not today.” Dallas’ defense has turned around and taken the ball right back on four straight opportunities, matching giveaways with takeaways and refusing to allow momentum to be stripped.

Jaylon Smith participates in Cowboys’ Landry Shift celebration while losing on Giants

Smith might no longer be on the Dallas Cowboys, but that doesn’t mean the Dallas Cowboys are no longer in him. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Jaylon Smith’s time in Dallas with the Cowboys became maligned over the last few years. His lack of movement led to him being moved back on the depth chart to eventually off the roster. His over-the-top celebrations, often times when the team was losing or they weren’t actually plays worth celebrating, moved many a fan from his corner to his opposition, but this one may take the cake. Apparently Smith is still a Cowboy at heart.

After a short stop in Green Bay, Smith found himself out of football until the Giants came calling this week amid injuries and COVID outbreaks. Smith was signed to the New York practice squad and was elevated ahead of the game to get his first game action since Week 7. He was on the field for a handful of plays getting in on four tackles. He also got in on the end-of-game celebration ritual, the famed Landry Shift the Cowboys employ when they have the ball to run out the clock.

Only, again, Smith is on the Giants.

Smith clearly emulates the up-and-down reset done by the offensive line as a nod to legendary Cowboys coach Tom Landry and then celebrates with a fist pump.

Smith played 68 career games across six seasons with the Cowboys. During multiple dust ups between the Giants defense and Cowboys offense, Smith was seeing exchanging cordials with members of Dallas and following the game posed with several former teammates for pictures. The love is still obviously there, but joining in on the victory celebration is an interesting move.

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WATCH: CB Trevon Diggs makes his 10th interception of 2021

Trevon Diggs has entered historic company with his 10th interception of the season, putting himself just one behind the franchise record. | From @CDBurnett7

Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs has joined historic company. After a turnover from the Dallas offense, Mike Glennon made the same mistake he did in the earlier contest between Dallas and the Giants by targeting Diggs downfield and the second-year cornerback came down with the jump ball in the endzone.

The interception was initially ruled incomplete but Mike McCarthy threw the challenge flag to get Diggs No. 10 on the year which ties him with Hall of Famer Mel Renfro for second in franchise history. Diggs now sits just one interception behind another Hall of Famer, Everson Walls’ franchise record of 11 interceptions.

The Cowboys take over on offense again after the fourth takeaway from the defense and it’s the 23rd interception of the season for the team.

Dominant Cowboys defense forces 4 turnovers again, maul Giants 21-6

The Cowboys defense has picked up where the offense left off, dominating opponents into submission. This time, the lackluster Giants fall. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys have a juggernaut defense in 2021. Who would’ve believed that statement at the beginning of the year?

For the third game in a row, all on the road, the Cowboys forced four turnovers to completely stymie their opponents. After taking down the New Orleans Saints and Washington Football Team, the New York Giants served as the defense’s targets this weekend as they forced backup quarterback Mike Glennon into three interceptions while forcing Saquon Barkley’s first lost fumble of his career. The result? A 21-6 victory that improved Dallas’ record on the season to 10-4.

Dallas, by virtue of the Arizona Cardinals’ loss to the Detroit Lions, moved into the No. 3 seed in the NFC by virtue of conference record, where Dallas improved to an NFL best 8-1 on the season.

The Cowboys’ offense was efficient on third downs, going 8-for-14, but still has not resembled the well-oiled machine of the early season. Dallas went 2-for-5 in the red zone, settling for three Greg Zuerlein field goals which didn’t offset his two missed extra points as he continues to lead the league in those.

Quarterback Dak Prescott kept things conservative for the most part this game, staying away from deep attempts thanks to both the Giants deep zones and the heavy wind on the day. He was not helped out by a series of drops by wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Prescott was in tune with tight end Dalton Schultz who caught all eight of his targets for 67 yards and a touchdown reception in the back of the end zone.

