All of the Week 15 preparation has come to a head for the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday at the Buffalo Bills.
Game Summary
The visiting Cowboys won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.
1st Quarter
On the Bills' first drive, QB Josh Allen used his legs to convert the first 3rd down attempt of the game.
Buffalo used timely play-action passes to Stefon Diggs for chunk plays into Dallas territory.
A questionable roughing the passer penalty on a 3rd and Goal moved the Bills to the precipice of the endzone where Latavius Murray would punch it in for a touchdown.
Dallas' first drive would also see the Cowboys' QB Dak Prescott scramble for a first down on their first 3rd down attempt.
The drive would later stall near midfield thanks to a sack taken by Prescott on a long 3rd & 14.
The Cowboys' defense would stiffen up after giving up an initial drive touchdown to force a 3 & out.
After a 3 & out on offense, the Cowboys' defense once again forced a 3 & out, but a roughing the kicker penalty on Sam Williams gave the Bills new life.
2nd Quarter
Allen would again lead his offense down the field, hitting James Cook for an 18-yard touchdown to go up two scores early in the 2nd quarter.
The Cowboys' offense would get going on the ensuing drive.
On a big 3rd down, Prescott scrambled to the right short of the sticks, but a helmet-to-helmet hit would give Dallas a new set of downs.
Dallas' next 3rd down attempt would be another conversion, this time a big throw to CeeDee Lamb.
Facing a 3rd & 4 inside the Bills' 20-yard line, Prescott's pass was tipped at the line and almost intercepted.
Brandon Aubrey would boot a 32-yard field goal through the uprights to get the Cowboys on the board.
A failure to challenge a close play came back to bite the Cowboys.
Bills' WR Stefon Diggs had the ball punched out by Donovan Wilson, and a clear recovery by Dallas was made.
Diggs was ruled down before the fumble, and Buffalo hurried the next snap before McCarthy could get a good look.
Big runs by Allen and Cook moved the ball just outside the Cowboys' endzone.
Two plays later, Allen would power into the endzone himself with 1:36 left in the first half.
Scoring Plays
-Latavius Murray three yard TD run (BUF 7-0)
-James Cook 18 yard TD reception (BUF 14-0)
-Brandon Aubrey 32 yard FG (DAL 3-14)
-Josh Allen one yard TD run (BUF 21-3)
Analysis
Some old demons have shown themselves in the first half for the Cowboys.
Poor rush defense, bone-headed penalties, and not containing a running quarterback are the reasons Dallas faces a deficit at halftime.
Buffalo has rushed for 147 yards in the first half, with young RB James Cook accounting for 104 of those yards on just 15 carries.
Before the hurry-up drive to end the half, Prescott was just 4/9 passing for 37 yards.
The explosiveness we are used to seeing on offense just isn't there so far today, and an 18-point deficit is the perfect time for those big plays to show up.
Big adjustments need to be made at halftime for the Cowboys to have any chance to win this game.
