Blogging The Boys - Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings, 2022 NFL Week 11Dallas Cowboys, all the time...since 2005.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47663/Picture_4.png2022-11-23T20:00:00-06:00http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/rss/stream/232265962022-11-23T20:00:00-06:002022-11-23T20:00:00-06:00Film Finds: Cowboys do the dirty work in Minnesota
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<figcaption>Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A closer look at the film of the Cowboys at Vikings game.</p> <p id="mNTd4j">A quick look at a few plays from the Cowboys and Vikings game reveals that doing the little things right adds up.</p>
<h3 id="SAs5Cz">Setting the tone early</h3>
<p id="lDBS6J">Ahead of Sunday’s game against the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>, there was a lot of talk from the leaders of this defense and how they needed to respond against the run. The two most vocal on the subject were Micah Parsons and Jayron Kearse, the latter describing the mood of the defense as “angry”.</p>
<p id="gJQT0v">Angry would be a good way to characterize the rushing style of Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. Given their recent struggles, Dallas was going to have to meet the challenge that is the Vikings’ running game head-on. With a little help, Leighton Vander Esch did just that.</p>
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<p id="qnTE79">Vikings center Garrett Bradbury (#56) and left guard Ezra Cleveland (#72) are trying to double-team defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, lined up over Bradbury. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw’s (#71) job is to drive Dorance Armstrong, who is lined up in the B gap, out of the play and create a hole for Dalvin Cook. </p>
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<p id="L2Dq47">Meanwhile, after shifting before the snap, receiver K.J. Osborn is supposed to be blocking off Kearse so that he can’t make the play on Cook from the other side. Osborn doesn’t get a clean block on Kearse and that does allow him to get a hand on Cook to help Vander Esch make the tackle, but watch what’s happening behind the play.</p>
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<p id="5tqV8U">The Vikings are sending Adam Thielen in motion if for nothing else, to occupy Vander Esch’s eyes. If Vander Esch over-commits too far to his left, then very likely Cook is running downhill one-on-one with Malik Hooker. It’s at least a 10-yard gain if not a house call.</p>
<p id="Dr48FU">Very intelligently Vander Esch stays in the play, takes Cook on in the hole, and makes the stop for a short gain.</p>
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<h3 id="b4TGpn">Bully Ball</h3>
<p id="5YUWvV">The Cowboys’ offensive line was outstanding against Minnesota. They provided Dak Prescott with a clean pocket and time to throw but they were also exceptional in the run game. This play isn’t flashy or meant to be shown in a highlight reel. However, it exemplifies the dominance of the offensive line and their execution. </p>
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<p id="AIZQsD">The Vikings are lined up in a 3-4 front, three down linemen, and two stand-up outside linebackers. Za’Darius Smith is wide to the left of Tyler Smith, no doubt to set the edge, and the same for D.J. Wonnum on the opposite side.</p>
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<p id="abvhdu">Watch the left side of the Dallas offensive line on this play. There’s a double-team block by Tyler Biadasz and Connor McGovern on James Lynch. The refs missed it but you can be about 99% sure McGovern gets turned awkwardly like that because Lynch grabbed him to make sure he didn’t get to the second level on Jordan Hicks. It should have been an extra five yards added to the run.</p>
<p id="PZNdZg">The right side of the line looks even better. Check out All-Pro Zack Martin and Terence Steele. Martin locks in on the inside linebacker Eric Kendricks and Steele drives Harrison Phillips from one hash mark to the other. These blocks give Ezekiel Elliott a clear lane on the cutback. Also, a pretty nice job by Dalton Schultz blocking Jonathan Bullard on the backside. A punishing performance by the offensive line. They were like a herd of elephants on a stampede.</p>
<h3 id="eYaayC">Prescott well protected</h3>
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<p id="3OTPAM">The Cowboys are lined up with three receivers the left side and Dalton Schultz is lined up to the right side of the formation with Pollard in the backfield. By the Vikings’ alignment, it appears that there are two deep safeties with man coverage underneath. </p>
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<p id="hyIg03">This entire play starts up front with the offensive line giving Dak Prescott enough time. Connor McGovern passes off James Lynch to Tyler Biadasz, to help Tyler Smith who forces the rusher past the quarterback. If you look closely, you can see where Za’Darius Smith staggers Zack Martin for a second after knocking his hands down, but Martin is able to recover his balance very quickly and the front of the pocket is clean for Prescott. There’s also Terence Steele one-on-one with Wonnum who stonewalls him. Great protection all around. </p>
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<p id="aAXOGs">In the secondary, the Vikings have two corners lined up over Noah Brown and Michael Gallup respectively with linebacker Eric Kendricks shading over CeeDee Lamb. On the opposite side of the field, Patrick Peterson is shaded just to the outside of Dalton Schultz. Minnesota is trying to take away any throws at the sticks.</p>
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<p id="10uwgq">In this coverage, Minnesota is leaving Jordan Hicks responsible for the running back Tony Pollard. Judging how Hicks is looking back into the backfield, he expects Pollard to break his route flat toward the sideline. He never expected Pollard to carry his route up the field. </p>
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<p id="efpLbA">At that point, it’s a race to the end zone and Hicks is too slow to keep up after Prescott drops the pass over Pollard’s shoulder.</p>
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https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/11/23/23472540/cowboys-vikings-film-review-key-plays-leighton-vander-eschLP Cruz2022-11-23T18:00:00-06:002022-11-23T18:00:00-06:00Dallas Cowboys roster power rankings Week 12: Plenty of thanks to go around
