Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles offense totaled 323 yards of offense, however 129 of the ones yards, or 40 p.c, got here courtesy of 2 giant performs. In basic, the Dallas protection swarmed the Rams quarterback for far of the day, sacking him 5 occasions, and held Los Angeles to just 38 yards speeding.
The Cinderella tale this is quarterback Cooper Rush’s beginning run endured, the backup extending his workforce file via now successful his first 5 profession NFL begins. Not that it used to be overly spectacular, as Rush and the Cowboys offense had its palms complete towards the Aaron Donald-led Rams protection. Dallas totaled simply 239 yards of offense with Rush posting best 102 passing yards.
The Cowboys protection, and in specific Dorance Armstrong, confirmed their may proper out of the gate. On the Rams’ opening ownership, Stafford dropped again to move on third-and-1 at his personal 34-yard line, best to have the defensive finish explode during the line and strip-sack the quarterback. DeMarcus Lawrence scooped up the bouncing ball and rumbled untouched 19 yards to the top zone to offer Dallas the early lead.
Lawrence’s rating used to be the primary via the protection this season in addition to the primary via the unit since DeMarcus additionally crossed the objective line on an interception go back remaining 12 months on Dec. 26 vs. Washington.
But lack of long-snapper Jake McQuaide remaining week, out for the season with a torn triceps, can have been in play when a botched snap ended in a neglected further level.
Armstrong used to be simply getting warmed up, despite the fact that. When Los Angeles used to be pressured to punt from the Dallas 46-yard line, he burst via his blocker once more, now not best smothering the punt but in addition recuperating the block and returning it to the Rams’ 20.
The Cowboys offense could not make a lot development, however this time the snap and cling used to be blank, permitting Brett Maher to separate the uprights from 33 yards out. Dallas jumped out to a 9-0 lead, however in all probability precious issues have been left at the box.
Especially when the Rams got here proper again and finished a 54-yard bomb all the way down to the Cowboys’ 11-yard line. But the protection held, Los Angeles settling for a 29-yard box objective.
Bit via the large achieve once more have been the Cowboys and this time it went for a landing. On third-and-2 at their very own 25-yard line, the Rams noticed all-everything receiver Cooper Kupp streak around the center on a slant, succeed in out to haul in a Stafford providing in stride, break up the Dallas protection and outrun everybody for the 75-yard rating. Add at the further level and the house aspect had the lead for the primary time, 10-9.
In want of a large play of their very own, the Cowboys were given simply that from Tony Pollard. The operating again, who had battled an sickness previous in the week, took the handoff from his personal 43-yard line and broke during the line ahead of dancing to the appropriate and slicing again to the left, sporting the ball the overall 57 yards to pay filth. The rating used to be the second one longest of Pollard’s profession, and his 1/3 this season of a minimum of 45 yards.
The Cowboys survived a a success pretend punt via the Rams overdue in the second one quarter and saved Stafford and corporate from including to their overall. With that, Dallas headed into the spoil with a 16-10 merit.
A large fear for the Cowboys going into the second one part used to be the sight of linebacker Micah Parsons limping each into and out of the locker room. Usually at the box for nearly each and every snap, his pass-rushing tasks have been restricted quite, even if he become a larger issue as the sport went alongside.
But it will be the Dallas offense to get issues going in the 1/3 body, because the unit took the kickoff and traveled deep into enemy territory. The giant blow used to be a lovely, toe-dragging sideline catch via Michael Gallup, who moved the chains on 1/3 down with a 26-yard achieve to the Rams’ 42. That resulted in a 40-yard box objective via Maher, upping the result in a two-possession sport.
A “Lionbacker” if ever there used to be one, Parsons positive sufficient recorded his 5th sack of the season, forcing a Rams punt.
After Dallas needed to punt out of its personal finish zone, a brief, prime boot via Bryan Anger used to be returned 14 yards to the Cowboys’ 29-yard line, atmosphere the Rams up with nice box place. But because the clock ticked into the general quarter, the Dallas protection once more did its activity, sooner or later forcing the Rams to take a look at a 51-yard box objective. Kicker Matt Gay’s take a look at then sailed simply vast proper to stay his workforce’s deficit at 9.
With the groups buying and selling punts, the Cowboys in spite of everything were given arrange with just right box place, beginning on their very own 48-yard line after a 12-yard KaVontae Turpin go back. This time round, Dallas grew to become to its floor sport, beginning the power with seven instantly rushes ahead of a 11-yard move to CeeDee Lamb were given them to the Los Angeles 17-yard line. That’s when Maher got here out for every other box objective try, this one just right from 36 yards to extend the tally to 22-10.
The Rams without a doubt were not able to depart and helped via a few Cowboys consequences have been in a position to succeed in the Dallas 16-yard line. But every other sack of Stafford, this time via Osa Odighizuwa, used to be adopted via power inflicting the quarterback to throw prime to his meant goal. So, as an alternative of connecting with wideout Allen Robinson, the move used to be corralled via protection Malik Hooker, the Cowboys taking up ownership at their very own 4-yard line.
But used to be Parsons carried out but? No, he used to be now not. The Cowboys’ celebrity put a cap at the day with a strip-sack of Stafford at the Rams’ ultimate ownership, rookie Sam Williams recuperating to seal the win.
With the victory, the Cowboys at the moment are 4-1 and headed to a showdown on the rival Philadelphia Eagles subsequent Sunday.