Tag: 2022 Week 2

Twitter reacts to Cowboys 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals entered as a heavy betting favorite to beat Dallas but Cooper Rush, Micah Parsons and Twitter had something to say about that. | From @ProfessorO_NFL

Following a Week 1performance that saw the Cowboys lose several key starters and score just three points, the team headed into Week 2 with a new starting quarterback, strong safety and left guard against a Cincinnati Bengals team that made a Super Bowl run in 2021. Both clubs entered the game looking to avoid an 0-2 start.  The Cowboys’ offense had it’s share of big performances from Cooper Rush, Tony Pollard, CeeDee Lamb and Noah Brown while the defense carried the load, sacking Bengals QB Joe Burrow six times and holding Cincinnati to just 17 points in a gutsy performance.

The Bengals entered the game as a heavy betting favorite but several key performers had something to say about that. The effort resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable game, and the reactions on Twitter matched the vibes. Here’s a look at this week’s best reactions.

3 stars from Cowboys’ upset Week 2 victory over Bengals

A dominant defensive performance was augmented by two players who have risen together from the bottom of the depth chart. @CDPiglet takes a look at the top players from Sunday night.

The Dallas Cowboys came in to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a record of 0-1 after an abysmal performance last week. The loss was compounded by injury to quarterback Dak Prescott. In order to defeat the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2, they were going to need a much better all-around performance. They got it.

The offense did more than just not lose the game, they literally went out and won it with a last-minute drive. The defense kept the game close as they held a high-powered offense to only 17 points, and made Bengals QB Joe Burrow uncomfortable all night. The special teams unit was special as well with two field goals of 50-plus yards, including the game winner as time expired. When a team plays a complete and competitive game like Dallas did Sunday night, it makes it difficult to narrow down the three best stars of it.

Cowboys LB Micah Parsons appeared unstoppable vs Bengals

After a second-straight dominant performance, Parsons looks to be locking in and locking up offensive lines. | From @TimLettiero

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Week 2 in the NFL saw the Dallas Cowboys take on the AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals this week. Although the Bengals were coming off a heartbreaking loss in their season opener, their offense is still known as one of the most explosive in the league. In order to come out victorious, the Dallas defense had to keep the offense in the game as they dealt with some growing pains. Dan Quinn’s unit did just that.

Leading the way, once again, was star LB Micah Parsons. In what ended as a dominant defensive performance, from top to bottom the defense completely shut down the Bengals high-powered offense. For 55 minutes, this unit allowed only nine points on three field goals while forcing five punts. Parsons and company got to QB Joe Burrow on six occasions but forced over a dozen pressures, seven of which came from Parsons alone.

As usual, Parsons blitzed from a multitude of positions, however the defensive left side was his main spot in the first half. This, of course, had him matched up against former Cowboy RT La’el Collins. It’s fair to say Parsons got the best of his former teammate.

The second half started off with more of the same as just two minutes in Parsons would come off the opposite side and take down Burrow for his second of the day.

Micah Parsons has now proved twice his rookie of the year campaign was not a fluke. In fact, Parsons is on historic pace for his age.

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100+ of the best pics from Cowboys thrilling 20-17 win over Bengals

Get those right-click save-as fingers ready as there’s ton of great captures from the exciting home win led by the defense and backup QB Cooper Rush. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys were on the precipice of a lost season. Already sitting at 0-1 and staring the dreaded 0-2 start in the face, they had to bear down and try to win a game without their franchise quarterback. For the second time in two seasons, backup Cooper Rush came in to start the game and left it victorious, once again in the final minute.

The Cowboys 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals was mostly on the strength of their defense, as Micah Parsons once again led the way. The second-year LB had two sacks, as did DE Dorance Armstrong, among six takedowns of Joe Burrow. The corners kept the WRs contained, the line kept Joe Mixon contained and set the stage for the offense and special teams to win the game. Thanks to the wonderful photographers from the Associated Press, USA Today Images and Getty Images, enjoy over 100 great snaps from the contest.

TE Schultz missed end of Cowboys’ game-winning drive, knee to be evaluated

The Cowboys lead tight end tried to return following a knee injury, but will need further evaluation. | From @CDBurnett7

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The Cowboys were in the midst of a nail-biter, after a complacent second-half performance erased their 17-3 lead. Quarterback Cooper Rush and the offense took the field in a deadlock at 17 and after moving near midfield quickly, Rush targeted tight end Dalton Schultz. A Cincinnati defender jumped at Schultz and the Dallas tight end wasn’t able to make the catch and then went down with a knee injury.

After reaching the sideline, Schultz kept his helmet on for the third-down effort before going to trainers with the Cowboys offense off the field.

Schultz tried to return to the field, but lasted just two plays before limping off. It appears that he didn’t suffer an ACL injury, but there will be some follow up on Monday to see if he has to miss any time.