The Cowboys’ rushing game played well with the return of Tony Pollard from a foot injury. He and Ezekiel Elliott combined for 126 yards for a 4.5 yard-per-carry average with Pollard having 74 yards on 12 carries and Elliott scoring on a 13-yard run in the first quarter.

But Dan Quinn’s defense was once again the story of the game for Dallas as defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence created two turnovers on his own. In the fist quarter, a batted pass was easily intercepted by CB Jourdan Lewis, his third of the year. Later Lawrence stripped Barkley to create another offensive opportunity. Safety Malik Hooker caught an errant pass for his first pick of the season while cornerback Trevon Diggs picked off a pass in the end zone for his league-leading 10th interception of 2021.

Diggs pick was the club’s 23rd interception of the season. Dallas had just 17 interception in 2019 and 2020 combined.

The Cowboys have forced four turnovers in three straight contests for the first time since 1994 during their run as one of the best teams in NFL history.

Dallas will turn things right back around to face Washington for the second time in three weeks on Sunday Night Football where they return to AT&T Stadium for the first time since their Thanksgiving loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

It’s conceivable the club could have the NFC East locked up by that kickoff, with the rest of the Week 15 results and the early Week 16 results coming into play.

WATCH: S Malik Hooker makes INT for Cowboys 3rd takeaway of the game

The Cowboys defense has been the star of the show again in Week 15 and Malik Hooker has the third takeaway of the game with an interception. | From @CDBurnett7

The Cowboys’ offense game New York a sliver of hope by struggling in the red zone. After the fourth-down blunder from the Giants late in the third quarter, the Dallas touchdown stretched the lead to 15 and forced New York to come out firing on offense.

Giants quarterback Mike Glennon tried to spark the offense with a deep ball intended for Sterling Shepard. The throw was off-target and safety Malik Hooker, who has seen a big increase in snaps, came down with the interception for the Cowboys.

Hooker’s interception is the third takeaway for the Dallas defense who also forced a turnover on downs to make it four for all intents and purposes. The Cowboys defense is the star of the show again and offenses haven’t had an answer in a while.

WATCH: Dak Prescott finds TE Schultz for TD on short field

The Cowboys offense has been spotty against the Giants but another short field courtesy of the defense led to a Dalton Schultz TD catch. | From @CDBurnett7

The Cowboys scored their first touchdown of the game thanks to a takeaway from the defense deep in Giants territory. Early in the second half, Joe Judge elected to go for it on a short fourth down on their own 29. Defensive linemen Neville Gallimore and Demarcus Lawrence blew up the play and stopped Mike Glennon short on the sneak attempt.

Quarterback Dak Prescott started the drive with a quick pass to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who made up for his drops with a 17-yard catch-and-run to set up Dallas in the red zone. After being 1-for-4 from the red zone so far, the Cowboys broke the curse with a touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Schultz.

Schultz’ six-yard score is his fifth of the season and the risky decision from the Giants to go for it on fourth down might end up being the nail in the coffin. New York has just 179 yards of offense and it doesn’t look like Glennon has figured out Dan Quinn’s defense at all.

WATCH: Cowboys’ Lawrence forces fumble, sets up Dallas FG

The Cowboys got another game-breaking play out of Demarcus Lawrence, forcing a fumble and giving Dallas a quick field goal to end the half. | From @CDBurnett7

The Giants scored their only points of the game thanks to an impressive rushing drive from Saquon Barkley and Devontae Booker, combining for 59 yards on their second drive of the game.

Late in the first half, defensive end Demarcus Lawrence responded to the rushing attack by forcing another turnover by punching the ball straight out of Barkley’s hands and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins recovered the loose ball.

Since returning two weeks ago, Lawrence has been the game-wrecker the Cowboys expected him to be and he’s dominating in the run game while continuing to be an impressive pass rusher.

With limited time on the clock, the Dallas offense marched into short field goal range and kicker Greg Zuerlein nailed the 27-yard kick to give the Cowboys a 15-3 lead going into the half.