In the annual preseason week three “dress rehearsal game,” the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Oakland Raiders, 24-20. With the win, the Cowboys improved to 3-1 on the preseason while the Raiders dropped to 0-3.
Playing most of the first half, the Dallas Cowboys first team offense looked rather sharp. Quarterback Dak Prescott continued to prove just how good he is, completing 11 of his 14 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Tight end Jason Witten caught that touchdown pass from Prescott, and looked slimmer and more athletic than we have seen him in about three years. Running back Ezekiel Elliott saw an eventful one series, rushing for 18 yards on 6 carries and catching 2 passes out of the backfield.
Defensively the Cowboys starters were a bit more up and down. Cornerback Orlando Scandrick had yet another solid performance, and defensive tackle Stephen Paea looked like the team’s best defensive lineman.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr did throw for two touchdowns and 144 yards on that first team defense, but some key contributors in the back end were missing from the lineup.
In the second half, quarterback Cooper Rush once again stole the show on offense. Rush threw just one incompletion and two touchdowns, including a play action deep ball to Lance Lenoir in the fourth quarter.
This preseason, Cooper Rush is completing 75% of his passes for 398 yards & 6 TD with 0 INT. One turnover in 4 appearances.
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) August 27, 2017
Kellen Moore was listed as QB3 on the depth chart for this game, and after another solid performance from Rush, we are right to question Moore’s security on the final roster. Moore did see mop-up duty late in the game, however.
Both Taco Charlton and Damontre Moore came away with sacks tonight, winning on the edge and bringing pressure throughout the second half. All of a sudden, that Moore suspension to begin 2017 looks like it will hurt a lot more than we had initially thought.
.@TheSupremeTaco gets the sack!
That calls for a 🌮🌮🌮-inspired celebration #OAKvsDAL https://t.co/Ak3usT3tgB
— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2017
Next Thursday night the Cowboys close out the 2017 preseason against the Houston Texans. I wouldn’t expect to see the “starters” at all on Thursday, but the final nail in the quarterback two coffin will likely be nailed.
That is, if Cooper Rush didn’t already close the debate tonight.
While there’s maybe some pity for Moore, watching him not get in the game until there were only 4 minutes left (and Rush had notched more TD’s), was fairly comical.
Rush is on the team, clearly. Moore will probably get the 2nd half Thursday, perhaps to save his NFL career.
If you want 2 roster QB’s and 1 on practice squad, it can probably happen. Cut Moore and it’s about 95% that he’ll clear waivers. Then PS him, and if Dak goes out you activate him the next game. If Rush is falling apart, you at least have a veteran QB available who knows the offense.
And if Rush starts this year as #2 QB, by all means sit Dak as soon as games are decided. Get Rush game reps ASAP.
Perfect pre-season for Dak. Get the rust off – there wasn’t any – and sit. That ball he pulled down without hesitation and ran for the 1st down, said it all. The guy is “woke”.
Rush is poised, no problem reading defenses and he throws it aggressively downfield. He has as much maturity and a better arm than Romo did as a walk on. No idea how he fell through the entire draft.