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WATCH: Brett Maher buries Bengals with final-play FG

With just a few seconds remaining, Cowboys kicker Brett Maher walked it off from 50 yards, completing an upset win over the Bengals. | From @CDBurnett7

Coming into Week 2 after an injury to quarterback Dak Prescott, the morale was low around the Cowboys with the Bengals coming to town off a Week 1 loss. Backup quarterback Cooper Rush came out blazing, leading the team to two touchdown drives to start the game and earned a 17-3 lead heading into halftime.

As expected, Cincinnati stormed back with the Dallas offense slowing down in the second half. Joe Burrow led a touchdown drive to tie the game at 17 and both teams had a chance with the ball with the game deadlocked but the Cowboys got the final chance. Rush led a 33-yard drive with 57 seconds left, including a tipped pass that dropped into the hands of wide receiver Noah Brown. After chewing the clock to four seconds, kicker Brett Maher took the field for a 50-yard attempt.

Maher delivered, and Dallas moves to 1-1. A key victory to keep the team’s hopes alive as they hold down the fort until Prescott’s return.

What a Rush! Backup QB leads Cowboys to 20-17 last-second win over Bengals

The Cowboys were heavy home underdogs and not only covered, but won the game on a last-second field goal. | From @KDDrummondNFL

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Some players just have a clutch gene. Calm, cool and collected, Cooper Rush started just the second game of his professional career on Sunday afternoon. Cooper Rush now has two game-winning drives. After watching the Cincinnati Bengals storm back from a 17-3 halftime deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter, Rush and the offense were able to mount one final drive.

After forcing the Bengals to a three-and-out while pinned near their own goal line, Rush led the Cowboys from their own 35-yard line down into field-goal range. There, with just four seconds left, Brett Maher completed his second 50-yard attempt of the game to give Dallas their first win of the year, 20-17.

Playing in place of injured QB Dak Prescott, Rush and the offense started out hot, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions for the first time since 2019. Things fizzled on that side of the ball though, and the offense was visibly scuffling. After the defense, which had harrassed Joe Burrow all afternoon to the tune of six sacks, finally relented and allowed a touchdown on a 19-play drive, things were squared away.

The teams traded punts, and then Rush found the magic again.

Dallas improved to 1-1 on the season, and will take on the 2-0 New York Giants next week on Monday night.

WATCH: Tony Pollard flies by Bengals defense, scores TD on ensuing play

The Cowboys offense is firing on all cylinders early against the Bengals, and Pollard’s blistering speed rewarded Dallas with a second TD. | From @CDBurnett7

While it took over four quarters to score their first touchdown, the Cowboys have two in a single quarter. Still in the lead thanks to linebacker Micah Parsons’ third sack, quarterback Cooper Rush took the offense back out on the field for the second drive of the game and led a second touchdown drive. This time, he didn’t have to work as hard.

Mirroring the fourth-down strike to wide receiver Noah Brown that kept the first drive alive, Rush and Brown connected on a 28-yard gain on 3rd-and-10 to move the chains. Following the big gain, Kellen Moore called a deep shot to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb that was inches from connecting for a touchdown.

On the following play, running back Tony Pollard found a gap and almost outran the entire Bengals defense for a 47-yard gain that was initially ruled a touchdown but he was inches short. Dallas rewarded Pollard on the next play, and he dove through to make it a 14-3 lead in AT&T Stadium.

The lack of preseason snaps may be used as an excuse for the Cowboys offense finding form, but Rush’s early performance against Cincinnati is a calming sight for everyone in the Dallas corner. Pollard’s success adds to what’s been a picture-perfect start to Week 2.

WATCH: Rush gets Noah Brown 1st-career TD, Cowboys first of ’22

The Cowboys offense scored their first TD of 2022 thanks to their backup quarterback, taking pressure off early in Week 2. | From @CDBurnett7

After being the only team without a touchdown in the first week of the 2022 season, the Cowboys did what was once impossible on the first drive against the Bengals. With quarterback Dak Prescott on the sideline with a headset, Dallas got it started with strong runs from running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard before quarterback Cooper Rush was tasked with a fourth-down in his own territory.

Mike McCarthy and Kellen Moore trusted Rush, and he delivered with a 17-yard strike to wide receiver Noah Brown. The drive continued with a heavy dose of the run game, which totaled 33 yards on the drive. This took the pressure off Rush, who capped off the drive with a rainbow throw to Brown for a nine-yard touchdown.

Moore couldn’t have put together a bigger drive after an ugly first outing and the Cowboys take a 7-0 lead with their first drive against Cincinnati. The first touchdown of Dallas’ 2022 season is a big one, and gives the defense a cushion as a home upset bid begins.