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A Dallas Cowboy Narrative, Chapter 7: The Wounded Eagle

I taught middle school English for several years. One of the things you have to do when you teach middle school English is study narrative structure. My students and I did this many times throughout the school using a variety of texts; regardless of the genre, most texts are going to have some sort of narrative structure.

The way I see it, football is no different.

Think about it. You have a main character that is at the center of the story (our beloved Dallas Cowboys), an antagonist (division rivals; Bill Belichick and Tom Brady), and a conflict (having not won a Super Bowl in 23 years).

There's a part of a narrative called "Rising Action." This is the part of the story where the protagonist encounters obstacles that they must overcome. For the Cowboys, the "events" that take place during the rising action of their narrative would be the games of the regular season (and any postseason games).

Even more interesting (or at this point confusing) is that each game (regular or postseason) would be a subplot within the larger narrative. There'd be key players, obstacles they would have to overcome, a game-changing play, and so on.

The subplot for Week 7 is the Cowboys matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Let's get into it.

Who will be the main character(s)?

Oof. OOF. The game last week against the New York Jets was not kind to Cowboys fans.

But with each new week comes a new opportunity, and with how many injuries there are on this team, there will be a lot of opportunities to go around.

Ever the optimist, I'll implore myself to find a silver lining. With all those backups in the game (no Tyron Smith, no La'el Collins, no Amari Cooper, Byron Jones, Anthony Brown...), the Cowboys still managed to fight until the last whistle had blown.

The Cowboys had more first downs (26), more total yards (399), and fewer turnovers (0) than the Jets (who won). They also won the time of possession battle by five minutes (32:03 to the Jets 27:57).

Most of this production came in the second half, which has been a recurring theme for this team over the past three weeks. Getting out to a fast start will be critical in this matchup against a team with a load of talent.

Ezekiel Elliott was very productive in this game, running the ball 28 times for 105 yards and a touchdown, and catching the ball five times for 48 yards. But he is not the main character this week.

The main character(s) this week are Tavon Austin, Cedrick Wilson, and Devin Smith.

Smith was a healthy scratch because the Cowboys did not anticipate Amari Cooper being sidelined in the game. (Cedrick Wilson's skillset is more tailored to Randall Cobbs, which is why he got the nod over Smith.)

If Cooper and Cobb can't go, these three will have to step up and help out WR2 Michael Gallup and quarterback Dak Prescott. They must win on their routes and fast, lest Dak be destroyed in the pocket by the Eagles front four.

What will be the conflict?

Dak was only sacked once, but it felt like he was getting tossed around like Raggedy Ann all night.

It makes sense that the conflict for this matchup would start in the trenches. Cam Fleming and Brandon Knight tried their best to mask the injuries to T. Smith and Collins, but there is a reason they are backups and not starters. It makes sense that there would be a drop off in play. They will have to rally and get ready for this Sunday because if they can't buy Dak more time in the pocket, our main characters won't be able to do much, whether they are open or not.

This would go for the interior defensive line as well. Maliek Collins, Antwaun Woods, Christian Covington and company need to make sure that Carson Wentz can't step up in the pocket. (I know the Dak-Wentz "Who's better?" debate will continue until our sun collapses into itself, but Wentz is a good quarterback.) Given the injuries in the secondary, pressure of the middle may be the Cowboys best chance of getting off the field.

All of that said, the real conflict this week is going to drop fever. Take Gallup for example. Even when Dak had time to throw, Gallup was unable to capitalize on all of passes thrown his way. (I'm not asking for a 100% catch rate, just better than 57%.) Who knows how the outcome of that game (and our perception of the Cowboys line play on both side of the ball) would have changed had Gallup caught any of his first half drops.

If the Cowboys can manage their drop fever (maybe take some "caught" medicine), they will put themselves in a position to score early and avoid falling behind...because we know what will happen if they do.

What will be the introduction?

The Cowboys have just scored a first half touchdown for the first time in three games. It's a beauty too, a tight window throw by Prescott over the middle to not Gallup, not Cobb, not Austin, but Cedrick Wilson.

Wilson beats former Cowboy-turned-Eagle Orlando Scandrick, who is a solid five feet off Wilson. The defensive back reaches out for the ankle of the slot receiver to no avail, and Wilson is off to the house.

The defense is fired up. Demarcus Lawrence, Robert Quinn, and Maliek Collins are foaming at the mouth, anxious to get on the field and terrorize Carson Wentz.

It's 1st-and-10. Wentz is under center with Jordan Howard in the backfield, with Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert lined up right. Wentz hikes the ball and hands it off to the powerful back...who runs towards the line for a gain of one.

Now 2nd-and-9, the Eagles change up their personnel. Goedert comes off and is replaced with running back Miles Sanders. Sanders is motioned out right and Jaylon Smith goes out to cover him. Perfect, thinks Wentz, A matchup I can exploit. Wentz hikes the ball and Sanders releases off the line to get into a slant route. But Smith is expecting this and positions himself to be at the hip of the running back. Wentz leads Sanders just enough to make the catch, but it's only a game of four -- not enough for the first down.

Third-and-ten. Wentz is in the shotgun. The Eagles have three wide receivers and two tight ends on the field. Nobody is wondering what will happen next.

