Halftime Report: Defense returns to form, Cowboys lead Patriots 28-3 at half

After a disappointing loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the Dallas Cowboys came into their Week 4 matchup against the New England Patriots looking for redemption on both sides of the ball.

1ST QUARTER

The Cowboys received the ball first, and the offense was clicking on all cylinders until they found themselves in the red zone.

Two passing attempts into the end zone were incomplete.

Dak Prescott led the Cowboys offense as far as the Patriots one-yard line. Then, a miscommunication with Tony Pollard on 3rd down botched their final attempt.

They settled for a field goal.

The Patriots responded with a field goal of their own, tying the game 3-3 with 7:23 left in the first quarter.

On their second drive, the Cowboys took 10 plays to move 75 yards down the field and get their first touchdown of the day.

With a 20-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott gave the Cowboys the lead. After the extra point, the Cowboys led 10-3.

2ND QUARTER

The 2nd quarter began in the middle of a New England Patriots offensive drive.

After seven plays, they turned the ball over on downs.

The Cowboys then went three-and-out after Dak Prescott was sacked, putting them at 4th & 18 on their own 33-yard line.

On the third play of their third offensive drive of the half, the Patriots lost the ball due to a Mac Jones fumble after he was sacked by Dante Fowler.

Leighton Vander Esch recovered the ball and ran it 11 yards into the end zone.

On the extra-point attempt, the Dallas Cowboys noticed the Patriots in an 11-man up formation, so they faked the PAT and went for two.

Bryan Anger’s completed pass to Chauncey Golston gave the Cowboys an 18-3 lead with 11:09 left in the second quarter.

Then, with less than a minute left in the half, Daron Bland intercepted a pass intended for Kendrick Bourne.

He returned it 54 yards for a touchdown. Anger’s extra point was good.

The Cowboys went into the locker room with a lead of 28 – 3.

By halftime, Dak Prescott completed 19 of 22 passing attempts for 196 yards and a touchdown.

The Patriots were held to 2.5 yards per carry in the first half.

GAME NOTES

LVE’s touchdown was the first of his career.

Former Dallas Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott ended the half with four carries for 14 yards and a 2-yard reception.