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The Morning After Week 11 - Restoring of Order
Dallas continued its winning ways by checking the boxes to get a win out of Charlotte.
BOB STURM
NOV 20, 2023
There are some winning performances over the course of a career that a player never forgets. These are the brief mind photographs that get saved until one might go through them in a rocking chair, remembering those days that will always be with you.
And then there are days like yesterday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Nobody will spend much time remembering this game.
The Cowboys had a few obvious objectives that we can safely assume entering this short week of Sunday football, three days off, and Thursday football. Nobody should be more familiar with this than they are after all of these years of Thanksgivings and being one of the main centerpieces of the holiday since 1966. We can say the league plays more Thursday football than ever before and that is correct, but those other dates are all night games, whereas the short week is even shorter for this game week as it is a Thursday that is set up like a Sunday. So, don’t let Sunday take more out of you than you must. Get the victory and get out of Dodge.
This year, it is during a stretch where Dallas is about to be double-digit favorites for three consecutive weeks. This rarely happens in the NFL and when it does it is for a team that everyone thinks is going to the Super Bowl. Somehow, it seems that the Cowboys are in this interesting spot where nobody is sure how good they are but also they are lining up opponents in a sequence where nobody thinks they will play a single-digit game. It is altogether perplexing to get a feel on the 2023 Dallas Cowboys.
Sunday was yet another example of a game where the Cowboys did not feel as if it was playing its best brand of football by any sort of measure and yet also didn’t feel like it was breaking much of a sweat. Carolina is in no shape to push a playoff team around and while they were hoping to get Dallas to play into their hands with some mistakes, Dallas did not oblige.
Again, we must surmise, that the Cowboys game plan centered around the fact that recent tape study of both teams would easily demonstrate that there was seemingly no way that the Panthers offensive line could possibly matchup with how the Cowboys are rushing the passer. Last week, we covered that sacks are down, but pressure rates remain high and that Dallas appeared to be likely to start tossing QBs around in greater numbers coming off last week’s demolition of the Giants.
The Panthers are going to earn the top pick in the draft in 2024 even though they won’t actually own it (the Chicago Bears will be quite grateful) because their offensive line is incapable of dealing with much.
We called this in our pre-game piece on Saturday, even though we could easily argue that this one wasn’t terribly difficult to call. The Panthers feature a very small QB who requires a little assistance from his big fellas up front in building a pocket so that he has a chance to execute whatever offense they are trying to run these days – the jokes sort of write themselves – and it was not going to happen.
Here is what we anticipated in our piece:
It started on the Panthers first drive. They did a nice job of avoiding peril with staying out of third down and when they did, they wanted to make sure they stayed out of “passing situations” on 3rd down. The reasons are obvious, of course, as the shorter your down and distance, the easier it is to achieve a fresh set of downs, but when playing the Cowboys, that is not the only objective, of course. They are also attempting to stay out of situations where they have to deal with the Cowboys pass rush.
At 12:17, 3rd down and 3, the Panthers had a very quick pass to Adam Thielen and moved the chains.
At 10:37, 3rd down and 3 again. This time, Carolina was able to get the ball out quickly on a Thielen crosser and it worked again.
When you have to only gain a few yards, it is short and quick. That can find success, but there is a good reason you always hear a coach say, we must “stay out of 3rd and long,” because they know that is inviting the Grim Reaper. In Dallas, he wears No. 11 and his name is Micah Parsons.
Getting to see a special player do special things for your team is a wonderful way to enjoy your sports viewing experience, but sometimes it can actually become normalized. You have seen the artist paint so many masterpieces that your brain adjusts to think something everyone sees.
Let’s be clear. He isn’t normal. Not even close.
When Carolina his the 9:05 mark of the 1st Quarter, they finally moved into a third and 6. Now, we still call that “3rd and medium” so it isn’t quite a code red, but third and medium is time to start gearing up your pass rushers to prepare to hunt. It was Dan Quinn’s first chance to release the hounds.
It would be one of their most frequent attacks. A four-man front where DeMarcus Lawrence is the lone player on the left side of the ball out beyond the right tackle. Then, Jayron Kearse lines up between Lawrence and the ball to occupy some thoughts that maybe he is blitzing, but he isn’t. From there, the Cowboys line up on the outside shoulder of the center (with Dorance Armstrong), the left guard (with Micah Parsons) and the left tackle (with Dante Fowler).
