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Marcus Mariota's most stable game in five weeks led the Tennessee Titans (4-4) to a 28-14 victory over the Dallas Cowboys (3-5) on Monday night to conclude week 9. Here's what we learned:
1. The Titans did not win any matches in the month of October, but after the departure of AFC South, they returned from a long trip to London and the long week of subsequent leave, their most impressive performance since the fourth week. Tennessee has executed a game plan for balancing patients in attack, based on creating third manageable descents and extending readers. Mariota (21 of 29, 240 yards, 3 touchdowns) was the perfect leading player, making some of the most daring throws of his career and playing smart football. On Mariota's arms and legs, Tennessee converted 11 of the 14 third runs. The Titans held the ball for 34 minutes and hit the game only once. Mike Vrabel's defense intervened, holding Dallas scoreless in the second half thanks to a quick pass and well-planned blitzes. After eliminating the Cowboys from four consecutive games in the red zone at the end of the fourth quarter, Tennessee sealed the deal with a final conversion on the third attempt, an assist by Mariota. Just like that, the Titans are back in the AFC South, just 1.5 games away from the Houston Texans with a game to go against the leaders of the division.
2. The beginnings of Amari Cooper in Dallas were mixed. Acquired to "stretch the pitch," as Jerry Jones, owner of the Cowboys, told ESPN's Lisa Salters before the match, Cooper was actually more effective near the baton. Cooper aligned himself in the first moments against Malcolm Butler and continued to part with the former Patriots stud, starting with a first-quarter touchdown reception near the goal line. He led the teams with five catches for 58 yards at the front desk. But Cooper was also the target for a decisive choice in the red zone in the first half and was only targeted twice in the third and three times in the second half. The former Raider was third among Dallas receivers with just 2.08 yards of difference. It is too early to tell if Cooper was worth it in the first round, but there is no doubt that these Cowboys were in dire need of his services.
3. Cooper can not cure all the Dallas ailments in attack. The causes of the Cowboys' struggles date back to – again – Predictable and ineffective faceoffs (tips, passes, screens) from Scott Linehan, Fourth Year Offensive Coordinator; Ezekiel Elliott (61 yards in 17 carries) and a declining offensive line; Dak Prescott (five bags for the third time of the season).
Cowboys can not buy gifts either. Dallas had three chances to take control of this game early, thanks to two fumbles of the Titans, but cashed only one. Instead of going up 14-0 at the start of the first match, the Titans were 14-7 in the middle of the second. When seven-year-old Tennessee missed a goal early in the fourth quarter, Prescott responded by taking a sack in the foreground, handing it to nonprofit Zeke and taking another. Dallas scored 10 and the Titans salted the match with a long touchdown.
4. Are Sean Lee's days in Dallas numbered? The veteran captain was helped in the locker room in the third quarter after aggravating a thigh injury. Lee was sidelined for three games earlier this season. Jason Garrett told reporters that he expects Lee to be absent "a little bit". With Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch (nine tackles each) qualifying the shots in the center of the first seven Dallas, Lee could be consumable, without fault on his part. At this point in the ninth year of Lee's career, the best ability is availability, and the captain misses it.
5. Monday night marks the second consecutive game and the third this season in which Dion Lewis has eclipsed 100 yards total. Lewis won 19 races and was not always effective in the first runs. Too many of his errands end up going for a yard or a negative yard, but Lewis' versatility and use in the on-screen game proved useful as Tennessee moved away in the second half. Derrick Henry, meanwhile, played 14 strokes at the bottom of the season.
6. Titan linebackers have an excellent mentor at Vrabel, and it shows. Young Tennessee patrollers Jayon Brown and Harold Landry each had a bag, as did veterans Wesley Woodyard and Brian Orakpo.
7. Where is Dallas going from here? Jerry Jones has promised reporters that he will not fire anyone during the season. Jason Garrett is nothing new to offer. Another milquetoast season 8-8 is on the horizon. The Boys acquired Cooper to face in the NFC East, but the Redskins now have two games better than Dallas and the Eagles, followed by Golden Tate, are on the rise. Dallas is now in a series of five straight games against contenders for the playoffs (PHI, ATL, WAS, NO, PHI). Three more defeats and their post-season hopes are certainly kaput, a fate more and more likely to be next week. The change must come to an end, but when?
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