What a way to open the 2019 NFL Season for the Dallas Cowboys. In their victory over the New York Giants 35-17, the Cowboys showed off an offense that was explosive and leaned heavily on Dak Prescott and the passing game.
There were several standout performances from the week one blowout and they were pretty much all in the offensive side of the football. The defense played a solid game, but nobody really stood out in the 18-point victory. It was a nice team effort from on both sides of the football but it was the offensive guys that put up big numbers in the 18-point victory.
First ✭
Dak Prescott, Quarterback
Dak Prescott was unleashed on Sunday afternoon compiling a perfect passer rating of 158.3 going 25/32 for 405 yards and four touchdowns. Prescott completed passes to seven different receivers and his top three targets, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and Randall Cobb each averaged more than 17 yards per reception.
On the day, Prescott completed eight passes of more than 20 yards downfield.
Dak was getting the ball downfield and throwing with tremendous accuracy when throwing deep. Prescott was decisive, getting through his read quickly and delivering the ball on time to his receivers.
He was completely in control of the game at the line of scrimmage, constantly signaling and communicating with his offensive teammates.
Second ✭
Kellen Moore, Offensive Coordinator
Dak Prescott deserves all kinds of credit for what he was able to accomplish on the field. In the same breath, it’s important to give recognition to the guy calling the plays, at least for this week.
It’s clear now that this offense was far too conservative under Scott Linehan and had become too stale and predictable. Kellen Moore’s Offense was anything but that on Sunday afternoon.
There were motions, several motions on one play, lots of run-pass option as well as read option, and a healthy dose of play action.
Moore designed a game plan that put his guys in great positions to be successful in the Cowboys win. And successful they were.
Five different players scored a touchdown on the game. The passing game was able to find success despite an average performance in the run game. With Moore at the helm, this Cowboys offense looks absolutely dangerous.
The combination of Dak Prescott and Kellen Moore was sublime and is a pairing that should have a lot more success over the course of this season and seasons to come.
Co-Third ✭
Wide Receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup
If Amari Cooper is the Dallas Cowboys WR1, then Michael Gallup is the team’s WR1B. Those two players combined for 13 catches on 16 targets and 264 yards receiving.
While Amari Cooper got the touchdown between the two of them, Gallup had arguably the more explosive day. He showed exactly why people were so high on him coming out of college and has carried his strong training camp into the regular season.
With Gallup’s reputation only going to continue to rise, defense are going to have very difficult choices to make with how to defend the Cowboys.
Attempt to take away Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys can and will beat you through the air. Try and shade coverage toward Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup will go off. Concern yourself with Michael Gallup and Cooper will beat you.
These two make a dynamic duo. It may be unrealistic to expect them both to continue putting up 100 yard receiving games, but they are going to be a force to be reckoned with all season.
✭✭✭✭✭
The Dallas Cowboys are as deep as we’ve seen them in years and they’ve got a ton of playmakers. I didn’t even mention the element that Randall Cobb or Blake Jarwin add to the offense. Over the next couple of weeks, Ezekiel Elliott will get into better game shape and return to be the dynamic running back that he is.
There was a lot of optimism that the Dallas Cowboys would be able to put a season together that culminated in a championship and this opening week against a division rival should only fuel that optimism.
This offense is good. Really, really good.
