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Cowboys' D has best performance of the season
December, 22, 2014
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- If you’re looking for an impressive statistic for the Dallas Cowboys' defense from Sunday's 42-7 win against the Indianapolis Colts, stop with this one: The Colts had 10 carries for 1 yard.
Now, the Colts are nowhere near an elite rushing team, but 1 yard? That is incredible. Tony Romo had more rushing yards than the Colts, with 28 yards on three carries. Lance Dunbar had two carries and more yards (4) than the Colts.
It is the fewest rushing yards the Cowboys have allowed in a game in franchise history and tied for the ninth fewest in NFL history.
“Shout out to us," defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford said.
But it was more than just the run defense. The Colts entered the game with the No. 1-ranked pass offense, and Andrew Luck threw for just 109 yards and was intercepted twice before his day mercifully ended. Yes, he did not have T.Y. Hilton because of a hamstring injury, but would that have mattered that much?
“We won on first down a lot,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “We won on second down a lot. They got into some longer third-down situations, hard to convert those and keep drives alive. What they were doing early on in the ballgame was as important as what the offense was doing.”
The Colts did not record a first down until the second quarter. By that time the Cowboys had a 28-0 lead. J.J. Wilcox ended the first half with an interception of Luck in the end zone.
It was the fifth shutout the Cowboys have recorded in a half this season. They blanked the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans in the first halves of those games. They shut out the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of the season opener.
Luck’s second pass of the second half was tipped by Nick Hayden and intercepted by rookie linebacker Anthony Hitchens.
“I think we did a great job this week throughout the week just being focused in and locked in in the classroom and on the field,” Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr said. “The small details make big differences in games, and guys were on point with their keys, alignment and technique. We were able to get off the field on third down, which is great.”
The Cowboys lost their chance for their first shutout since Week 17 of the 2009 season when Carr was flagged for a dubious pass interference penalty in the end zone, negating what would have been his first interception of the season.
But they sent a message that maybe they can be more than just "the other guys," when compared to the Cowboys' offense.
“We’ve always had confidence,” Carr said. “This was a great opportunity for us to come out here and show the world once again who we are. Sometimes we don’t play the way we’re supposed to play, but that’s all part of the game. We have to fight each and every week when we step on the field. Guys were clicking as far as the play calls and the execution. It was outstanding.”
December, 22, 2014
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- If you’re looking for an impressive statistic for the Dallas Cowboys' defense from Sunday's 42-7 win against the Indianapolis Colts, stop with this one: The Colts had 10 carries for 1 yard.
Now, the Colts are nowhere near an elite rushing team, but 1 yard? That is incredible. Tony Romo had more rushing yards than the Colts, with 28 yards on three carries. Lance Dunbar had two carries and more yards (4) than the Colts.
It is the fewest rushing yards the Cowboys have allowed in a game in franchise history and tied for the ninth fewest in NFL history.
“Shout out to us," defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford said.
But it was more than just the run defense. The Colts entered the game with the No. 1-ranked pass offense, and Andrew Luck threw for just 109 yards and was intercepted twice before his day mercifully ended. Yes, he did not have T.Y. Hilton because of a hamstring injury, but would that have mattered that much?
“We won on first down a lot,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “We won on second down a lot. They got into some longer third-down situations, hard to convert those and keep drives alive. What they were doing early on in the ballgame was as important as what the offense was doing.”
The Colts did not record a first down until the second quarter. By that time the Cowboys had a 28-0 lead. J.J. Wilcox ended the first half with an interception of Luck in the end zone.
It was the fifth shutout the Cowboys have recorded in a half this season. They blanked the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans in the first halves of those games. They shut out the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of the season opener.
Luck’s second pass of the second half was tipped by Nick Hayden and intercepted by rookie linebacker Anthony Hitchens.
“I think we did a great job this week throughout the week just being focused in and locked in in the classroom and on the field,” Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr said. “The small details make big differences in games, and guys were on point with their keys, alignment and technique. We were able to get off the field on third down, which is great.”
The Cowboys lost their chance for their first shutout since Week 17 of the 2009 season when Carr was flagged for a dubious pass interference penalty in the end zone, negating what would have been his first interception of the season.
But they sent a message that maybe they can be more than just "the other guys," when compared to the Cowboys' offense.
“We’ve always had confidence,” Carr said. “This was a great opportunity for us to come out here and show the world once again who we are. Sometimes we don’t play the way we’re supposed to play, but that’s all part of the game. We have to fight each and every week when we step on the field. Guys were clicking as far as the play calls and the execution. It was outstanding.”