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<img alt="NFL: Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QwfUegwYoZOmbZ6v3kAbcJ5YcLw=/471x0:3698x2151/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71668452/usa_today_19475236.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Any one of the Cowboys 53 players could have made it to the top 10 after Sunday’s complete team win over Minnesota.</p> <p id="KsZq6P">Ten spots in the power rankings aren’t enough when an NFL team plays like the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> did against the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> on Sunday. From the offense to defense and special teams, each player took the Green Bay loss to heart and went out with something to prove. That was a true definition of a “team win.”</p>
<p id="vQKqHl">They certainly proved to be in the conversation with the NFC’s best, and among the best in the NFL. If the Cowboys play like that for the rest of the season, you can start to dream of a <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>.</p>
<p id="X0EEIx">Here are the top ten players from Dallas’ win over Minnesota.</p>
<h3 id="xA2Ji3"><strong>10. CeeDee Lamb, WR</strong></h3>
<p id="YirKdU">This spot could have gone to numerous guys. Michael Gallup, DeMarcus Lawrence, Damone Clark, and Anthony Brown—but it goes to Lamb. In a week where Lamb was criticized for his lack of communication with Prescott, he showed he can be counted on. He caught all five of his targets for 45 yards.</p>
<p id="mpp7kh">Marc Sessler on the <em>Around the NFL</em> Podcast said Lamb’s arms were already 1.1 yards out of bounds when he caught the ball, which is the most for a reception like that in the NFL for three years. Lamb now has two highlight-reel catches in Minnesota. Maybe it’s something in the air.</p>
<h3 id="TpI5iN"><strong>9. Sam Williams, DE</strong></h3>
<p id="E3YOdB">Week after week, Sam Williams becomes a more mature player. He’s not committing stupid penalties, and he is using more tools from his toolbox. In the fourth quarter, Williams showed his skills as a run defender. He had two tackles for loss, where he just beat the lineman to the inside and knifed through to tackle Alexander Mattison.</p>
<p id="gRO6a7">Williams has been known this season for his pass rush ability, but by putting his run defense on film, Dan Quinn will see that and should earn him more snaps. For a team that struggled to defend the run a week ago.</p>
<h3 id="Db1p5K"><strong>8. Dorance Armstrong, DE</strong></h3>
<p id="gs5FiK">Dorance Armstrong had his second multi-sack game of the season and was much better in run defense on the edge. It’s impressive to see how much he’s improved from one year to the next, and he is second on the team with seven sacks. He plays with a lot of power. Armstrong must be eating his Wheaties every Sunday.</p>
<p id="xSeqSo">Overall, he continues to prove why the front office gave him the extension in the offseason. </p>
<h3 id="hTV1sE"><strong>7. Jayron Kearse, S</strong></h3>
<p id="iMTzfQ">The last time the Cowboys played T.J. Hockenson, when he was on the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a>, he had a really good game. The Dallas defense allowed four catches for 48 yards in Hockenson’s direction. It was a different story, with Kearse and Wilson rotating against him. They gave up just five catches for 34 yards, but most came when the game was out of reach.</p>
<p id="Wm6jto">It was a vintage Kearse game similar to what we saw from him last season, where he was used all over the field and a leader on defense. He also had a great sack and a key pass breakup in the endzone. Kearse also got to do the Skol clap against his former team, which automatically puts him on the list. </p>
<h3 id="W1SxZ8"><strong>6. Zack Martin & Tyler Biadasz, RG/C</strong></h3>
<p id="yAANoN">The birthday boys played a great game and protected Prescott. The entire line allowed just one quarterback hit, but these two, in particular, have shown time and time again how great they are working together.</p>
<p id="pcSytR">Terence Steele deserves his recognition as a run blocker, but that was Zack Martin at his best, and Tyler Biadasz keeps showing his growth as an NFL center,<a href="https://premium.pff.com/nfl/players/2022/REGPO/tyler-biadasz/41178/offense-blocking"> never</a> allowing a sack this season, and hasn’t allowed a quarterback hit since Week 5. </p>
<h3 id="DX08lZ"><strong>5. Brett Maher, K</strong></h3>
<p id="RzIBos">Brett Maher has been the definition of “prove it” this season. Maher had to prove himself as the starting kicker in training camp, had to prove to fans he was different than his first go around with the Cowboys, and had to prove not once, but twice, he could make a 60-yard field goal before half-time, no problem.</p>
<p id="I7Dz4U">Maher holds the NFL record for most successful kicks over 60 yards with four, but Cowboys fans will always count five with the one that never counted. He was 8 for 8 on the day, including extra points, and tied for third in the NFL with 83 points.</p>
<h3 id="tRpIaz"><strong>4. Tony Pollard, RB</strong></h3>
<p id="mQFoeL">Tony Pollard has shown in back-to-back starts how dynamic of a running back he is. He decided on Sunday to put it on tape that he’s also a dynamic pass catcher. Pollard had six catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Not to mention averaging five yards a carry with 80 yards as well. 703 yards on the season.</p>
<p id="hZHWNI">Pollard is quickly becoming a top priority to sign a long-term deal with, the Cowboys offense would be lost without him.</p>
<h3 id="8hiEYQ"><strong>3. Trevon Diggs, CB</strong></h3>
<p id="zPzKj8">People will probably have Trevon Diggs lower on their lists, but look at what he did on Sunday. He traveled with not only the Vikings No. 1 receiver but probably the best receiver in the NFL and <em><strong>shut him down.</strong></em></p>
<p id="L1d9Zv">Justin Jefferson caught just three passes for 33 yards, Diggs giving up two for 19 yards. According to<a href="https://twitter.com/Marcus_Mosher/status/1594751055895609348"> Marcus Mosher</a> on Twitter, Diggs has allowed just 29 yards in his last two games and 108 yards in his previous five games, now flirting with being No. 1 at his position himself. </p>
<h3 id="g4agoo"><strong>2. Dak Prescott, QB</strong></h3>
<p id="eXacH0">Dak Prescott is truly Bak. His performance against Minnesota was reminiscent of 2016 when Jason Garrett wanted to keep things simple for him and rely on the run game and defense to get the job done. Prescott finished completing 22 of 25 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns.</p>
<p id="WiD9R2">Dak’s accuracy was on par with his best ever. Multiple times he didn’t force anything but went through his progressions to the check-down. One of those progressions ended up Pollard’s first touchdown. When the pressure is off, Prescott is among the best. </p>
<h3 id="QlJJza"><strong>1. Micah Parsons, DE/LB</strong></h3>
<p id="Qgu5vM">I can’t imagine what it’s like to be a gazelle in the savanna of Africa. Not only must it be terrifying to run away from lions all day, but one that’s pissed off must be even scarier. Micah Parsons won the game for the Cowboys 1:52 into the game. That is the exact moment he caused the strip-sack fumble on Kirk Cousins.</p>
