Cowboys’ defense rises to the occasion

Posted Monday, Nov. 09, 2009 Comments   (0) Print Share Share Reprints
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By CHAREAN WILLIAMS

cjwilliams@star-telegram.com

PHILADELPHIA — The Dallas Cowboys rank second in total offense, 22nd in total defense. But, on Sunday night against the Eagles, it was the defense that played like it’s at the top of the rankings.

The Cowboys defense gave up 16 points and 297 yards. They sacked Donovan McNabb four times. They forced two turnovers. They had a fourth-down stop in the fourth quarter.

It was a team effort.

Nose tackle Jay Ratliff had five tackles and two sacks.

Safety Gerald Sensabaugh had an interception on McNabb’s third pass to set up the Cowboys’ first touchdown.

Cornerback Mike Jenkins had an interception at the end of the third quarter, which set up a game-tying field goal.

Inside linebackers Keith Brooking and Bradie James combined for 10 tackles, and Brooking was in the middle of the pile on McNabb’s quarterback sneak on fourth-and-inches with 10:49 remaining in the fourth quarter.

"Fourth and inches. I felt like, and we felt like, right there that could be the ball game if we could stop them," coach Wade Phillips said. "We knew they were going to run quarterback sneak. Our guys rose to the occasion."

Cornerback Terence Newman helped limit big-play receiver DeSean Jackson to two catches for 29 yards.

Rookie linebacker Victor Butler had a third-down sack of McNabb with less than 5 minutes remaining.

It wasn’t always a thing of art, but the Cowboys still will frame it.

The Eagles had been one of the NFL’s most dangerous offenses.

They had scored a 50-plus-yard touchdown in six of their first seven games. They led the league with 12 touchdowns for 20 or more yards. Nine of those were passing touchdowns.

But Jackson and Jeremy Maclin combined for five catches for 73 yards. Their longest play went for 20 yards, and the Eagles managed only two plays of more than 20 yards.

The Cowboys not only took away the big play, but the Eagles averaged only 5.2 yards on their 57 snaps.

The Cowboys believed all along they could be one of the league’s top defenses.

Even after they allowed 877 yards with no sacks and no turnovers in the first two games — a victory over the Bucs and a loss to the Giants.

Even after they missed three tackles on Brandon Marshall’s 51-yard touchdown to give the Broncos a late 17-10 victory.

They have proved it the past four games. They have allowed only 301.8 yards per game in winning their past four games. Those four opponents scored a combined eight touchdowns.

Charean Williams, 817-390-7760

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