From here, they can do several things as a pass rush group, but the most common one appears to be the one opponents have no idea how to deal with. It is to get Armstrong to cross the face of the center and try to engage the right guard and the center on a double team. Meanwhile, Fowler is taking the tackle as wide as he can around the outside. What this does – and what nobody can figure out how to stop so far – is to isolate Micah vs your left guard in a very large space. They widen out the battle ground so that an interior weak link – used to only fighting in phone booths – sees that he has open lanes on each side and no help in sight. Everyone is busy and engaged, but here you are against one of the most terrifying athletes in the universe.
This is what rookie left guard Chandler Zavala had facing him on Sunday shortly after noon. So, how did it go?
Well, Parsons was by him so fast that Zavala barely touched his arm on the way. Parsons can move so quickly and so decisively at the snap that young Bryce Young cannot possibly look downfield before he sees an unblocked Parsons running right at him. In the blink of an eye, he is on the ground and the Panthers have lost nine yards and will punt.
The very next drive, after Dallas had taken a 7-0 lead with a very nice drive of their own, it happened again. This time it was a third and 7 with 1:37 to go in the first quarter.
Here, Carolina has planned all week to deal with this longer yardage with empty. If they go empty, perhaps they can space out Dallas and attack with quick game. Maybe even a short pass with room to run to move the chains, right?
Dallas sees empty and immediately adjust to five versus five. It really doesn’t matter which five, because they just want you to know there will be no helping each other as Micah again lines up over the left guard, but is joined inside by DeMarcus Lawrence who is over the center standing. This time, Fowler is outside the right tackle and Armstrong is outside the left tackle. Again, they just need to get outside and occupy them. Markquese Bell is to keep the right guard busy, but again, this is about Lawrence and Parsons against Zavala and center Bradley Bozeman. At the snap, Lawrence goes first and hits the A-Gap between guard and center and tried to allow both to take him, letting Parsons circle behind him and hit the opposite A-Gap and get home. When you see this work, you wonder how it can be stopped.
The raw speed and power is so ridiculous that it looks like they are just toying with NFL lineman. They are that good. He is that good. And the scheme they run yielded seven sacks again on Sunday.
The reason I focus on this, in particular, is it is the story of the game. Go into a stadium and send a message early that it is going to be a long day if you think you can protect against the rush.
Some teams can at least fight back with quick answers, but as we know, there is a line where teams below it have no chance. And Carolina seemed to have no chance on Sunday and it started with not having a chance against Micah Parsons.
But, a restoring of order was required later and that was another sign that this Cowboys team may be better than we think it is.
Late in the third quarter, Carolina started showing some signs of life. The plucky underdog was able to put a drive together by a running into the punter penalty along with two converted fourth downs. Carolina was desperate and put it in the end zone to cut the score to a single touchdown with over a quarter to play.
We have seen weaker Cowboys teams shaken in the last generation. But, it never crossed many minds that the Panthers could pull this one back. Why? Because they couldn’t.
On the very next drive, Dallas decided this game was over. Dak Prescott hit Jake Ferguson on a deep corner on third down for a quick 24 yards. Then a few plays to CeeDee Lamb and finally a busting run down the throat of the defense by Tony Pollard in what might have been the finest run of his 2023. He needed to stretch the ball over the goal-line before his knee touched, but he did so with the authority that has been missing this season. 24-10.
One play later, Quinn dials up a first-and-10 blitz with man coverage behind it. Why? To end this game right here and right now with some in-your-face aggression to start the Panthers very next drive.
Enough with this little comeback idea. We have decided to squash those efforts and end this game. Most teams play safe with some zones because you are up 14. Dallas has decided to end it with a very aggressive 1st and 10 tactic. Bryce Young wants to get the ball out quickly and tried for a crossing route to Jonathan Mingo. Trouble is that it was a step late and DaRon Bland did it again. He jumped the route as he does and ran his fourth interception back to the end zone in 2023.
That ties an NFL record that has only happened one other time in the last 50 years when Eagles corner Eric Allen did it four times in 1991 — 30-10 and game is over.
It wasn’t the most memorable Cowboys victory, but it was quick, decisive, and a show of strength that once again suggests they are a dangerous team. With the Eagles facing a massive test tonight, Dallas now must watch to see if they are back in the NFC East race or just the most dangerous wildcard in the league.
But, do not underestimate how good they are playing right now.
Dallas continued its winning ways by checking the boxes to get a win out of Charlotte.
BOB STURM
NOV 20, 2023
There are some winning performances over the course of a career that a player never forgets. These are the brief mind photographs that get saved until one might go through them in a rocking chair, remembering those days that will always be with you.