<p id="4Z8Unq">Parsons had a game similar to his Bengals performance, where he was better than all 21 players on the field, and it became the Parsons show. He finished with two sacks and should have been four if he didn’t let Cousins go and got to Nick Mullens quicker in garbage time. The only complaint is that he should have never gone back in the game after the score was out of reach. He got banged up again going into a short week, so there needs to be better decision-making on Mike McCarthy’s part.</p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/11/23/23473543/dallas-cowboys-roster-power-rankings-week-12-vikings-gameBrandon_Loree2022-11-23T11:00:00-06:002022-11-23T11:00:00-06:00Grading the Cowboys Week 11 win over the Minnesota Vikings
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<p>The Cowboys have put the rest of the NFL on notice after a monster game against the Vikings. </p> <p id="1zGlCd">It felt like the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> were limping into Week 11, considering how the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>’ game ended the week prior. What a difference a week makes, as Dallas found their swagger and put up a monster performance against a then 8-1 <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> squad. The 40-3 road victory marks a franchise record for the largest win. The best part about that new franchise record is that it was done against an 8-1 team. Dallas has put the league on notice with that performance as they stake their claim to being a <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> contender in 2022. With such a great performance by the team as a whole, the grading this week will certainly be much better than what it was in Week 10.</p>
<h3 id="Xfq9ds"><strong>From inefficient last week, to a well-oiled machine on offense this week</strong></h3>
<h3 id="CYu7Qm"><strong>Grade: A</strong></h3>
<p id="1i98OT">The Cowboys offense was firing on all cylinders in Week 11 and put on a show. Starting with quarterback Dak Prescott, games like this one are the ones where his big contract can be justified. Prescott took tremendous care of the football and completed 88% of his attempts. Speaking of the passing attempts, he threw the ball only 25 times this week which is almost half of what he had attempted in Week 10. Keeping Dak to around a maximum of 35 pass attempts per game should be a big emphasis in the weekly game plans. </p>
<p id="X7JeZ1">What the Cowboys also need to continue is pounding the rock with one of the league’s best one-two rushing duos, Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Both players carried the mail 15 times on the afternoon. Pollard was obviously the more flashy of the two, but Zeke did reach the endzone on the ground twice in Week 11. Pollard would also have two scores of his own, but in his case, it was in the air. Tony Pollard was the most electric player on the field for both sides this week, and the stats back it up. Pollard rushed for 80 yards with an average yards per carry of 5.3, and also caught six balls for 109 yards. Nearly 200 yards of the offensive output was from Pollard, and at this rate, it seems like Tony Pollard’s contract for next season is getting larger and larger. </p>
<h3 id="L8f2wf"><strong>Guess who’s back? It’s the elite Cowboys defense we’ve been accustomed to seeing in 2022</strong></h3>
<h3 id="GyvE3L"><strong>Grade: A</strong></h3>
<p id="8a0AE3">The previous two contests prior to the Vikings matchup in Week 11, featured a Cowboys defense that continually was getting gashed, primarily in the run game. The <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> ran for 240 yards in Week 8, and even after the bye week in Week 9, Dallas allowed the Packers to run for 207 yards. Giving up back to back 200-yard rushing games on defense is not a recipe for success. </p>
<p id="zos6yV">Thankfully in Week 11, those tides seemed to shift in the right direction even with this unit facing one of the better backs in the league today, Dalvin Cook. Cook did average 6.5 yards a carry which obviously isn’t a good look, but the Vikings continually fell behind the chains which caused Dalvin Cook to only carry the ball 11 times during the game. </p>
<p id="VF03MH">The Dallas pass rush group sacked Kirk Cousins seven times and were constantly putting Cousins under pressure all game long. The Vikings’ offensive line was simply outmatched by the talented and deep assortment of pass rushers the Cowboys possess. In order for Dallas’ defense to protect themselves from getting gashed in the run game, the best remedy seems to be the pass rush. If the Cowboys pass rush can put opposing offenses behind the chains, it will force them to abandon the run which is something the Cowboys want given how poorly that area of the game has been defended. </p>
<p id="NhckxN">The pass rush also had a major impact on the wide receiver group of the Vikings, as superstar wideout Justin Jefferson was held to three catches for just 33 yards. Even with the pass rush being as dominant as it was, kudos to the Cowboys secondary for shutting down a top level pass catching group of Minnesota. </p>
<h3 id="C3bdWd"><strong>The special teams unit was much busier in Week 11, and once again proved how elite they are</strong></h3>
<h3 id="Hr16c7"><strong>Grade: A</strong></h3>
<p id="ynKM1U">There have been some instances throughout the 2022 season where this group has had a light workload. Cowboys punter Bryan Anger certainly had a light workload with only two punts on the day, but both of those punts were a thing a beauty as both boots landed inside the 20. </p>
<p id="FqJf6P">Return specialist KaVontae Turpin also had a light afternoon and didn’t do anything that would put the Cowboys in harm’s way, although he did bobble one punt that was recovered. Even though he hasn’t returned one to the house yet, he has been a steady force in the return game all season. </p>
<p id="VLIaDS">Kicker Brett Maher has been a revelation this season. He’s made over 90% of his field goal tries and also over 96% of his extra points. It truly does not get much better than that from a kicking perspective. Maher, to his credit. made not one, but two 60-yard kicks to end the half this week. One of those didn’t count after an odd review situation, but Money Maher made the second attempt from 60 yards look like a piece of cake. It’s one thing to be an accurate kicker, it’s another thing to be an accurate kicker with arguably one of the biggest leg’s in league history. Maher has become a weapon that head coach Mike McCarthy has no hesitation in calling into action. It’s a nice feeling knowing that the special teams unit as a whole is if not the best, at least one of the best in the league today.</p>
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https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/11/23/23472493/grading-cowboys-vikings-week-11-winBrandon.Clements2022-11-23T09:00:00-06:002022-11-23T09:00:00-06:00Tony Pollard named NFC Offensive Player of the Week
