The linebacker play has devolved in 2019 for the Cowboys. Despite his big contract, Jaylon Smith hasn’t been able to recreate the spark he had in 2018 when he emerged as a Pro-Bowl caliber player. Instead, he’s had shaky coverage issues before and after his reassignment to middle linebacker in Leighton Vander Esch’s absence.
None of those issues were apparent on the Cowboys first defensive drive, though. On third and long, Smith was able to intercept a third-consecutive incomplete pass to start the game by Redskins starter Case Keenum.
Jaylon Smith goes LOW for the INT!pic.twitter.com/DXRYd0BPUK
— PFF (@PFF) December 29, 2019
The pic was Smith’s first of his career. Dallas now has an anemic seven interceptions on the year.
The Cowboys needed to convert a 4th-and-1 to keep the earned possession, and did so on an Ezekiel Elliott run where he was slow to get up and the Washington defender who made the big hit needing to be taken off the field on a stretcher.
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