It took the Dallas Cowboys 15 weeks to have their most dominant performance of the season. Ironically enough, it came against the only winning team they’ve faced in 2019. The Los Angeles Rams entered AT&T Stadium with an 8-5 record and as road favorites to win the game. One week after beating the now #1 seed in the NFC – the Seattle Seahawks – the Rams were absolutely destroyed by the Cowboys.
The final score says the Rams hung 21 points versus the Cowboys defense. However, 14 of those didn’t happen until the game was practically over. You know, that period of time that’s known as “garbage time.” The truth is, the Cowboys flat out dominated the Rams in what in reality felt like a 37-7 win.
Had Dallas won a close game, it wouldn’t have been much of a surprise. After all, it was a home game and they had opened as three-point favorites before the Rams defeated the Seahawks on Sunday Night in week 14.
The shock came with the Cowboys’ dominance. Everything went right for them. The defense shined bright even without Leighton Vander Esch and an early injury to Joe Thomas, who was essentially the Cowboys’ third linebacker behind Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith.
Antwaun Woods returned to the field and had his best game of the season. Cornerbacks left every Rams wide receiver under 50 receiving yards (although Tight End Tyler Higbee racked up 111). Todd Gurley ran for 20 yards in 11 attempts, averaging 1.8 yard per carry.
As for the offense, the Cowboys had two 100-yards running backs with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard combining for 303 yards from scrimmage (248 rushing yards) and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Quarterback Dak Prescott threw two touchdown passes including a 59-yard bomb to a wide open Tavon Austin after escaping from Dante Fowler’s rush.
Even special teams went well. After enduring Brett Maher’s missed field goals that led the NFL, the Cowboys new Kicker Kai Forbath went three for three in two 42-yard attempts and another from 50 yards out.
One would think such an elite performance would mean good things for the Cowboys HC Jason Garrett. However, nothing likely changes after last Sunday. It’s better than losing, of course, but the win over the Rams is a perfect example of what “could’ve been” for the 2019 Dallas Cowboys.
A talented group of players wasn’t able to beat a winning team until week 15. And when they finally pulled it off, it was a dominant performance. Jerry Jones hasn’t fired Garrett because he believes the Cowboys can have a “fairy tale ending” to the season, and that is because he truly has faith in his team.
Against the Rams, the Cowboys proved why. They seem like a team that can beat anybody in the NFC. But “can” and “will” are two very different words. Jason Garrett’s team isn’t what we saw on Sunday. It’s what we’ve seen since September. The squad that has lost seven games on the season, most of them in part thanks to poor coaching decisions.
Heck, if it wasn’t for a mediocre NFC East division, the win wouldn’t even mean anything. But Dallas somehow leads the division, and it does mean a lot.
Jason Garrett and the Cowboys should enjoy the win, as should the fans. But a dominant performance in week 15 of the season doesn’t do anything at all for Garrett’s job security. Things will rightfully remain the same and that means if this football team doesn’t make a deep playoff rule, changes are coming.
