Cowboys’ Week 17 positives challenged by two things that can derail season
The Dallas Cowboys After outlasting the banged up, the team won their 12th game. Tennessee Titans, 27-13. The Cowboys are now 12 wins in a row for the first-time since their championship years (1992-1995). It’s not bad for a team who lost their starting quarterback in Week 1. They were out for five weeks.
The 2022 schedule originally revealed that this matchup would be between two playoff teams and help decide postseason positions. This was true a month ago. However, the matchup lost its sparkle when the Titans sat some of their top players, including running back Derrick Henry. Tennessee was also turning to their third-string quarterback, Josh Dobbs, as they knew the results of this game didn’t matter in their pursuit of a division title.
Dallas didn’t have time to be worried about who the Titans had available; they just needed to win and keep pressure on the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East race. Despite bumps in their way, the Cowboys took the win. These are the best, the worst, and the most important aspects of the Cowboys’ Week 17 victory.
CeeDee Lamb: The Good
Another 100 yard outing for third-year wide receiver. Lamb caught 11 passes for 100 yards, which extended his 100-yard streak to three.
After all the talk about Terrell Owens, the Cowboys’ former WR, in the last few days it was fitting that Lamb had a triple-digit yard receiving record.
The Cowboys led by 11 points at the end of the fourth quarter, and Lamb was the Cowboys’ biggest player. Lamb came up near the middle field and caught the ball. This gave the Cowboys a 14 point lead.
Lamb reached 100 catch for the first-time in his career with 11 receptions. In the 2022 season, he now has 101 receptions.
The Bad: Turnovers
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
To give the Titans some hope, the Cowboys turned over the ball three times in the first quarter.
Dallas’ first gaffe was after the defense got them the ball on a strip sack and fumble recovery. Dante Fowler, a pass rusher, forced Dobbss to give up the ball. Micah Parsons recovered it. The Cowboys had to play five plays before they could give it back due to a problem with the center-quarterback exchange that Tennessee solved.
Peyton Hendershot, tight end, dropped the perfect pass as the offense was pushing deep into Titans territory. This gave rise to the next turnover. Titans lead 10-0. A score there might’ve broken the Titans’ spirits and the game open. Instead, the rookie’s drop landed right in safety Kevin Byard’s hands and the Titans cashed in with three points to keep the game close.
The game became serious when Dak Prescott’s biggest mistake turned out to be a major mistake. Prescott’s telegraphed pass was behind tight end Dalton Schultz and again it was intercepted by Byard. Two consecutive possessions and two consecutive turnovers by Cowboys.
Prescott’s second-quarter throws in the final quarter were another one that cost the Cowboys. It was Prescott’s sixth interception in the second quarter with less than 3:30 to go in the first half.
Prescott’s fault or not, and the second interception this week looks to be on the QB, this is a troubling trend that needs to stop.
The Good: Dalton Schultz
Cowboys love their tight ends, and Schultz had one his best games of the season in Week 17. He had seven receptions, totaling 56 yards and two touchdowns. Both of these were in the second half.
Schultz made his second touchdown catch when he leapt over the defender to bring the ball down for the 10-yard touchdown.
Schultz had seven catches, which was his season-high. He looked like Prescott’s tight end after the Hendershot fall.
The Ugly: The Injuries
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The Titans weren’t the only team to have injury concerns in this game, the Cowboys came into the game pretty banged up themselves. Running back Tony Pollard missed the game with a thigh injury and the Cowboys’ best defender, Micah Parsons, played with a heavily wrapped hand.
Dallas unfortunately left it in worse condition.
Tyler Biadasz in center was the biggest concern. His leg was rolled up and he left the field. Biadasz, who was on a cart, left the field with what was initially believed to be a high ankle injury.
That’s an injury that usually requires a few weeks absence and Biadasz’s availability for the playoffs is now in doubt.
Other Cowboys that were injured included safety Jayron KEARSE, cornerback Nahshon Wright and pass rusher Sam Williams. They all left the game. The Cowboys were a mess late in the game, even though they all returned to the field.
The Cowboys’ depth chart was becoming very thin and took another hit in Week 17.
Nahshon Wright: The Good
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images).
Injuries and ineffectiveness forced the Cowboys to examine the position of cornerback and find an answer. The Cowboys turned to Wright, a second-year option after Kelvin Joseph was picked on by the offense.
Wright played his best game against the Titans. Tennessee wasn’t shy about throwing on the CB out of Oregon St. and Wright gave up a few plays, but he also came through with two passes broken up, one interception, and a team-high nine tackles. Wright’s leaping interception in the fourth quarter was his first career pick and showed why length in a corner remains a top attribute.
Wright has made the case that he’s the man for the third cornerback spot in Dallas with a strong game against the Titans. There’s going to be some growing pains, but Wright showed that he’s learning, and getting better as he goes.