5 things from the Dallas Cowboys’ underwhelming blowout of the tanking Miami Dolphins
The Dallas Cowboys are still undefeated, moving to 3-0 on the season for the 16th time in team history and the first time since 2008.
But they may not be feeling as good about themselves after Sunday’s 31-6 victory against the hapless and tanking Miami Dolphins that can be described as lethargic and listless early on and underwhelming overall.
A 22.5-point favorite, the Cowboys led just 10-6 halftime, thanks to some uncharacteristically greedy decision making by quarterback Dak Prescott that led to a second quarter interception and some stalled drives.
The Cowboys also undid themselves with 8 penalties for 100 yards, including a hold that negated a 74-yard pass. There was also a missed 55-yard field goal by Brett Maher.
Prescott, who had played as well as any quarterback in the NFL through the first two games, returned to his sizzling form in the third quarter with a touchdown run and a touchdown pass to blow the game open.
The defense, which survived two dropped touchdown passes by the Dolphins in the first half, stiffened after halftime to leave no doubt well before the end of the game.
The Dolphins (0-3), who lost their first two games at home by a combined score of 102-10 to the Ravens and Patriots, managed just five first downs and 67 yards in the second half.
It was the ground and pound Cowboys that took the headlines from the team’s high-flying passing game against the Dolphins.
Ezekiel Elliott rushed 19 times for 125 yards, and rookie Tony Pollard had 13 carries for 103 yards and a 16-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to help the Cowboys cover the spread.
Here are five things from the Cowboys’ victory over the Dolphins:
Dak Prescott overcomes slow start with sizzling third
If you were looking sideways at the formerly perfect Dak Prescott in the first half, you probably weren’t the only one.
Prescott completed 9 of 20 passes in the first half for 106 yards with one touchdown and one interception. But he was 3 of 9 in the second quarter with some questionable decision making, namely a greedy forced interception into double coverage when he had a wide-open field to run.
He followed that up with a forced deep incompletion into double coverage on the next drive. Prescott’s sizzling start to the season was marked by smart aggression, not reckless play.
He turned things around for himself and the Cowboys in the third quarter, completing 8 of 8 passes to lead Dallas to scores on its first two possessions, turning a 10-6 halftime lead into a 24-6 blowout, en route to 31-6, as expected.
Prescott tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper, their second of the game, and then had an 8-yard touchdown run, giving him 19 for his career.
Prescott completed 19 of 32 passes for 246 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. His 91.4 quarterback rating was his lowest of the season.
Prescott has nine touchdown passes in the Cowboys’ first three games, tying the team record set by Don Meredith in 1966. Tony Romo had eight in 2007, and Roger Staubach had eight in 1978.
Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard top 100 yards
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott notched his second straight 100-yard game. He had 19 carries for 125 yards against the Dolphins after getting 111 yards against the Redskins. He had 13 carries for 86 yards in the first half.
It was the 21st 100-yard game of his career. Dallas is now 18-3 when Elliott rushes for at least 100 yards.
It was Tony Pollard who finished the game with the first team offense, which allowed Elliott to rest.
Both had big runs in the fourth; Elliott had an 18-yarder, and Pollard had a 28-yard run.
Pollard closed the game with a 16-yard touchdown run. He finished with 103 yards rushing on 13 carries.
The last time the Cowboys had two 100-yard rushers was 1998 with Emmitt Smith and Chris Warren.
Robert Quinn doesn’t protest, notches first sack
All eyes were on defensive end Robert Quinn during the national anthem before the game. Quinn had raised his fist in protest of social justice and racism during stints with the Dolphins and Rams before signing with the Cowboys.
Sunday was his first game of the season after missing the first two under NFL suspension for using a banned substance. Quinn did not protest during the anthem. He stood with teammates with his head down, rocking side to side.
Quinn made his presence felt in the third quarter when he got the first sack of the game against Dolphins quarterback Josh Rosen. He also had a quarterback hit and brought heat all game. DeMarcus Lawrence notched a second half sack, and Maliek Collins and Kerry Hyder also shared a sack.
Taco Charlton plays against former team
Former Cowboys defensive end Taco Charlton got to play against his former team. Charlton was released by the Cowboys on Wednesday and signed by the Dolphins on Thursday.
He practiced Friday with the Dolphins before traveling with the team back to Dallas.
Charlton didn’t start, but he got into the game quickly as a third down pass rusher.
Charlton acquitted himself well on short notice. He had the lone sack for the Dolphins on quarterback Dak Prescott in the third quarter.
Up next
The Cowboys are 3-0 for the first time since 2008 and now head to New Orleans for a much anticipated showdown against the New Orleans Saints. That quarterback Drew Brees is not playing will not take the spotlight off of this Sunday night affair. The Cowboys have a chance to go 4-0 for the first time since 2007, when they finished 13-3. The Superdome will still be rocking, and the Saints are still mad about their loss at Dallas last season.
This story was originally published September 22, 2019 at 3:31 PM.