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<figcaption>Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Tony Pollard had a career day in Dallas’ blowout win over Minnesota in Week 11.</p> <p id="7oZ0cw">Tony Pollard has a few career firsts in the Cowboys’ big win over the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>. His exploits led to another first for the Dallas running back; Pollard was just named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week.</p>
<p id="NdNVGf">Pollard finished the day with 80 yards rushing, 109 receiving, and two touchdowns as a receiver. His totals in the passing game were both career highs, as were the 189 total offensive yards he put up. It was also the first time that Pollard topped 100 receiving yards or had multiple touchdowns in the passing game.</p>
<p id="dM0Dkk">It’s the first time a Cowboys player has been given the award in 2022. Dak Prescott was honored three times in 2021.</p>
<p id="lFOjkw">Already putting together the best season so far of his four-year NFL career, Pollard’s big day cemented his place among the league’s most dynamic offensive weapons. It also put him in some elite company in the Cowboys’ hallowed history at running back.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tony Pollard has been named NFC offensive player of the week. He had a career-high 189 scrimmage yards (109 receiving, 80 rushing) and 2 TDs on Sunday <a href="https://t.co/gmsEi6LF3m">pic.twitter.com/gmsEi6LF3m</a></p>— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmachota/status/1595415215998472192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tony Pollard became the third Cowboys running back to win NFC Offensive Player of the Week since 1990 (Emmitt Smith and Ezekiel Elliott). Pollard had a career-high 189 total yards in 40-3 win over Vikings, including TD catches of 30 and 68 yards. <a href="https://t.co/EAuU8YQJyw">pic.twitter.com/EAuU8YQJyw</a></p>— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/GehlkenNFL/status/1595416884354195458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2022</a>
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<p id="mIkRMB">As with any player in a contract year, Pollard’s production can be bittersweet. While we revel in his accomplishments now and how he’s helping the Cowboys this season, he could very well be putting his free agency value outside of Dallas’ fiscal strategy in 2023.</p>
<p id="VU3bim">Still, that’s a problem for the offseason. For now, we’re thoroughly enjoying Tony Pollard’s breakout season and look forward more versatile performances like the one against the Vikings.</p>
<p id="OA3WEd">Hopefully, he’s still got plenty left in the tank for the Giants this Thursday.</p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/11/23/23475044/cowboys-tony-pollard-nfc-offensive-player-of-the-week-vikings-gameJess Haynie2022-11-22T19:00:00-06:002022-11-22T19:00:00-06:00After further review: Dak Prescott has one of his best games and defense enjoys an early feast
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<p>Re-watching the Cowboys vs. Vikings game film can be instructive.</p> <p id="517NSf">The game couldn’t have started any better for the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> when Micah Parsons got loose around the edge and had a sack/strip on <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> quarterback Kirk Cousins on the third play of the game. Sadly, the Cowboys only got a field goal out of it and then we watched the Vikings march down the field 69 yards on 10 plays to even the score. At that point, it looked like this game could be trouble, but that feeling went away really quickly.</p>
<p id="lFMDZp">The Vikings never scored again. In fact, they never crossed midfield again. The Cowboys proceeded to score the next 37 points of the game with Cousins spending the greater part of the afternoon on his back. It was a phenomenal display from the offense, defense, and even the special teams. </p>
<p id="DbpCxK">How did this happen? There are a lot of good things from this game that should make Cowboys fans feel great about where this team could go. Let’s take a closer look and see what things stood out after further review.</p>
<h3 id="9QPT9A">DAK PRESCOTT WAS BRILLIANT</h3>
<p id="FaJ8wK">We’ve seen a lot of great performances over Prescott’s career, and this one qualifies as one of his better ones. He didn’t have outrageous yardage totals (finished with 276 passing yards) and his two touchdowns came courtesy of the legs of Tony Pollard, but that doesn’t tell the story. Dak was super accurate in this one, completing 22 of 25 passes. His 88% completion percentage was the second-highest of his career. Prescott’s pre-snap recognition was outstanding and he was very decisive on many of his throws.</p>
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<p id="zO2DKo">But the real treat was watching Prescott go through his progressions. He wasn’t frantic, he had a nice bounce to his step, and he saw the field extremely well. The protection was outstanding as Prescott never was sacked and the one time he was almost taken down, my TV must’ve glitched because he magically got away. Watching him check from one option to the next was beautiful and it reminded us that he possesses the mental processing as well as the physical capability to play quarterback at a high level.</p>
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<h3 id="J7yarr">THE MASERATI TP20</h3>
<p id="wozEW2">They say the Maserati MC20 can hit 189 miles per hour. Well, the Maserati TP20 hit 189 total scrimmage yards on Sunday as the Cowboys' best offensive weapon was flying down the autobahn.</p>
<p id="24qHox">Pollard’s explosiveness as a receiver resulted in two big-play touchdowns for the Cowboys' offense, but he was dancing around as a rusher as well. He hits the holes so fast, and if there is nothing there, he’ll pull up, shift down for split second, and then gun it! It’s truly a sight to see.</p>
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<h3 id="jTOwnI">SACK’EM IF YOU GOT HIM</h3>
<p id="hQoEtu">Thanks to some stops on early downs and the offense firing on all cylinders, the game script provided some great opportunities for the defense to do what they do best, go after the quarterback. And they didn’t disappoint. In all, the defense sacked Cousins so many times that it would make Monica Geller blush. In case you missed it, we’ve collected them for your viewing pleasure.</p>
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<p id="AaO2y8">Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, and Dante Fowler have to be one of the most impressive four-horseman pass-rushing groups in the league and anytime we see them all line up in the Nascar package, well, good luck Mr. Quarterback. And while edge rusher #5 Sam Williams didn’t get in on the fun in sacking Cousins, he did come away with two stops behind the line of scrimmage. The rook continues to look good.</p>
