David Helman

Dallas Cowboys Insider

If we’re accustomed to the idea of an ethical victory within the NFL, is the Dallas Cowboys‘ most up-to-date victory a case of an ethical defeat?

Obviously, the report will not mirror that. Dallas eked out a 27-23 win towards the Houston Texans on Sunday to enhance to 10-3 and keep some hope of profitable the NFC East. But even contemplating all of the platitudes we like to repeat about life within the NFL — any given Sunday, no days off, all that enjoyable stuff — it is onerous to drum up a motive why this sport ought to have come right down to the ultimate seconds. The Cowboys entered the afternoon as 17-point favorites, such is the state of the Texans’ roster.

And not solely did it take an 11-play, 98-yard landing drive to stave off defeat, the Dallas protection additionally needed to climate a last-gasp effort that noticed a Hail Mary try by Davis Mills intercepted in the long run zone. If that wasn’t sufficient, do not enable your self to neglect the Cowboys had been solely in place to drive for the game-winning factors as a result of their protection engineered a goal-line stand that prevented the Texans from taking a 30-20 lead with lower than 5 minutes to play.

That’s the character of issues if you commit three turnovers, drop a possible landing cross and permit one of many league’s worst groups to transform 47% of its third downs — a far cry from their fee of simply 13% of their final three video games.

To give some credit score to Houston, the Texans are a scrappier staff than their 1-11-1 report may recommend. They at the moment are 1-5-1 in one-score video games, they usually have made life uncomfortable on playoff contenders just like the Chargers, Giants and Eagles.

Dallas Cowboys come again to win in Week 14

Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys come again to beat the Houston Texans with a last-minute drive to win 27-23.

Even nonetheless, Houston has a league-worst level differential of -103. The Eagles are truthfully a becoming comparability for Dallas, provided that they’re the NFC East leaders and the first contender within the NFC playoff image. Way again on Nov. 3, Houston performed its approach to a 14-14 halftime tie towards Philadelphia — solely to see the Eagles cruise, 14-3, after halftime and put away a 29-17 win.

It was simple to count on the same response for Dallas, given their latest outcomes. After all, the Cowboys have turned on the jets in a giant approach after sloppy begins, outscoring New York and Indianapolis, 54-14, after halftime of their final two video games. This time, the spark was a lot slower to reach. A Trevon Diggs fumble restoration early within the third quarter yielded no factors, because the Cowboys surprisingly refused to cross in a nine-play possession that noticed Ezekiel Elliott get stonewalled on the purpose line.

Dak Prescott additionally continued his up-and-down methods, tossing two extra picks to present him 9 in simply eight video games. It’s been a problem going again so far as earlier than Halloween, within the Week 8 win towards Chicago, and it feels extra alarming with every passing week.

More alarming, and extra urgent, comes the newest twist with the Cowboys’ offensive line. Right deal with Terence Steele exited the motion with an obvious knee damage, and the early experiences do not sound favorable. Josh Ball’s struggles as his substitute actually contributed to the issues on offense. Just in case one twist wasn’t sufficient, the scenario grew to become extra attention-grabbing when Jason Peters stepped in and stabilized the scenario on the game-winning drive. Peters constructed his Hall of Fame resume at left deal with and hadn’t performed on the alternative facet since 2005, additional emphasizing his standing as an All-Decade-caliber participant.

It’ll make for an attention-grabbing buildup to subsequent week’s journey to Jacksonville, in addition to the looming Christmas Eve conflict towards Philly. If Steele’s damage is extreme, will Peters discover a new house at proper deal with? Considering Tyron Smith is near coming back from an damage of his personal, would the Cowboys choose to maneuver Tyler Smith over to the appropriate facet? At least there are alternatives.

That appears like a theme for the day: looking for silver linings. The Cowboys performed poorly sufficient to obtain a scare from the league’s worst staff — however not so poorly that they paid for it within the standings. And so we march on, ready to see if this staff is able to sustaining its personal success.

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David Helman covers the Dallas Cowboys for FOX Sports. He beforehand spent 9 seasons overlaying the Cowboys for the staff’s official web site. In 2018, he gained a regional Emmy for his function in producing “Dak Prescott: A Family Reunion” in regards to the quarterback’s time at Mississippi State. Follow him on Twitter @davidhelman_.

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