How Cowboys prepared for the playoffs by serving 2 masters in dramatic win vs. Giants
The Dallas Cowboys are officially headed to the postseason as arguably the hottest team in the NFC.
Now what that means is still anyone’s guess for a franchise that has just three playoff wins since 1995.
But the Cowboys (10-6) did on Sunday what my mom and grandma used to drill into me that I couldn’t do: “They served two masters.”
They did so masterfully and dramatically, in coming from behind to beat the New York Giants, 36-35, in a what was supposed to be a meaningless season finale.
The Cowboys kept starting running back Ezekiel Elliott out of harm’s way before next week’s wild-card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks while also playing quarterback Dak Prescott long enough to show progress in the passing game.
Prescott was simply amazing, completing 27 of 44 attempts for 387 yards and the first four-touchdown game of his career. He threw touchdowns of 13, 19 and 39 yards to tight end Blake Jarwin, but saved the best for last with a 32-yard score to a diving Cole Beasley with 1:12 left in the game on 4th down.
“Dak does such a great job moving in the pocket, he does such a great job keeping his eyes up and making those throws on the run,” Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said. “One thing you have to understand when you have a movement quarterback like that, there are a lot of good plays that he makes too, and certainly that was as good a play as I’ve ever seen him make, and (Cole Beasley) made a big-time catch on the other end of it.“
Prescott then hit Michael Gallup for the two-point conversion to give the Cowboys their 10th win of the season and seventh victory in their last eight games.
All the while, Elliott served as Dallas’ biggest cheerleader.
“It worked as we wanted,” Prescott said. “Guys went in and played. We were locked in and were able to do things we wanted to do and getting the win was huge. It characterizes this team and characterized this season. And has ready to forward.”
Garrett said going for the win was the right thing to do with the playoff game up next week. No reason to chance overtime and more wear and tear on a team that already played more than expected in a meaningless final.
“It was far from a perfect effort from us,” Garrett said. “We did have a few different guys playing, some different combinations up front, different combinations in the backfield, and it was a good opportunity to go out and try to get better and practice the right way this week and (face) a number of great opportunities to improve throughout the ball game. We did a good job of finishing this thing.”
After giving lip service all week to the need of keeping the intensity in the final week in a game that impacted nothing, the Cowboys did the smart, prudent and safe thing by making Elliott inactive, as well as left tackle Tyron Smith and right guard Zack Martin.
Elliott still won the rushing title for the second time in three years because he had that big of a lead going into the final game. More importantly, though, he will be fresh and ready to carry the load in the playoffs.
What the Cowboys were going to get from Elliott was never in question. The same can’t be said for Prescott and the passing game, which has struggled to score all season, especially in the red zone.
Owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys were going to play Prescott a lot and work on the passing a game if Cam Fleming could hold up at left tackle.
The Cowboys proved true to Jones’ word even though playing Prescott for four quarters was not the smartest thing to do, considering he was sacked 4.5 times upping his team record to 56.5 this season.
But as far as showing progress and building momentum going into the playoffs? Mission accomplished.
The Cowboys came into the game 30th in the league in red zone offense and the worst among playoff teams.
But they had a coming out party against the Giants, scoring on three of their four red zone chances, including two touchdown passes to Jarwin, who became the first Cowboys tight end with touchdowns in a game since Billy Joe Dupree did it in 1973.
Not even 11-time Pro Bowler Jason Witten accomplished that feat before retiring after last season.
The only time the Cowboys didn’t score in the red zone was when kicker Brett Maher missed a 34-yard field goal.
Maher’s shakiness suddenly tops the list of concerns for the playoffs.
But Prescott and the passing game should go in feeling good about what they showed on Sunday.
That they did it without Elliott, who led the team in receptions as well as rushing this season, and their two best offensive linemen in Smith and Martin, makes it even more satisfying.
“I would say that for him to basically step out there and work through and take what was there under the circumstances, those were unique circumstances out there today too, when you were halfway being safe on your personnel halfway doing this on your thinking, yet want to get out there and improve. Dak showed us all how to use a game like this and get better,” Jones said. “Our team got better today. Dak got better today.
“There is no question I am so proud of the game that he played today and what he did. I know his teammates feel the same way. I am proud for him he deserved a game like today.”
It promises nothing for the Cowboys in playoffs.
But they are healthy. They won’t be rusty. And they have something to build on.
Masterfully and dramatically.
“I was concerned about coming out here today and not looking good, stinking it up, really getting it handed to you trying to protect — I was concerned about that,” Jones said. “I think we’ve managed to step in here, and I think, frankly, we were razor sharp. Now, we have a different set of circumstances in this playoff game. I wouldn’t, in any way, ask for any more than we got out of this game today to be ready for the playoffs.
“We are a better team, I think, than when we got here this morning and that is the way you would like to, if you could, go into the playoffs.“
This story was originally published December 30, 2018 at 3:36 PM.