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<h3 id="OFiaEq">RUN DEFENSE IMPROVEMENT?</h3>
<p id="OvjNrX">We all anxiously awaited to see how this defense would respond to getting torched in the running game over their previous two games. On the surface, the Cowboys shut down the Vikings' running game as Minnesota only had 73 yards on the ground. But a closer look shows that the Vikings just didn’t commit to the ground attack, especially around the outside.</p>
<p id="Yp9FTa">It wasn’t surprising to see the Vikings throw the ball as it’s been their forte all year, but to not even attack the Cowboys' biggest weakness? That was odd. It’s hard to know if the team has made any improvements in this area when they weren’t really challenged. And on the few times they were, they still showed signs of vulnerability.</p>
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<h3 id="Aa2sty">SPECIAL TEAMS</h3>
<p id="S3gOH3">The offense was rolling, the defense was rolling, and the special teams was... you guessed it, rolling. It’s easy to overlook the special teams because of how dominant the other two were, but let’s break it down.</p>
<p id="SXFD0a">Bryan Anger only punted twice, but when he did, he kicked the snot out of the ball and had a punt downed inside the five-yard line.</p>
<p id="l9ckZ2">Brett Maher is incredible. It’s almost a fairy tale how he just keeps not missing kicks. Even when the NFL officiating crew tried to freeze him after knocking down a 60-yard kick, he turned around and did it again. He had three kicks of 50+ yards on Sunday.</p>
<p id="Fm0nqS">And even though it resulted in nothing, Luke Gifford had another great play in punt coverage. Every week he’s doing something and against the Vikings, he made a nice play on the ball causing Jalen “the guy who the Eagles selected over Justin Jefferson” Reagor. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It seems like every week in my film review Luke Gifford makes some type of splash play whether it's forcing a fumble, recovering a fumble, or forcing another fumble, but I always gloss over it. Not this time. The guy's a special teams ace. <a href="https://t.co/q6oLywmXPz">pic.twitter.com/q6oLywmXPz</a></p>— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyPhantom24/status/1594849485234245632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a>
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https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/11/22/23472145/cowboys-vikings-film-review-dak-prescott-micah-parsonsDan Rogers2022-11-22T11:00:00-06:002022-11-22T11:00:00-06:00The McCarthy Chronicles: Cowboys remind the NFL who they are
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<p>The Cowboys response to a bad loss is exactly what you want in the NFL.</p> <p id="4RNtJM">Let’s turn the clocks back to last year for a moment. Coincidentally, the Cowboys had just beaten the Vikings on the road to improve to 6-1. More impressive is the fact that they did so with Cooper Rush making his first career start. For a week, it felt like the Cowboys were unbeatable. Then they got shellacked by a middling Broncos team just a week later. </p>
<p id="6gTDaL">There was talk all week of the Broncos “solving” the Cowboys and creating a blueprint to beat them. But the players and coaches knew they just let an inferior team beat them. So they followed it up by tearing the Falcons apart piece by piece to the tune of 43-3 final score. </p>
<p id="WEXOuF">As the saying goes, history doesn’t repeat itself but it does rhyme. The Cowboys, fresh off a disappointing overtime loss to a middling <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> team, were looking to make a statement. And just like last year, they did so in spectacular fashion, winning by almost the same exact score, 40-3. </p>
<p id="FD1DXP">The final score isn’t the only thing that’s different, though. Last year, the Cowboys “got right” against a Falcons team that was overachieving at 4-4 coming into the game. Blowing them out wasn’t anything special, just what the Cowboys were supposed to do. The Vikings team that just got demolished, though, is very different. They were 8-1, tied for the best record in the NFL, and had just knocked off the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> favorite <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> a week prior. </p>
<p id="wTXeWS">This was exactly what the Cowboys - and, more importantly, Mike McCarthy - needed. A week ago, they lost in overtime after blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. While McCarthy had said all the right things heading into that game, playing against his former employer, the players had admitted both before and after the game that they wanted to win it for him. Instead, they let it slip right through their fingers. </p>
<p id="E0GUt9">It was a surprising result in the context of the season, as the Cowboys have played the part of a scrappy, resilient team all year. To see that identity slip away and blow a lead against a mediocre team in a game that meant so much to the head coach was disappointing, and McCarthy hinted at that immediately after the game too. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy when asked about player frustration in the locker room after yesterday's loss in Green Bay: "There was a ton of red-ass. A ton of disappointment. A lot of anger. There was a lot said between a lot of people. And I love that."</p>— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmachota/status/1592278803367317507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2022</a>
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<p id="4tAiQS">The Cowboys seemingly understood that they had cost themselves an opportunity to win the game. But how would they respond, especially with the red-hot Vikings up next? Well, the players certainly didn’t shy away from the moment. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dak Prescott on Cowboys (6-3) at Vikings (8-1) Sunday: "This is a playoff game. ...We know what this means. We know what this means in the division. We know what this means in the NFC." Team focused on showing "the team that we are in all aspects of our game."</p>— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/GehlkenNFL/status/1593352020320288768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2022</a>
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<p id="71nXNd">By their own doing, the team set the stage for their performance against the Vikings to be the true indicator of who they are, and by extension, who McCarthy is as a coach. Had they come out flat against the Vikings and laid an egg, or even lost in another close game, the story would have been about the Cowboys once again failing to break the glass and ascend into the upper echelon of contenders. </p>