And then there are days like yesterday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Nobody will spend much time remembering this game.
The Cowboys had a few obvious objectives that we can safely assume entering this short week of Sunday football, three days off, and Thursday football. Nobody should be more familiar with this than they are after all of these years of Thanksgivings and being one of the main centerpieces of the holiday since 1966. We can say the league plays more Thursday football than ever before and that is correct, but those other dates are all night games, whereas the short week is even shorter for this game week as it is a Thursday that is set up like a Sunday. So, don’t let Sunday take more out of you than you must. Get the victory and get out of Dodge.
- Win in a quick and decisive fashion by playing a simple and clean game.
- Get through the game in as healthy a way as possible.
- Get on the plane and back to Dallas.
This year, it is during a stretch where Dallas is about to be double-digit favorites for three consecutive weeks. This rarely happens in the NFL and when it does it is for a team that everyone thinks is going to the Super Bowl. Somehow, it seems that the Cowboys are in this interesting spot where nobody is sure how good they are but also they are lining up opponents in a sequence where nobody thinks they will play a single-digit game. It is altogether perplexing to get a feel on the 2023 Dallas Cowboys.
Sunday was yet another example of a game where the Cowboys did not feel as if it was playing its best brand of football by any sort of measure and yet also didn’t feel like it was breaking much of a sweat. Carolina is in no shape to push a playoff team around and while they were hoping to get Dallas to play into their hands with some mistakes, Dallas did not oblige.
Again, we must surmise, that the Cowboys game plan centered around the fact that recent tape study of both teams would easily demonstrate that there was seemingly no way that the Panthers offensive line could possibly matchup with how the Cowboys are rushing the passer. Last week, we covered that sacks are down, but pressure rates remain high and that Dallas appeared to be likely to start tossing QBs around in greater numbers coming off last week’s demolition of the Giants.
The Panthers are going to earn the top pick in the draft in 2024 even though they won’t actually own it (the Chicago Bears will be quite grateful) because their offensive line is incapable of dealing with much.
We called this in our pre-game piece on Saturday, even though we could easily argue that this one wasn’t terribly difficult to call. The Panthers feature a very small QB who requires a little assistance from his big fellas up front in building a pocket so that he has a chance to execute whatever offense they are trying to run these days – the jokes sort of write themselves – and it was not going to happen.
Here is what we anticipated in our piece:
An offense is trying to attack and score points and try to get its stadium worked into a frenzy in an upset bid. But, if, during the fog of war, you can bring the pain and quickly get them thinking about “living to see another day” rather than attacking you, you have already won the battle before halftime. That is what Frank Reich’s crew was quickly thinking about early when the Cowboys decided to unleash their front.
It started on the Panthers first drive. They did a nice job of avoiding peril with staying out of third down and when they did, they wanted to make sure they stayed out of “passing situations” on 3rd down. The reasons are obvious, of course, as the shorter your down and distance, the easier it is to achieve a fresh set of downs, but when playing the Cowboys, that is not the only objective, of course. They are also attempting to stay out of situations where they have to deal with the Cowboys pass rush.
At 12:17, 3rd down and 3, the Panthers had a very quick pass to Adam Thielen and moved the chains.
At 10:37, 3rd down and 3 again. This time, Carolina was able to get the ball out quickly on a Thielen crosser and it worked again.
When you have to only gain a few yards, it is short and quick. That can find success, but there is a good reason you always hear a coach say, we must “stay out of 3rd and long,” because they know that is inviting the Grim Reaper. In Dallas, he wears No. 11 and his name is Micah Parsons.
Getting to see a special player do special things for your team is a wonderful way to enjoy your sports viewing experience, but sometimes it can actually become normalized. You have seen the artist paint so many masterpieces that your brain adjusts to think something everyone sees.
Let’s be clear. He isn’t normal. Not even close.
When Carolina his the 9:05 mark of the 1st Quarter, they finally moved into a third and 6. Now, we still call that “3rd and medium” so it isn’t quite a code red, but third and medium is time to start gearing up your pass rushers to prepare to hunt. It was Dan Quinn’s first chance to release the hounds.
It would be one of their most frequent attacks. A four-man front where DeMarcus Lawrence is the lone player on the left side of the ball out beyond the right tackle. Then, Jayron Kearse lines up between Lawrence and the ball to occupy some thoughts that maybe he is blitzing, but he isn’t. From there, the Cowboys line up on the outside shoulder of the center (with Dorance Armstrong), the left guard (with Micah Parsons) and the left tackle (with Dante Fowler).
