Tag: 2022 Week 10

WATCH: Parsons’ strip sack starts Cowboys’ day in Minnesota

The sophomore phenom broke loose on the first pass-rush down and forced a fumble of Kirk Cousins to take an early lead in Minnesota.

Coming off of a loss in which Micah Parsons saw a large uptake in linebacker snaps, the sophomore star started at defensive end against the 8-1 Vikings. On the third play from scrimmage, Parsons leveled Kirk Cousins from his blindside and forced a fumble for his ninth sack of the year. The run defense has been the recent issue and Dan Quinn’s unit forced an immediate third down which set up Parsons to pin his ears back for the sack.

Thanks to the early takeaway, the Dallas offense was gifted a short field against a hot Vikings team. Coming off of a two-game absence, running back Ezekiel Elliott looked healthy with 18 scrimmage yards before an incompletion on third down intended for tight end Dalton Schultz in the end zone cut the drive short. After kicker Brett Maher’s field goal, the Cowboys take an immediate 3-0 lead but it could’ve been more for Dallas.

What was learned about Cowboys in 31-28 OT loss to Packers

We learned these are the same old Dallas Cowboys after blowing a 14-point lead in their 31-28 overtime loss to the Packers. | From @BenGrimaldi

The Dallas Cowboys were poised to beat the Green Bay Packers and make Mike McCarthy’s return to his former home a triumphant one. Instead the Cowboys chose to go in another direction, blowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead and losing to the Packers, 31-28, in an overtime thriller.

This was a game the Cowboys needed to win. It was against a reeling team who had lost five straight, and Dallas could’ve erased years of struggle playing Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Cowboys had to know how much this game meant to Rodgers and that they would get the best out of the Packers.

If they knew, the Cowboys failed to complete the task. It’s difficult to fathom how the Cowboys lost the game while playing with double-digit lead late with the defense they have, but old habits are hard to break. Dallas proved once again, they aren’t yet good enough to compete for championships.

Here’s what we learned as the Cowboys blew a game to the Packers in Week 10.

Cowboys blow 4th-quarter lead, fall to Packers 31-28 in OT

Same story, different day. The Cowboys found a way to lose to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

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The Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers absolutely have a spell over the Dallas Cowboys. Leading by 14 points entering the fourth quarter, the Cowboys never scored again. That included a drive to start overtime that got into long field goal range. A missed DPI call on Jaire Alexander put the Cowboys in fourth down, but instead of risking giving Rodgers the ball at midfield, Dallas went for it, and failed.

The Packers drove down the field and a Mason Crosby field goal sent Mike McCarthy and his troops back south losers in the head coach’s return to the place he called home. Dallas comes out of their bye week with a defeat, falling to 6-3 on the season after a 31-28 loss.

Quarterback Dak Prescott had to recover after a horrid start, where he and his receivers weren’t on the same page. They did though, and looked to have worked out their issues until the fourth quarter came around. Prescott threw two interceptions but finished with three scores. He was matched by Rodgers, who completed three touchdowns to rookie WR Christian Watson despite the Packers’ running game gashing Dallas’ defense for 207 yards on the ground.

Dallas is now 2.5 games behind the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles, two games behind the 8-1 Minnesota Vikings and a game behind the New York Giants. The hunt for the No. 1 seed is all but over, with eight games remaining on the season. The Cowboys will get a chance to recover, on the road next week against the Vikings who have now won seven games in a row.

Come look at Cowboys Lamb’s shake’em move for 10th catch, 2nd TD

CeeDee Lamb has been at his best after miscues, and that trend has continued in Green Bay with his second touchdown of the night. | From @CDBurnett7

CeeDee Lamb came into 2022 under pressure as the No. 1 wide receiver in Dallas. Dating back to the Giants game in which Lamb had a drop on a certain big gain, he’s responded to those moments like a man possessed.

Against the Packers, Lamb ran a route over the middle without taking the safety into account and left quarterback Dak Prescott out to dry for an interception, then that respone kicked in. Since the mistake, Lamb has torched Green Bay and now he’s added a 35-yard touchdown to that total.

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Lamb eclipsed 100 yards on the day before the long score, which is the first 100-yard performance from a Cowboys receiver this season. If Prescott and Lamb can build off this rhythm, the potentiality another star receiver joining the group is tantalizing for Dallas.

Oh, don’t forget the swag.

[lawrence-newsletter]

WATCH: Special teams takeaway leads to Pollard giving Cowboys lead

The Cowboys special teams unit came through in a big moment, sparking a short field that Dallas took advantage of for the lead. | From @CDBurnett7

The Packers special teams unit has been less than impressive in 2022 and their struggles entered the spotlight in the second half against Dallas. After Green Bay pinned the Cowboys deep and forced a three-and-out, Bryan Anger kicked a booming punt to Amari Rodgers.

Rodgers attempted a return and C.J. Goodwin came flying down for the coverage unit and delivered a strong hit that forced the ball out of Rodgers’ hands. Tight end Sean McKeon was right behind him and dove down on the ball to flip the momentum back in the favor of Dallas.