<p id="vxg30T">It should speak volumes that this wasn’t the case. McCarthy has shown a keen sense for the temperature of his locker room all year, first by navigating through Dak Prescott’s absence and now in responding to the team’s first loss since their quarterback returned. The theme for much of these McCarthy Chronicles this year has centered around the Cowboys finally representing the type of team that McCarthy has tried to create since he took the job, and absolutely obliterating a team like the Vikings only served to reinforce that message. </p>
<p id="1ZN0ab">Now, the Cowboys have to turn around in four days and play a Giants team they’ve already beat once so far in a setting where the winner will have total ownership of second place in a surprisingly strong NFC East. The Cowboys just reminded the NFL of who they are, and now they’ve got a chance to double down on Thanksgiving. </p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/11/22/23471020/mike-mccarthy-cowboys-big-win-vikings-dak-prescott-micah-parsonsDavid Howman2022-11-22T08:00:00-06:002022-11-22T08:00:00-06:00Crunching the glorious Cowboys stats against the Vikings
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<figcaption>The longest play of the season for Dallas was just one of many great plays. | Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cowboys dismantling of the Vikings was one of the best team performances you will ever see.</p> <p id="sYtK9F">When looking at the numbers from a game like the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> had against the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>, it is hard to even figure out where to start. Almost every statistic from this game is positive for the Cowboys, and most of them are superlative. There is not a lot to learn from this, except for an intriguing hint about some plans for the rest of the season. So let’s just sit back and revel in the goodness.</p>
<h3 id="VN1ski">First, though, this little thing from the snap counts</h3>
<p id="W8wJwS">Obviously the offensive line had a great day, with the running game clicking and no sacks allowed. But in the second half, we saw something many of us have been waiting eagerly for. Jason Peters came in for 20 snaps, sending Connor McGovern to the sidelines. But instead of Peters going in at LG, he lined up at LT and rookie Tyler Smith went back to the LG position he had practiced through most of training camp before Tyron Smith was injured. It certainly looks like the staff wants Tyler to be ready to work full-time at guard once Tyron is back.</p>
<p id="qaz0YH">Tyler may be the future at LT, but right now, moving him back to LG allows the Cowboys to put not only their best five linemen on the field, but to put them in the best position to succeed. It is possible, although a bit speculative, that they might have Peters start at LT in a couple of weeks to help get Tyler locked in at guard for the playoffs. And when Tyron is ready to play, the staff has a decision to make as to whether he goes in right away or Peters keeps the starting job to let Tyron ramp up a bit with limited reps. In either case, the Cowboys will have one of the best backups for the position in the league.</p>
<p id="hTgirT">With having to shuffle things due to Tyron’s injury and the depth issues that other injuries have caused, this has been a remarkable job by the staff in managing things. The level of success to date is more than we could have hoped. Patience has been key. They gave Peters plenty of time to first get back into football shape after he was signed and then to recover after he was nicked up. Now they are finally getting things where they want as the team gets to the final drive for the playoffs. This is good. Very good.</p>
<p id="ptP3EL">On to the fun stuff.</p>
<h3 id="FjMERk">Dak was nearly perfect</h3>
<p id="tHMDi1">The numbers themselves are impressive. Dak Prescott went 22 for 25 passing, for 276 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and no sacks. He also chipped in 16 yards rushing, including one very nice eleven-yard gain. You can’t ask for more, especially when the running game is also working very nicely. If he can keep coming out and playing this well from the very start, this team is going to be in the hunt for the number one seed if the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> stumble even a little bit.</p>
<p id="LE50Ml">This video clip from our Dan Rogers is a nice way of illustrating just how good Prescott was.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I don't think people realize just how on-target Dak Prescott was in this game. Zero errant throws. He wasn't even close to being picked off.<br><br>Here are all three of his incompletions from the Vikings game. Don't blink. It's over quick. <a href="https://t.co/33yXvl4Y6p">pic.twitter.com/33yXvl4Y6p</a></p>— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyPhantom24/status/1594703932198109184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a>
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<h3 id="Vdiljt">Spreading the ball around</h3>
<p id="i3sOAF">For the past several games, there has been a huge concern about the lack of viable targets for Prescott. They got that fixed in a hurry this game, as he (and Cooper Rush) completed passes to ten different receivers. Tony Pollard, CeeDee Lamb, Noah Brown, and Michael Gallup all had catches of 19 yards or more, so it wasn’t just short stuff, either. The distribution was great as well, with four players getting four or more targets, but no one more than six.</p>
<p id="e4At2q">Suddenly defenses have a problem trying to cover everyone. And with the Odell Beckham rumors swirling, this could get even better just in time for the playoffs.</p>
<h3 id="2LJSbL">They finally figured out how to maximize the running backs</h3>
<p id="0rEIIx">The running game contributed 151 yards to the impressive 458 total gained. And the backs scored all four of the Dallas touchdowns. This was a nearly perfect usage of the two weapons the Cowboys have to deploy (plus a little contribution from backup Malik Davis in garbage time.)</p>
<p id="wxTgfo">Pollard was the star of the game. He had 80 yards on the ground, including three runs of 17 or more yards. He really showed out as a receiver, however, with touchdown catches of 68 (the longest play of the year for the Cowboys) and 30 yards, and a final tally of six catches for 109 yards.</p>
<p id="6WwjVV">Let’s be honest. Ever since Pollard joined the team, we have been longing for them to fully utilize his impressive skills. This was extremely welcome. It also is very late. This is Pollard’s contract year, and the way he has been coming on this year, he is likely going to price himself out of Stephen Jones’ pie. That is a concern for the offseason, however. We just need to hope that Kellen Moore keeps dialing Pollard’s number up the rest of the way this season.</p>