From here, they can do several things as a pass rush group, but the most common one appears to be the one opponents have no idea how to deal with. It is to get Armstrong to cross the face of the center and try to engage the right guard and the center on a double team. Meanwhile, Fowler is taking the tackle as wide as he can around the outside. What this does – and what nobody can figure out how to stop so far – is to isolate Micah vs your left guard in a very large space. They widen out the battle ground so that an interior weak link – used to only fighting in phone booths – sees that he has open lanes on each side and no help in sight. Everyone is busy and engaged, but here you are against one of the most terrifying athletes in the universe.
This is what rookie left guard Chandler Zavala had facing him on Sunday shortly after noon. So, how did it go?
Well, Parsons was by him so fast that Zavala barely touched his arm on the way. Parsons can move so quickly and so decisively at the snap that young Bryce Young cannot possibly look downfield before he sees an unblocked Parsons running right at him. In the blink of an eye, he is on the ground and the Panthers have lost nine yards and will punt.
The very next drive, after Dallas had taken a 7-0 lead with a very nice drive of their own, it happened again. This time it was a third and 7 with 1:37 to go in the first quarter.
Here, Carolina has planned all week to deal with this longer yardage with empty. If they go empty, perhaps they can space out Dallas and attack with quick game. Maybe even a short pass with room to run to move the chains, right?
Dallas sees empty and immediately adjust to five versus five. It really doesn’t matter which five, because they just want you to know there will be no helping each other as Micah again lines up over the left guard, but is joined inside by DeMarcus Lawrence who is over the center standing. This time, Fowler is outside the right tackle and Armstrong is outside the left tackle. Again, they just need to get outside and occupy them. Markquese Bell is to keep the right guard busy, but again, this is about Lawrence and Parsons against Zavala and center Bradley Bozeman. At the snap, Lawrence goes first and hits the A-Gap between guard and center and tried to allow both to take him, letting Parsons circle behind him and hit the opposite A-Gap and get home. When you see this work, you wonder how it can be stopped.
The raw speed and power is so ridiculous that it looks like they are just toying with NFL lineman. They are that good. He is that good. And the scheme they run yielded seven sacks again on Sunday.
The reason I focus on this, in particular, is it is the story of the game. Go into a stadium and send a message early that it is going to be a long day if you think you can protect against the rush.
Some teams can at least fight back with quick answers, but as we know, there is a line where teams below it have no chance. And Carolina seemed to have no chance on Sunday and it started with not having a chance against Micah Parsons.
But, a restoring of order was required later and that was another sign that this Cowboys team may be better than we think it is.
Late in the third quarter, Carolina started showing some signs of life. The plucky underdog was able to put a drive together by a running into the punter penalty along with two converted fourth downs. Carolina was desperate and put it in the end zone to cut the score to a single touchdown with over a quarter to play.
We have seen weaker Cowboys teams shaken in the last generation. But, it never crossed many minds that the Panthers could pull this one back. Why? Because they couldn’t.
On the very next drive, Dallas decided this game was over. Dak Prescott hit Jake Ferguson on a deep corner on third down for a quick 24 yards. Then a few plays to CeeDee Lamb and finally a busting run down the throat of the defense by Tony Pollard in what might have been the finest run of his 2023. He needed to stretch the ball over the goal-line before his knee touched, but he did so with the authority that has been missing this season. 24-10.
One play later, Quinn dials up a first-and-10 blitz with man coverage behind it. Why? To end this game right here and right now with some in-your-face aggression to start the Panthers very next drive.
Enough with this little comeback idea. We have decided to squash those efforts and end this game. Most teams play safe with some zones because you are up 14. Dallas has decided to end it with a very aggressive 1st and 10 tactic. Bryce Young wants to get the ball out quickly and tried for a crossing route to Jonathan Mingo. Trouble is that it was a step late and DaRon Bland did it again. He jumped the route as he does and ran his fourth interception back to the end zone in 2023.
That ties an NFL record that has only happened one other time in the last 50 years when Eagles corner Eric Allen did it four times in 1991 — 30-10 and game is over.
It wasn’t the most memorable Cowboys victory, but it was quick, decisive, and a show of strength that once again suggests they are a dangerous team. With the Eagles facing a massive test tonight, Dallas now must watch to see if they are back in the NFC East race or just the most dangerous wildcard in the league.
But, do not underestimate how good they are playing right now.
