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Ezekiel Elliott snuck into a crease, cleared his way outside and then flipped over into the end zone. With the match stopped, the Dallas Cowboys' running back got up and added a fourth-quarter lead with an arrogant march worthy of a fighter.
Elliott has released the "Billionaire's Leg" – the iconic sashay of Conor McGregor, MMA fighter and guest of honor from team owner, Jerry Jones.
And just like that, the Cowboys feel like they're back on the American side after their 40-7 loss to the highly-fashionable but disappointing Jacksonville Jaguars.
Shortly after Elliott's 15-yard touchdown, the retransmission camera cut Jacksonville's Jalen Ramsey off the bench. The corner half was motionless, staring into space.
This empty expression said a lot. But his teammate Jaguars, Malik Jackson, will summarize their performance perfectly later: "We were kicked ass today. I do not know what to tell you anymore. "
And that's where lies the reason why the NFL is so contrarian.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott celebrates after a touchdown in the first half of his 40-7 win over the Jaguars. (AP)
These days, any team can look like a fraud. Depending on the week, your favorite team can convert you from a fervent believer into an agnostic or even an absolute atheist. At any given time, potential playoff teams seem fragile, while stray franchises look amazingly like drummers around the world.
No matter what Sunday, so-called "elite" defenses (see: The Chicago Bears) can be distinguished by Brock Osweiler. And perennial lowlanders can fly high (see: New York Jets).
Parity in the NFL means that almost every division is up for grabs, including the North and South AFCs, as well as the East, North and South NFCs. The Los Angeles Rams, who have risen to 6-0 for the first time since 2001, and the Kanas City Chiefs (who lost to New England in the Sunday night game) seem to be the exceptions, but the defense Rams did not dominate.
And if you're not careful, you'll be fooled by a lot of paper tigers this season. Example: Jacksonville.
The Jaguars entered AT & T stadium, armed with NFL No. 1 defense (292.2 yards allowed), overpass defense (191 yards) and third-best points-per-game unit (17.2). But here they gave the Cowboys 218 yards with two minutes left in the first period.
By the time both teams left the field at halftime, the Cowboys were 24-0.
After allowing only 14 points and 259 total yards per game in the first four weeks of the season, the Jaguars have averaged 401 yards and 35 points over the past two weeks.
Despite all Ramsey's comments over the last few months, the still-playful halfback had few answers to his unit's affliction. When asked if the Jaguars (3-3) still had the best defense in the league, he replied, "We do not play like that."
And while their offensive Leonard Fournette less spat behind Blake Bortles (15 of 26, 149 yards, a touchdown, an interception), Cowboys' much-maligned Dak Prescott was cooking. The third-year quarterback was 17-27 for 183 yards, two touchdowns and 107.5 for smugglers. Prescott also ran for an 82-yard career high and a TD to set the tone for a Dallas offense that exploded for a total of 378 yards and set a season record for points.
And just like that, the Cowboys started a 3-0 home season for the first time since 1999.
One afternoon, Jason Garrett's team could do nothing wrong. Prescott was accurate and polite in the pocket. Little playmaker Beasley was unstoppable. And Elliott could not be content. Despite all their recent fights, lack of offensive cohesion and the issues surrounding their lack of true No. 1 catcher, the Cowboys (3-3) set up a full game from the initial kick, which caused a true explosion of the debate. Jaguars and their vaunted defense.
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