Halftime Report: Cowboys look a bit shaky, but lead 21-13

After two quarters between the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts, the Cowboys lead the Colts 21-13. Entering this game, the Cowboys were heavily favored, and many expected them to dominate the Colts from the beginning.

But inconsistencies on both sides of the ball have the Cowboys barely leading the Colts heading into the second half. While they did have some highlights, the miscues have the Colts in the game, and they have to adjust if they don’t want to lose a game they’re supposed to win.

1st Quarter:

After forcing the Cowboys to go three-and-out on their opening drive, the Colts got on the board first when K Chase McLaughin nailed a 52-yard field goal. Their offense showed shades of explosiveness on offense as QB Matt Ryan moved the ball efficiently — but DE Demarcus Lawrence forced the Colts to kick an FG when he stopped RB Jonathan Taylor on a third-down run.

The Colts led 3-0 early.

On the ensuing drive, the Cowboys’ offense began to “cook” as they quickly responded and found the endzone after 12 plays, 73 yards. The score came on third down when QB Dak Prescott threw a strike to wideout CeeDee Lamb.

The score was arguably all effort on Lamb’s end, as he broke a tackle when it looked like he was down. But he was never ruled down, and he walked untouched to put the Boys up 7-3.

https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1599580002126745601

Now down 7-3, the Colts’ offense seamlessly marched downfield again and responded to the Cowboys’ score with a touchdown of their own. Five plays and 79 yards later, they scored on a 14-yard pass from Ryan to wideout Ashton Dulin, who was left wide open in the endzone.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1599582292048982016

2nd Quarter:

The Cowboys got the ball back with a chance to respond to Dulin’s score — but they were forced to a three-and-out.

Now with an opportunity to push their lead more, the Colts came out trying to hit a big play on their first two plays, but they failed. The Cowboys’ defense would push them to third down, and they suffocated Ryan, as S Donovan Wilson sacked him for a loss.

With the ball back in their hands, Prescott and the offense wouldn’t let their golden opportunity to respond go to waste. After failing to move the ball on their previous drive, the Boys looked different, as they found the endzone after six plays on 56 yards on a two-yard run from RB Tony Pollard to regain the lead.

https://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys/status/1599587176571965443

Up 14-10, it looked like the Boys were shaping to grab another score. However, Prescott made a crucial mistake and threw a pick to cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who returned the Colts’ red zone.

The Cowboys’ defense would come up huge as they prevented the Colts from scoring a touchdown and gaining the lead, as Indianapolis was forced to shoot a field goal.

However, the Boys only led 14-13 now.

Prescott and the offense would get a chance to respond, but they went three-and-out again. Ryan and his Colts offense would have an opportunity to grab their first lead, but former Colt Malik Hooker made a huge play and got an interception.

His pick would pay off as the Cowboys capitalized off the turnover and scored on a 13-yard Gallup touchdown. While the Boys led now 21-13, some things need to be cleaned up in the second half if they want to win and improve to 9-3.