East Rutherford, N.J. — It wasn’t pretty but a win is a win. And in this league (NFL), they are very hard to come by. So the Cowboys will take them as they come.
Dallas was able to run the ball enough to keep the Giants’ defense honest but the offense was limited to 328 yards and for all intense and purposes, their offense was anemic kicking two field goals in a 21-6 win over the New York Giants on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Dak Prescott finished the game 28 of 37 for 217 yards looked more comfortable in the pocket throwing the ball, completing 76 percent of his passes, although many of them were short hitches. But the Giants sacked him three times and hit him seven.
The Cowboys’ defense saved the day. For the third straight game, it forced four turnovers and gave the offense 15 points as Dallas (10-4) inched closer to a playoff spot and the NFC East title.
Dak Prescott a little frustrated after the game. Not with the win, but the lack of offensive production. The Cowboys’ two touchdown drives amassed 13 and 29 yards and both were set up by their D.
“When we get to putting up points the way we want to put them up and not just settling for field goals, some large wins,” Prescott said. “But it just takes playing together and playing complementary football, rewarding those guys on defense for four touchdowns when they get those turnovers. And as I said, peaking at the right time is most important.”
The offense looked good at spurts and they have all the moving parts to be really productive down the road but I guess we will have to wait and see on that. Dallas had 10 plays of 10 yards or more on the day, pushing its season total to 209. It is averaging 400 yards in total offense, near the top of the league.
Dallas coach Mike McCarthy was very complimentary about his defense at the media conference.
“I think it’s OK we continue to play complementary football,” he said. “Trust me, we know who’s being productive and the things that we need to do a little better. I say it every week, they’re very accountable. They’ve got a really good work ethic. We’re about improving and winning. Frankly, winning and improving. We improved as a football team today. I think we needed to run the ball coming in here and we accomplished that part of it, so we’ll continue to chip away at our passing game.”
Teams are playing two-high coverage schemes against Dallas which forces them to be patient with running the ball down the turf. On Sunday, the G-Men disguised their coverages and forced field goals. Prescott’s longest completion of the day was 19 yards.
Dallas got a great with running back with Tony Pollard return. Pollard ran for 74 yards on 12 carries. The offensive line also got back guard Connor Williams and Terence Steele back at left tackle for the injured Tyron Smith.
Tight end Dalton Schultz came up big for the Cowboys. He had eight catches for 67 yards, including a 1-yard TD catch after DeMarcus Lawrence and Neville Gallimore tackled quarterback Mike Glennon on a fourth-down sneak by Glennon from Giants 29 in the third quarter.
Jourdan Lewis’ interception after Lawrence hit Glennon set up Ezekiel Elliott’s 13-yard TD run that sealed it.
“We’re definitely building,” Prescott said. “As I’ve said before, we’re trying to peak at the right time, make sure that we’re heading into the postseason with momentum, playing some of our best ball. Defense is doing that, offense still has some growth to do, but as you said, 3-0, three road games, that’s big. That’s big headed in the direction.”
New York Giants Mike Glennon was 13 of 24 for 99 yards with a 24.8 % rating, he was pullled at the 3:41 mark in the fourth for Jake Fromm, who had a some success moving the G-Men down the field.
Next Up:
NY Giants will travel down 1-95 to play the Philadelphia Eagles for a 1 P.M. start time.
Dallas Cowboys will be home against WFT for 8:20 P.M. start time.
