INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Mike McCarthy was once proper.
At least on Sunday afternoon, the Cowboys had been no person’s underdog.
Their protection ruled once more, sacking Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford 5 occasions in a 22-10 win. Dallas progressed to 4-1, its fourth instantly victory with Cooper Rush at quarterback, and has but to permit a couple of touchdowns in one sport.
Here are 5 takeaways:
Parsons confirmed who he’s
Micah Parsons grabbed his groin house after a play overdue in the second one quarter. He appreciated it once more after the following play and play after that. Finally, he trotted to the sideline and spoke with senior defensive assistant George Edwards, who became and met in short with head athletic teacher Jim Maurer.
It is Parsons’ desire to play via ache and discomfort.
That is what he did Sunday.
Parsons was once the overall Cowboys participant to input SoFi Stadium’s northeast tunnel for halftime, and he hobbled out to start the second one part. How Parsons spoke back to groin-muscle tightness was once no marvel, simply the newest mirrored image of the participant he’s.
Once Parsons reached the sideline for the second one part, Edwards talked with him at period. It isn’t recognized precisely what was once mentioned, in fact, however in response to Parsons’ deadpan facial features all through, it’s simple to consider the dialog comparable to Parsons seeing a restricted snap depend to open the 0.33 quarter.
Parsons spectated on early downs sooner than rotating in for a 3rd down.
Edwards subbed him out after that Rams conversion. When Parsons subsequent returned, he stayed within the sport extra steadily and recorded a third-down sack, his 5th sack of the season and primary since Week 2. Later, in fourth quarter, his drive from left defensive finish compelled an incompletion on third-and-3. He successfully ended the sport with a strip-sack overdue within the fourth that defensive finish Sam Williams recovered.
Parsons has six sacks this season and 3 video games with two of them.
There will probably be occasions all through his NFL occupation through which the Cowboys could have to save Parsons from himself. Parsons is aware of that he at not up to 100% is best than others at complete well being, and if given the risk, he’s going to communicate his manner onto the sector.
Sunday confirmed, in fact, that Parsons is true.
Dorance Armstrong, value each greenback
Six mins into law, Dorance Armstrong already had himself a sport.
The Cowboy defensive finish strip-sacked Stafford at the opening ownership. Defensive finish DeMarcus Lawrence recovered and returned the fumble for a 19-yard landing. On the following force, Armstrong blocked a punt and returned it 14 yards to arrange a box objective.
Armstrong’s effort noticed Dallas a 9-0 lead — now not 10-0 as a result of new lengthy snapper Matt Overton delivered the extra-point operation sooner than his holder was once able.
Armstrong signed a two-year, $12 million contract in March.
The Cowboys pursued defensive finish Randy Gregory and to begin with reached an settlement, however the ones discussions broke down when the edges may just now not agree upon language this is same old for any crew contract that comes with assured cash.
The crew was once happy to pivot to Armstrong, whose monitor document is extra dependable, for much less cash.
So some distance, that call has panned out.
Gregory signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Denver Broncos, the monetary parameters of that have been an identical to the deal he left at the desk in Dallas. Last week, Gregory was once put on injured reserve with a knee factor that isn’t thought to be season-ending.
Punting proving to be inconsistent
Bryan Anger had every other uncharacteristic blemish Sunday.
After a 22-yard strive into the Cowboys’ sideline the sport sooner than, the punter didn’t ship on a third-quarter strive. The crew was hoping to turn the sector from its personal 8-yard line. He hit a 35-yarder that was once returned 14 yards, the 21 web yardage successfully making it worse than the 22-yarder.
Fortunately for the Cowboys, just like the 22-yard punt, the fault didn’t lead to issues.
The Rams took the sector on the 29-yard line. A second-down keeping penalty on vast receiver Ben Skowronek subsidized them up 10 yards, main to a 51-yard box objective strive that kicker Matt Gay neglected vast proper.
Anger completed Sunday with a good 41.5 web moderate, however he has but to reasonably recapture his 2021 Pro Bowl shape.
The Aaron Donald enjoy
The Cowboys knew that left take on Tyler Smith’s rookie season could be filled with finding out studies.
Aaron Donald supplied one Sunday.
In the primary part, Smith allowed two sacks to the Rams’ generational defensive take on, who aligned at finish on positive pass-rush downs. The Cowboys’ first-round select additionally was once flagged two times for containing when engaged with him. One of the ones fouls was once declined.
For Smith to combat in opposition to Donald can’t be painted as a marvel.
The actual eyebrow raiser was once Smith having little coverage assist – no chip or double crew — on both sack. The positives have outweighed the negatives from Smith, who has spoke back smartly following left take on Tyron Smith’s hamstring tendon rupture in August.
Tyron Smith is anticipated to be out till December, a minimum of.
Back not off course
The Cowboys’ run sport was once a lot progressed Sunday.
Tony Pollard presented his newest home-run play of the season on a 57-yard landing run all the way through the second one quarter. Through 5 video games, the longest performs for the crew this 12 months are a 45-yard catch, a 46-yard run and that 57-yarder. Pollard produced they all.
Pollard completed with 8 carries for 86 yards. Running again Ezekiel Elliott delivered frame blows with 22 carries for 78 yards.
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