- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
- Messages
- 120,237
Five plays that shaped Cowboys' win
October, 13, 2014
By Jean-Jacques Taylor | ESPNDallas.com
There were 118 plays in the Dallas Cowboys' 30-23 win against Seattle. They weren't all created equal. It's never that way. Touchdowns and turnovers get most of the attention, but who wins or loses is often determined by plays that get lost in the shadows of those that command the most attention.
Here are five plays that shaped the Cowboys' win:
Play: Joseph Randle run
Situation: First-and-10 from Dallas 33
Score: Seattle leads, 10-0
Time: 5:25 left in first quarter
Taylor's Take: The Cowboys were reeling after Seattle returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and Tony Romo got bruised thanks to a hard shot by Bobby Wagner on the previous series. The Cowboys needed someone to make a play; Randle did. He burst up the middle on a stretch play to the left behind blocks from Travis Frederick and Zack Martin before he was dragged down at the Seattle 29. Four plays later, the Cowboys had their first touchdown and some much-needed momentum.
Play: Romo incompletion
Situation: Second-and-goal from Seattle 2
Score: Seattle leads, 10-0
Time: 2:38 left in second quarter
Taylor's Take: Gavin Escobar has played sparingly this season, but the Cowboys have always thought he'd be a good red zone option because of his size. Well, they lined him up outside and tried to throw him a back-shoulder fade. The timing was off, and Romo threw behind Escobar and right into the hands of Byron Maxwell, who dropped the ball. An interception there -- he might've returned it for a touchdown -- and the blowout would've commenced.
Play: Terrance Williams reception
Situation: Third-and-20 from Dallas 31
Score: Seattle leads, 23-20
Time: 4:55 left in second quarter
Taylor's Take: It was even more beautiful and spectacular than Williams' improbable touchdown catch last week. With Romo escaping yet another sack, he launched a perfect pass to the sideline that seemed destined to sail out of bounds. Suddenly, Williams stretched out and caught the ball, while somehow dragging his feet to stay inbounds. Entering Sunday, NFL teams had converted one of 55 third-and-20 situations. Four plays later, the Cowboys scored the go-ahead touchdown.
Play: Maxwell injury
Situation: Third-and-four from Seattle 24
Score: Seattle leads, 10-7
Time: 5:48 left in second quarter
Taylor's Take: Dez Bryant, lined up in the slot, had a step on Maxwell and a perfect throw from Romo would've probably resulted in a touchdown. But he was flushed right and forced to throw off his back leg, which gave Maxwell time to break up the pass. Maxwell hurt his knee when he landed and missed the rest of the game, which forced Seattle to use Richard Shermanexclusively against Bryant and put Marcus Burley on Williams.The Cowboys attacked Burley consistently throughout the rest of the game.
Play: Brandon Carr pass deflection
Situation: Third-and-nine from Dallas 30
Score: Tied, 20-20
Time: 8:25 left in fourth quarter
Taylor's Take: Jermaine Kearse lined up in the slot and ran a nice post pattern against Carr and had a set to the inside. Carr made a diving deflection, stretching out his right arm to deflect the pass just as it arrived. Instead of having a first down at the Dallas 10, Seattle settled for a field goal.
October, 13, 2014
By Jean-Jacques Taylor | ESPNDallas.com
There were 118 plays in the Dallas Cowboys' 30-23 win against Seattle. They weren't all created equal. It's never that way. Touchdowns and turnovers get most of the attention, but who wins or loses is often determined by plays that get lost in the shadows of those that command the most attention.
Here are five plays that shaped the Cowboys' win:
Play: Joseph Randle run
Situation: First-and-10 from Dallas 33
Score: Seattle leads, 10-0
Time: 5:25 left in first quarter
Taylor's Take: The Cowboys were reeling after Seattle returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and Tony Romo got bruised thanks to a hard shot by Bobby Wagner on the previous series. The Cowboys needed someone to make a play; Randle did. He burst up the middle on a stretch play to the left behind blocks from Travis Frederick and Zack Martin before he was dragged down at the Seattle 29. Four plays later, the Cowboys had their first touchdown and some much-needed momentum.
Play: Romo incompletion
Situation: Second-and-goal from Seattle 2
Score: Seattle leads, 10-0
Time: 2:38 left in second quarter
Taylor's Take: Gavin Escobar has played sparingly this season, but the Cowboys have always thought he'd be a good red zone option because of his size. Well, they lined him up outside and tried to throw him a back-shoulder fade. The timing was off, and Romo threw behind Escobar and right into the hands of Byron Maxwell, who dropped the ball. An interception there -- he might've returned it for a touchdown -- and the blowout would've commenced.
Play: Terrance Williams reception
Situation: Third-and-20 from Dallas 31
Score: Seattle leads, 23-20
Time: 4:55 left in second quarter
Taylor's Take: It was even more beautiful and spectacular than Williams' improbable touchdown catch last week. With Romo escaping yet another sack, he launched a perfect pass to the sideline that seemed destined to sail out of bounds. Suddenly, Williams stretched out and caught the ball, while somehow dragging his feet to stay inbounds. Entering Sunday, NFL teams had converted one of 55 third-and-20 situations. Four plays later, the Cowboys scored the go-ahead touchdown.
Play: Maxwell injury
Situation: Third-and-four from Seattle 24
Score: Seattle leads, 10-7
Time: 5:48 left in second quarter
Taylor's Take: Dez Bryant, lined up in the slot, had a step on Maxwell and a perfect throw from Romo would've probably resulted in a touchdown. But he was flushed right and forced to throw off his back leg, which gave Maxwell time to break up the pass. Maxwell hurt his knee when he landed and missed the rest of the game, which forced Seattle to use Richard Shermanexclusively against Bryant and put Marcus Burley on Williams.The Cowboys attacked Burley consistently throughout the rest of the game.
Play: Brandon Carr pass deflection
Situation: Third-and-nine from Dallas 30
Score: Tied, 20-20
Time: 8:25 left in fourth quarter
Taylor's Take: Jermaine Kearse lined up in the slot and ran a nice post pattern against Carr and had a set to the inside. Carr made a diving deflection, stretching out his right arm to deflect the pass just as it arrived. Instead of having a first down at the Dallas 10, Seattle settled for a field goal.