Wentz hikes the ball, and almost immediately Quinn beats left tackle Andre Dillard off the snap. Wentz knows that the tackle is no Jason Peters, but has faith that he can recover quickly enough if he steps into the pocket. Wentz shuffles forward, sees Ertz open downfield, sets his feet to throw, and is absolutely obliterated by Collins. It's a sack. Fourth down.

Game on.

What will be the climax?

For the first time since routing the Miami Dolphins, the Cowboys are confident and rolling.

Taking advantage of a porous Eagles secondary, Prescott has himself a first half. In addition to his touchdown pass to Wilson, the Cowboys quarterback connects with Cobb (for his second score of the season), and Blake Jarwin (who stares and winks at Ertz on the Philadelphia sideline on his way to the endzone).

With just under two minutes left in the half, the score is 21-6 and the Cowboys have got the ball back after the defense forced a three-and-out. Wanting to maintain their momentum, the Cowboys play aggressively, starting the drive with a couple of quick passes.

Finally seeing an opening later in the drive, Prescott gets ready to throw downfield to a streaking Gallup.

He's stopped by Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett, who sacks him and dislodges the ball from the quarterback. Zach Brown Nigel Bradham Jalen Mills scoops it up and runs into the endzone untouched for an Eagles score.

After the extra point, it's 21-13.

Game on again.

What will be the resolution?

Back and forth these teams will go late into the fourth quarter.

24-13.

24-21.

27-21.

The Eagles will score a touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, making the score 28-27 in their favor. The energy at AT&T Stadium will die down as many season ticket holders contemplate what they could've done with the money they spent on season tickets.

On the ensuing kickoff, Jake Elliott kicks the ball into the back of the endzone for a touchback. Prescott and the first team offense meet in the huddle.

"Let's go an score, boys," Prescott says to his teammates. His confidence rubs off everyone in the huddle. There is an unspoken understanding that behind this leader, they can get it done and bring this team their first win in four weeks.

There's a 1:47 left on the clock. The Cowboys have two timeouts -€” more than enough to march down the field for a score, whether it be a field goal by Brett Maher or a touchdown.

Prescott lines up in the shotgun formation with Zeke to his left. Gallup, Wilson, and Austin are lined up left, while Blake Jarwin lines up right. At the snap, Austin drifts backwards as if you receive a screen pass. The Eagles defense reacts sharply, not noticing Elliott slipping out right. The Cowboys offensive line moves that way as well, and soon enough they have a body on enough Eagles players to give Elliot room to run. Prescott fakes the pass left, then dumps it off right to the star running back, who careens down the right sideline for a 25-yard gain before being stopped by safety Malcolm Jenkins.

First down at the fifty. There is now 1:36 on the clock and the Cowboys are letting it run. In the shotgun formation again, Austin has been substituted for running back Tony Pollard, who is now in pass protection while Elliott is lined up as a receiver. He motions Jarwin out right with Elliott and sees that the Eagles are in man coverage. He looks to Gallup on his left, as if to say This one is coming to you.

The ball is snapped. To get pressure, the Eagles blitz with a linebacker. Pollard is not as large as Elliott, but he does just enough to block his man and give Prescott time to step up in the pocket and throw. The ball is launched into the air and into the arms of Gallup, who has a step on his man. Once again, Jenkins is the man who has to make a touchdown-saving play. The Cowboys pick up 32 yards on the play.

At the 18 with 1:22 left to play, Prescott again takes his time getting to the line. The right play must be dialed up, and the Eagles can't be given a chance to score if the Cowboys are successful in retaking the lead.

Pollard and Elliott are now on opposite sides of Prescott. Austin is in the slot, while Gallup and Cobb are lined up on the outside. Jarwin lines up next to La'el Collins.

Prescott takes the snap and fakes a handoff to Pollard, who runs out right. Austin beats his man off the line and runs a slant in the same direction. The space is vacated by an Eagles defender who slid over to pick up Pollard, leaving the field wide open for Austin. Prescott throws a dart at him and he runs straight for the endzone, just barely getting tackled by another Eagles defensive back at the 2-yard line.

The clock is under a minute now, and the Cowboys line up in an I-formation. It is no secret what play they are about to run.

When the ball is snapped, there are 36 seconds left on the clock. Elliot bursts towards the line, but the Eagles stout defensive front yields only a yard before defensive tackle Fletcher brings him down. Thirty seconds remain in the game.

In the huddle, Elliott turns to Prescott. "Run it again," he says to him. They fist bump.

Lining up in the same formation, the Eagles are confident they can make another stop. No need to overthink the play, just beat your man. But Elliott has a fire in his eyes that suggests that he won't be denied.

Center Travis Frederick hikes the ball. Prescott hands it off to Elliott. Elliott runs behind guard Zack Martin and into the endzone. The score is 34-28 with 25 seconds remaining. The crowd erupts.

Despite a valiant last-ditch effort, the Eagles fail to cross into Cowboys territory and lose the game.

What will be the cliffhanger?

Cowboys players run into the locker room with a renewed sense of confidence and drive. The three losses seem so long ago -- now they are 4-3 and division leaders heading into their bye week. They can let their bodies and minds rejuvenate in preparation for the second half of the season.

The Eagles on the other hand walk out of AT&T Stadium with a sense of doubt. Things were not supposed to be this way. Could it be that after only seven games this team has too many obstacles to overcome?

Wentz laughs to himself. The season is long and arduous, with may twists and turns throughout. "We'll see you in Philly," he says before boarding the plane.

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