The Dallas Cowboys have been called many things over the years: talented, inconsistent, cursed by bad luck, but one label that’s often stuck is “predictable.”
Fans have come to expect a certain script when adversity strikes: key injuries lead to offensive collapse, penalties derail momentum, and road trips to historically tough venues end in disappointment.
On Sunday, however, the Cowboys tore that script to shreds in their 37-22 win over the New York Jets.
Yes, the Jets entered the game winless at 0-4, but this was no ordinary Cowboys victory. There were three specific circumstances that, in the past, would have doomed Dallas.
Instead, they overcame all three; a sign that this team might finally be turning a corner under HC Brian Schottenheimer and his staff.
Injuries
In previous seasons, the Cowboys’ offensive rhythm could be completely undone by the absence of just one key lineman, most notably at left tackle.
Losing the blindside protector has often meant disaster for Dak Prescott and the passing game. We all remember Adrian Clayborn.
On Sunday, though, Dallas faced a far greater challenge than that.
They weren’t just without LT Tyler Guyton; they were also missing LG Tyler Smith, C Cooper Beebe, RG Tyler Booker, WR CeeDee Lamb, WR KaVontae Turpin, and S Malik Hooker.
That’s a staggering number of starters sidelined, and enough to cripple most NFL teams. However, this version of the Cowboys didn’t flinch.
The offensive line, anchored by veteran backups and young players thrown into the fire, kept Prescott upright and opened holes for Javonte Williams in the run game.
Prescott distributed the ball efficiently to his remaining receivers, and head coach and play-caller Brian Schottenheimer called one of his best games of the year, using motion and quick reads to neutralize the Jets’ pass rush.
For once, the Cowboys weren’t victims of their injury report; they were victors in spite of it.
Penalties
For as long as Cowboys fans can remember, penalties have been the bane of this team’s existence.
False starts, holding calls, and defensive pass interference have routinely killed drives or extended opponents’ possessions.
Even when playing well, Dallas has too often been its own worst enemy. That’s why Sunday’s performance was so striking.
Dallas was penalized 11 times for 91 yards, even more than the Jets’ 10 for 61, yet the game never felt like it was slipping away. The Cowboys didn’t allow mistakes to snowball.
When a holding call wiped out a first down, they bounced back with positive plays on the next snap.
When a defensive penalty gifted the Jets an automatic first down, the defense regrouped and forced a punt two plays later.
The discipline wasn’t in avoiding penalties altogether, it was in refusing to let them define the game.
That’s a level of mental toughness the Cowboys haven’t consistently shown in years.
Road Woes
Before Sunday, the Cowboys hadn’t won on the road against the Jets since 2003, when Bill Parcells was head coach. That was 22 years and four coaching regimes ago.
The Meadowlands has historically been a graveyard for Dallas teams, no matter how talented. This time, though, they flipped the script.
Even with the crowd against them and half their offensive starters sidelined, Dallas imposed its will from the opening drive.
The defense suffocated the Jets’ offense early on, the run game controlled the tempo, and Prescott’s poise never wavered.
Ending a two-decade road drought vs the Jets, under those circumstances, was more than just another win.
It was symbolic of a team learning how to handle adversity and win ugly when necessary.
At defense Kenny Clark was as usual superb in holding down his spot and getting pressure in the backfield. Houston was a monster at the edge and Ezieraku is finally coming into his own. Fowler also impressed after being kind of quiet for several weeks. The defense I believe is finally coming together. I can’t help but think how much better this defense could have been at the season’s start if Dorrance Armstrong had not jumped ship and signed with the Redskins. He was a force on their defense as he took down Charger QB Herbert twice in sacks! To think we are going to face them in a couple of weeks! That will be a game changer for the Cowboys win or lose.
Dorance Armstrong isn’t somebody we’ll have to worry about in that game!! If we can keep Micah Parsons and the rest of the Green Bay defensive line in check, and Quinnen Williams and the jets defensive line in check, we won’t have any problems with Armstrong!! We’ve played against way better player than Armstrong and won every battle, so I don’t see us having any problems with Armstrong!! They do have other edge rushers that are better than Armstrong, but I think we’ll hold up just fine against them!! Plus it helps that we had half of Washington’s defensive staff and the head coach on our team too, so Schotty knows how to stop them!! I think those games will turn into shootouts, unless our defense keeps getting better!! But even if our defense is better, I still think it’ll be a high scoring game because Washington has a good offense!! But either way, I don’t think Armstrong will factor into it very much!! But that’s just my opinion!!