<p id="TCLDrs">Just a cursory look at what Ezekiel Elliott did may seem unimpressive, even desultory. He only had 42 yards rushing on 15 carries, a paltry 2.8 yards per attempt. That misses the real contribution, his proven ability to get one or two yards when the team really needs it, including two touchdowns against Minnesota. The best illustration of that is the first touchdown of the game. Pollard had two of his long runs in the drive, so when the Cowboys got a first and goal from the two-yard line, they gave Pollard a chance to cap it off. Twice. He only got one yard on the two rushes, leaving Dallas with a third and goal from the one. Moore (or Mike McCarthy) sent Elliott in, and while he only got about a yard over the goal line, that was all they needed. </p>
<p id="hAin0i">The idea of using Elliott and Pollard in a 50/50 split on running plays is exactly what the team did, with each having 15 carries in the game. It worked brilliantly. Keep that up, and prosper.</p>
<h3 id="c97IT6">Sack attack</h3>
<p id="eGqyMI">Pending the outcome of MNF, which is almost certainly not going to change things, the Cowboys lead the NFL in sacks with 42, six more than the second place <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a>. They maintained their lead with a ferocious pass rush that garnered seven sacks of Kirk Cousins, spread among five players. Micah Parsons and Dorance Armstrong each had two. Parsons is building his case to be DPOY, and Armstrong continues to be much better than anyone expected after he had to step up following the exit of Randy Gregory. That has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Dallas as Parsons and Armstrong have been joined by DeMarcus Lawrence, Dante Fowler, Donovan Wilson, and rookie Sam Williams in getting three or more sacks this year. Outside of the aberrant performance against the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>, teams just have had no way to stop the swarm of rushers the Cowboys send at them.</p>
<p id="CocTup">This was a case study in how effective the pass rush is. The Vikings had 159 yards passing, an impressive showing in itself for the defense, but netted only 110 due to the 49 yards lost to sacks. If you can hold an opponent to that little through the air, you can win a lot of games. If you do one other thing, which Dallas did.</p>
<h3 id="4h2oC9">The run defense finally stood up</h3>
<p id="fkSnJ7">After getting gouged for over 200 yards on the ground in the past two games, the worry coming into this game was whether Minnesota could exploit the run defense again. They didn’t, only getting 73 yards. A big part of that was that they only ran the ball 17 times, but the run defense was on point from the start. The first series of the game saw them stop the run twice to set up the third and three that resulted in the Parsons strip sack. From there on the game dictated that the Vikings could not lean on Dalvin Cook. That brings us to the next thing.</p>
<h3 id="ZHE0iW">Complementary football</h3>
<p id="cT2pnO">When your defense is getting stops, the offense is putting up points, and special teams are getting their job done, they all feed off each other. The offensive efficiency built a lead that just kept growing, allowing the pass rush to tee off successfully, and Brett Maher just needed them to get close enough to kick from midfield to add three points. </p>
<p id="lOwCMo">This was a true case of a team hitting on all cylinders, and this was no little four banger. They were a big, roaring V8 in this game. It was a record setting performance as the 40-3 score was the biggest margin of victory on the road in Dallas history.</p>
<h3 id="xzInLQ">The Cowboys may have a killer short yardage play</h3>
<p id="LhUKF4">This is an interesting note from the game.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Four Cowboys tight ends played at least 15 offensive snaps in Sunday’s win over Vikings. Team unveiled a grouping with all four on field at same time (Sean McKeon at fullback). Used on five plays, including both of Ezekiel Elliott’s 1-yard TDs and a third-and-1 conversion. <a href="https://t.co/G87sGw8jQZ">pic.twitter.com/G87sGw8jQZ</a></p>— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/GehlkenNFL/status/1594662474170728448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a>
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<p id="N8N4Dp">This is a wild looking personnel package, and just one more wrinkle for opponents to have to plan for. We love the plays that result in chunk gains, but those short yardage successes are vital as well. Put Elliott behind all that beef and good things ensue, which is one more reason to love the one-two punch at running back.</p>
<h3 id="foyJSD">One last thing about the play counts</h3>
<p id="qU3BcL">Things were so out of hand that both teams began pulling starters in the fourth quarter, and for a change, the Cowboys actually let the backups play. By the end, it looked like a preseason game, with Rush throwing the ball to Davis and Jalen Tolbert while Josh Ball and Dakoda Shepley got some reps blocking. That is valuable game time experience for the backups. Rush went four for five passing, which is nice to see. At least it is nice for him, as he is likely to get a nice little payday from someone in the offseason. Quality backup QBs are at a premium in the league, and he may be the best there is this year.</p>
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https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/11/22/23471435/dallas-cowboys-minnesota-vikings-stats-dak-prescott-tony-pollardTom Ryle2022-11-21T19:45:00-06:002022-11-21T19:45:00-06:005 stars from the Cowboys’ 40-3 victory versus the Vikings
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<p>Micah Parsons and the Cowboys feasted on the Vikings ahead of a Thanksgiving.</p> <p id="bL7yWT">What a difference a week makes. After the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> lost to the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>, they knew they had questions to answer. Would they be able to shore up the run defense? Would they be able to clean up the miscommunication issues in the passing game? Most importantly, could they answer back versus a top team in the conference, in the form of the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>? </p>
<p id="ryFh75">The answers to those questions were a resounding yes. Dalvin Cook, and a potent Vikings offense, were held in check. Dak Prescott and his receivers were in perfect sync as he made light work of the Vikings’ secondary. The team deserves a lot of praise for how they responded, especially a select few that were this week’s five stars. </p>
<h3 id="SaZC6S">On the prowl</h3>