Following the takeaway, the Cowboys offense set up shop at the Green Bay 45-yard line and got started with a 30-yard pass to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to immediately enter the red zone. Although the run game wasn’t dominant to that point, running back Tony Pollard broke through for a 13-yard score.

Pollard has been consistent and impressive in Ezekiel Elliott’s absence, and another timely touchdown for him gives Dallas a 21-14 lead in Lambeau Field. So far, Pollard has 14 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown against the Packers.

WATCH: Prescott and Schultz tie game with quick TD before half

The Cowboys finally stayed out of their own way to end the half, driving down the field in rapid fashion to tie the game. | From @CDBurnett7

The Cowboys offense beyond the long touchdown drive has been entirely discombobulated. Miscommunication between quarterback Dak Prescott and his receivers led to two interceptions that both resulted in touchdowns for the Packers offense that’s been struggling for over a month.

Down 14-7 with less than two minutes left in the first half, the offense responded with a 66-yard touchdown drive on the shoulders of Prescott. A combination of throws to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to regain confidence and a timely 23-yard gain for wide receiver Michael Gallup set up Dallas at the Green Bay 5-yard line. A play later, Prescott evened the score with a touchdown to tight end Dalton Schultz.

When the Cowboys have stayed out of their own way, they’ve been a formidable opponent for the NFL as a whole but their own mistakes have kept them from controlling the game in Lambeau Field. Nonetheless, the late touchdown is even larger with the Packers set to start the second half with the ball because Dallas elected to receive on the coin toss.

Anthony Brown out for the game with a concussion

With little time left in the first half, Anthony Brown went to the locker room before swiftly being announced as out with a concussion. | From @CDBurnett7

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Halfway through the 2022 season, the Cowboys are already shorthanded at cornerback with Jourdan Lewis out for the year due to a foot injury. Rookie cornerback DaRon Bland jumped into his role and has impressed to keep the defense in one piece.

The group got thinner against the Packers with cornerback Anthony Brown heading to the locker room with time still left in the first half. Shortly after, Brown was announced as out for the rest of the game with a concussion.

In Brown’s absence, Kelvin Joseph will be the outside corner for Dallas across from Trevon Diggs. With Green Bay trying to find offensive rhythm, young players will have to step up for the Cowboys to keep Aaron Rodgers at bay.

Cowboys timely takeaway spoiled by Prescott INT, Packers respond with score

The Cowboys had a lead and a short field, but an untimely turnover and Packers response knotted the score in Lambeau Field. | From @CDBurnett7

After the Cowboys gained the momentum with the first touchdown on the road, the Dallas defense capitalized with another of their timely takeaways. This time, it was defensive end Demarcus Lawrence who made the play.

Aaron Rodgers thought he saw an opening to scramble but Lawrence got off his block and crashed into Rodgers, forcing the ball out for safety Jayron Kearse to dive on deep in Packers territory.

Gifted with a short field, the Dallas offense had just ten yards to pick up for a touchdown. Two plays later, miscommunication on the backend from wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and tight end Dalton Schultz combined with an errant throw from quarterback Dak Prescott for an interception. The untimely turnover turned from bad to worse with Rodgers finding Christian Watson, who broke by cornerback Anthony Brown for a 58-yard touchdown to knot the game at seven.

WATCH: Lamb caps off long Cowboys TD drive to take lead on Packers

After a slow offensive start, Dallas delivered a methodical drive that chewed clock and started off the scoring in Lambeau Field. | From @CDBurnett7

Taking on the Packers defense and the freezing nature of Lambeau field, the Cowboys offense got off to a cold start coming off of the bye week with two short drives. The third possession looked similar until quarterback Dak Prescott barreled through defenders for a third-down conversion at the Dallas 39-yard line.

Coming off the momentum, the Cowboys churned for a long drive that totaled 17 plays and 83 yards, chewing off 8:21 of game time. Kellen Moore dialed up some nifty calls to shake up the Green Bay defense and did just that by putting wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in the backfield. The change caught the Packers off guard, and Prescott found Lamb for the first touchdown of the game.

Lamb’s score is his fourth of the season and the return of Prescott has favored his success as Dallas takes a 7-0 lead on the road.

Cowboys WR Gallup leaves game after non-contact injury

During the second quarter in Green Bay, Michael Gallup went down with a right leg injury and was taken to the medical tent for evaluation. | From @CDBurnett7

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Update: After missing the first play of the next series, Gallup returned to the field.

The Cowboys awaited the return of wide receiver Michael Gallup after his 2021 was cut short by a torn ACL. Dallas expressed their belief in Gallup with a five-year contract during the offseason. The fifth-year receiver returned with a touchdown against Washington but hasn’t found form in 2022.

During the second quarter in Green Bay, Gallup ran a simple route in the red zone and started limping at the end of the play before going to the ground. He spent a short time on the ground before being taken immediately to the medical tent.

Gallup was seen favoring his right leg, opposite of the ACL tear he suffered on his left leg in January. His return status against the Packers is unknown and Noah Brown will be tasked with the No. 2 wide receiver role in his absence.