[ad_1]
The fact that the Cowboys lost two key players in the team’s very first practice didn’t help either. On an offensive line that has apparently been bitten all year, the two starting tackles, Zack Martin and Cam Erving, were sidelined with an injury early in the game.
Without those two, especially Cornerstone Martin, the Dallas offense struggled with Ezekiel Elliott running for just 32 yards on 10 carries, with the team scoring just 60 rushing yards as the group. Andy Dalton completed 71. 4 percent of his passes, but totaled just 215 yards in the air, 112 to Amari Cooper, as the Cowboys finished with 247 total offensive yards.
On the other side of the ball, the Dallas defense surrendered 338 attacking yards, but were continually put in difficult situations due to questionable play calls and turnovers. Washington started three of their possessions deep in Cowboys territory and also had an interception return for a touchdown, those four swing swings totaling 24 points.
It was basically the difference in the game.
The Cowboys were able to get out on their first possession of the day and get on the board with a 33-yard basket from Greg Zuerlein. But points came at a price as starting left tackle Erving slumped in the disc’s sixth game with a knee injury, only to be followed four shots later by the starting right tackle and eternal All-Pro Martin leaving the match with a calf injury. .
To make matters worse, on the next defensive end in the series in Washington, Randy Gregory headed for the sideline with an eye injury (he would come back later), and the Cowboys agreed. in Washington two first downs by penalty. The visitors took advantage and walked 75 yards in 12 touchdown games, Antonio Gibson taking the top honors with a 5 yard run around the right end for a 7-3 lead.
Washington might have taken 6:53 to nibble on his 75 yards, but the Cowboys only needed 2:29 to go the same distance. Two plays in the second quarter, Dalton found Cooper on the straight sideline, the broad heading into the end zone for a 54-yard touchdown, the team’s longest score of the season.
Unfortunately, Washington responded with 10 unanswered points, starting with a 23-yard field goal. They then took a break when Dallas decided to make it fourth and one on their own 34-yard line. But Dalton’s quick pass to CeeDee Lamb remained incomplete, putting Washington in first on the pitch. And indeed, the team crossed the goal line when Alex Hill joined Logan Thomas for the score from 5 yards.
In an effort to regain momentum, Dalton took over with just over two minutes left in the quarterback and completed 7 of 8 passes for 40 yards to give Zuerlein a chance to throw a 32-yard field goal with 23 seconds to play. His successful start reduced the score to 17-13 at the break.
So much for the momentum. The Cowboys had obviously been hoping to take first possession in the second half and add to their points tally, but instead, the fifth fumble lost of the year by Ezekiel Elliott gave Washington the ball at the 33-line. Dallas yards. At least the defense held, in part thanks to a sack from DeMarcus Lawrence, with Washington having to settle for a 36-yard basket.
The Cowboys, however, finally took a break when pressure from defensive end Aldon Smith forced quarterback Alex Smith to throw himself wild and into the arms of waiting linebacker Jaylon Smith, who ran down the right sideline. on a 43-yard return to Washington 4. But Dallas couldn’t get in, dropping yards before Zuerlein converted the 28-yard field goal.
Even though the deficit was only four points, 20-16, any hope of a late return was quickly dashed. With the Cowboys facing a fourth and a 10 to their own 24-yard line, the team attempted an ill-advised false punt, a backhand from Cedrick Wilson who actually lost a yard. With that, Washington began its third possession of the game deep in Dallas territory.
And all the visitors needed was play to get into the end zone, Gibson rushing to the 23-yard left tackle for a touchdown. With a lead of 11, the game was essentially over.
Not that it mattered, but Washington would add 14 more points later to qualify the eruption. Gibson added another touchdown, this time a 37-yard run, which was followed by defensive end Montez Sweat and then hit a pass from Dalton in the air, catching it himself and running 15 yards for the score, the first touchdown of his young career.
With the loss, the Cowboys fell to 3-8 on the season and saw their hopes of winning the division become even more of a challenge, with the disappointing loss ending an already heartbreaking week.
[ad_2]
Source link