<p id="rZZ7io">What more can you say about Micah Parsons? There’s nothing he can’t do. He can go 100MPH bending off the edge on the way to the quarterback. He can barrel over the center en route to the backfield. When Parsons is playing the way he did against Minnesota, nothing is getting in between the lion and his prey. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Micah Parsons doing Micah Parsons things! Sack + forced fumble and the <a href="https://twitter.com/dallascowboys?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasCowboys</a> have the ball!<br><br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DALvsMIN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DALvsMIN</a> on CBS<br> : Stream on NFL+ <a href="https://t.co/nraAG7X28b">https://t.co/nraAG7X28b</a> <a href="https://t.co/uarCmEKc74">pic.twitter.com/uarCmEKc74</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1594443067112624130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a>
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<p id="znUbs3">Parsons was able to pounce on the Vikings’ offensive line early in the game. On the opening drive, Parsons’ relentless effort was front and center. Minnesota was facing a 3rd and 3 and trying to extend the drive when Kirk Cousins dropped back to pass. Seeing nothing immediately, Cousins tried to extend the play outside the pocket to his right. Parsons, not to be denied, came from the other side of the play to chase down Kirk Cousins to force a fumble that the Cowboys recovered deep in Vikings territory. </p>
<p id="oeq4Bv">That was the tip of the iceberg. Parsons was all over Cousins and the Vikings’ offensive line. Parsons finished his day with two sacks and five quarterback hits. Parsons didn’t single-handedly shut down the Vikings’ offense, but he might have been close as a one-man demolition team.</p>
<h3 id="AsBmYa">Purple people eaten by Pollard</h3>
<p id="bVVyeC">One question Cowboys Nation was asking itself was how the Cowboys would manage the use of both Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. The short answer is seamless. It’s long been believed that there are defined roles for each runner based on their unique skill sets. Elliott, the downhill bruiser, and Pollard, the elusive runner/pass catcher. </p>
<p id="ffkxsW">While it will be noted that the Cowboys worked both into the offense very well, Pollard is the lone back featured in ‘5 Stars’. His versatility was once again on display. When Pollard wasn’t freezing Vikings defenders in the hole, before bouncing it outside for a sizeable gain, he was terrorizing the Vikings’ defense in the passing game. Pollard scored twice through the air. </p>
<p id="b9tPIq">His first was set up by an excellent block from Dalton Schultz. Dak Prescott dropped back and scanned the field until he saw Pollard in the flat. Prescott delivered a shot pass to Pollard. Once Pollard was out in the open field, he made one defender miss and was in for the score. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tony Pollard joins the Week 11 multi TD club! <a href="https://twitter.com/Tp__5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tp__5</a><br><br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DALvsMIN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DALvsMIN</a> on CBS<br> : Stream on NFL+ <a href="https://t.co/nraAG7X28b">https://t.co/nraAG7X28b</a> <a href="https://t.co/uvDISVPDyH">pic.twitter.com/uvDISVPDyH</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1594469240882331650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a>
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<p id="3SUAkc">His second touchdown catch came on a deep throw down the right sideline. Matched up with a linebacker, Pollard went sprinting downfield, pulling in a perfect pass from Prescott over his shoulder for a 68-yard touchdown. Pollard continued to shine, as he delivered a staggering 189 yards from scrimmage. </p>
<h3 id="qCGsqa">Money Maher</h3>
<p id="oROqMp">Maher does not miss. In his first stint with the team, many were pleased with Maher’s ability to make long-distance field goals. They weren’t pleased, however, with his consistency and accuracy. Since coming back to Dallas, Maher has been a changed man. </p>
<p id="ZAMj0o">Maher made all four of his field goal attempts, including all four of his extra-point attempts. Two of his kicks were so important because they gave Dallas some much-needed momentum. His 53-yard field goal gave the Cowboys a 10-point lead and allowed them to exhale some after not being able to capitalize earlier on a forced turnover deep in Vikings territory.</p>
<p id="Tybdqd">Had Maher missed that kick, Minnesota would have been starting their next drive near midfield and down only one score. His other big kick was a 60-yard laser driven through the upright to end the first half, which he was forced to kick a second time because of questionable officiating. Presently, Maher is fourth in field goal percentage for kickers with twenty attempts or more at 90.9%. Maher has been absolute money. </p>
<h3 id="PGRLsc">McCarthy’s risk management</h3>
<p id="DCfzkj">Mike McCarthy was under the microscope last week after losing a two-score lead in the fourth quarter. It was a completely different story against the Vikings. </p>
<p id="8F9T3P">The Cowboys controlled the time of possession with an advantage of 37:24 versus 22:36 for Minnesota. The reason for this was balance. Not only balance in the running game, but balance in properly weighing risks versus the rewards. </p>
<p id="zy6pL3">Leading 13-3 and having forced the Vikings to punt, the Cowboys began a drive at their 41-yard line with just over four minutes left in the first half. After scoring in Tony Pollard’s 30-yard touchdown reception, they were able to get the ball back. </p>
<p id="o7byC0">Pinned deep in their territory and with only 31 seconds left in the half, McCarthy’s approach was perfect. Refusing to be conservative and let their foot off the gas, McCarthy’s offense was able to execute a two-minute drive in 41 seconds that was capped off by Maher’s 60-yard field goal. Well done, coach. </p>
<h3 id="sw8io4">Dorance strongarms the Vikings’ offensive line</h3>
<p id="op3bKp">The Cowboys struggled mightily to rush the passer last week. It’s reasonable to think that is because Micah Parsons wasn’t his usual disruptive self. However, nobody else besides put consistent pressure on the quarterback. To be more specific, Dorance Armstrong.</p>
<p id="uBaX1X">Armstrong was rendered a non-factor last week and that trend could not continue in Minnesota. Armstrong, in the middle of a breakout season, was wrecking the Vikings’ offensive line. Minnesota’s unit was reshuffled due to injury and Armstrong was able to take advantage of the opportunity. </p>
<p id="NJrD2Q">Armstrong was able to get to Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins for two sacks, his sixth and seventh of the year. He and Micah Parsons met Cousins in the backfield a few times. A welcome sight to see for a pass rush that needed to be more consistent. </p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/11/21/23470403/cowboys-40-3-victory-vikings-micah-parsons-tony-pollardLP Cruz