DALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys were dead to rights heading into Sunday Night against their bitter rivals in Philadelphia. The Cowboys were a 7-point underdog on the road, up until that point the Cowboys were winless in four road games this year. The Cowboys rose to the occasion and were able to walk away with a win in a hostile environment. The Cowboys are now 4-5 with a 2-1 division record.
The Eagles came into the game with a banged up secondary but it only proceeded to get worse for that group as Ronald Darby tore his ACL. It appeared the injury happened while trying to cover Amari Cooper late in that game. It was likely that this wide receiver group could have a big game but it was running back Ezekiel Elliott who was leaps and bounds better than the opposition.
Against the Titans, the Cowboys went away from Zeke only giving the third-year rusher the ball six times in the second half. It was a different tune this week. Playcaller Scott Linehan came under fire following that 14-point loss on Nov. 5.
When the Cowboys headed to the Lincoln Field locker room for the intermission, Elliott accumulated 10 touches for 71 total yards. Unlike Tennessee, Zeke was a main focal point to help secure the win. Elliott’s number was called 15 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns in a seesaw battle during the second half.
The Cowboys have three games this season in which they have scored 26 or more points in a game. Against the Lions and now the Eagles game, Elliott racked up 427 combined yards in those two games alone. The Cowboys offensive minds need to find ways to keep Elliott involved in the passing game. It provides easy passes to Dak Prescott and can be a confidence builder for him when he starts to get happy feet in the pocket.
Prescott has not been the same quarterback who walked away from his rookie campaign with offensive rookie of the year honors for the better part of a season now. This Sunday the Cowboys return to Atlanta, the scene of the crime where Dak’s issue seem to have started.
Without left tackle Tyron Smith on a beat up line at the time, the Cowboys allowed their young quarterback to go down time after time against the Falcons last season, with most of the damage coming from Adrian Clayborn recording a franchise-record six sacks. It could be a redemption game for Prescott and company.
What stood out on Sunday Night was the young duo of Elliott and Dak rising to the challenge when the team had their backs to the wall. Sprinkle in another superlative defensive performance and the continued integration of Amari Cooper, and you had a recipe for an upset.
This team has a very young core and the future is very bright if they can string together more of these types of performances as they fight their way back into the thick of this divisional race in a perpetually congested NFC East.
If the Cowboys can get within striking distance, it just might be on the backs of Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott. We've seen them do it before. The Cowboys are hoping they're up to the task again.
Can Zeke and Dak take their resurgence to Atlanta and keep the Cowboys in the win column or are they in for a rude awakening? Share your thoughts with Patrick on Twitter @DraftCowboys.