The Dallas Cowboys 4/1 went into Foxborough to face the 2/3 New England Patriots riding a 4 game winning streak. Offensively and Defensively they have been clicking on all cylinders. As for New England, they went into the game still trying to find their footing led by rookie QB Mac Jones.
The Cowboys on their opening possession went for it on a controversial fourth and one call that will be surely be talked about from their 34-yard line. Ezekiel Elliott took a handoff from Dak Prescott up the middle and was stopped just shy of the first down marker, giving the Patriots great field position at the Cowboy 34-yard line.
New England immediately took advantage of the good field position. Damien Harris ran for a quick 21 yard gain, two plays later Harris plunged in for a 4-yard touchdown run. Patriot Kicker Nick Folk made the extra point giving the Patriots an early 7/0 lead.
On the Cowboys' second possession, Dak Prescott took over going 6 for 6 passing to 5 different receivers. Dak used his legs to scramble and find open receivers culminating in a 1-yard touchdown pass to Blake Jarwin. Greg Zuerlein converted the extra point to tie the game 7/7.
New England came right back down the field with a few passes and a couple of good runs. Trevon Diggs made an uncharacteristic personal foul giving the Patriots 15 yards. Mac Jones finished the drive with a strike down the middle to a diving Hunter Henry for a 20-yard touchdown. Patriot Kicker Nick Folk made the extra point giving the Patriots a 14/7 lead.
Dallas on their next possession once again went for it on fourth down from their own 47 Ezekiel Elliott this time bounced to the outside and outran the persuing defenders for a 3 yard gain to midfield. After having a penalty nullify a deep Prescott pass down to the Patriots 3 yard line, Dak scrambled to his right and hit Noah Brown for a 20-yard pass to the Patriots' 40. To end the first quarter Prescott hit Amari Cooper across the middle down to the 30 giving Dak Prescott 161 yards on 13/14 passing and 1 touchdown in the first quarter.
The Cowboys started the second quarter by picking up a quick first down off of two Ezekiel Elliott runs. On third and 9 from the Patriots' 16, Dak Prescott was intercepted by Kyle Duggar of a tipped ball in the end zone and return to the 25-yard line. Ending a Cowboy possible scoring drive.
New England took advantage of the Cowboy miscue with a deep pass from Mac Jones to Nelson Agholor for 27 yards to the Cowboy 28. After a holding penalty squashed a Mac Jones touchdown pass, Dallas Defensive End Randy Gregory sacked Jones and he couched up the ball. Dallas Chauncey Golston recovered and returned it to the Cowboy 48.
Using the legs of Elliott rushing and receiving picked up two first downs. Dallas moved into the red zone on a horse-collar tackle made on Pollard. On third and eleven the Patriots J. Jones broke up what looked like a sure touchdown to Cedrick Wilson. Greg Zuerlein kicked a 30-yard field goal to make the score 14/10 New England midway through the 2nd quarter.
On fourth down the Cowboys' special teams showed up with a blocked punt by Luke Gifford at the Patriot 22 and recovered it at the Patriot 17. Dak Prescott hit Cedrick Wilson for a pass to the 1-yard line. Ezekiel Elliott was stopped twice and Prescott on a QB sneak. On fourth Prescott dove the top and lost control of the ball after his arm was hit by New Englands' Ja'Whaun Bentley. New Englands' Kyle Van Noy recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback. Halftime New England Patriots 14 Dallas Cowboys 10.
The second half started with the Cowboys forcing New England to a three and out off a sack by Randy Gregory of Mac Jones. Randy Gregory just overpowered the Patriot blocker for his second sack of the game. New England returned the favor by forcing Dallas to a three and out punctuated by an excellent pass break up by Patriot CB J.C. Jackson. New England took over possession with nice field position starting at their 42-yard line but was once again were forced to another three and out by the Cowboys.
Taking over deep in their own territory (9-yard line), Dak Prescott methodically drove his team down the field being patient and making smart passes to the open receivers. Dak picked up chunks of passing yards, 18 to Elliott, 27 to Noah Brown then 20 to TE Dalton Schultz the Cowboys had 1st and 10 at the Patriot 27. Following a couple of runs by Tony Pollard and an end-around for a tough first down by CeeDee Lamb, and a pass interference against New England in the end zone. Dak Prescott found CeeDee Lamb in the back right for a touchdown pass. The Cowboys scored on an 8 play 91 yard 4:29 drive to take the drive. Greg Zuerlein converted the extra point to give the Cowboys a 17/14 lead.
The Cowboys once again forced a New England punt, started their next possession from the twelve. Prescott now taking his time sitting in the pocket, continued to pick apart the Patriot defense with pinpoint passes. Dak hit CeeDee Lamb for 33 yards to get to the Patriot 27 to start the fourth quarter, there the Cowboy drive stalled. Kicker Greg Zuerlein made a 45-yard field goal to extend the Cowboy lead to six, 20/14.
New England, desperate to get something going on offense picked up just their second first down of the second half early in the fourth quarter. After getting another first down and seemingly getting a groove, Jones hit Jakobi Meyers for a first down. Damien Harris then ran up the middle for 21 yards to the Cowboy 16. Relying heavily on the run New England pounded the ball into the endzone on a 1 yard run by Rhamondre Stevenson. Kicker Nick Folk made the extra point to give the Patriots back the lead 21/20 with 6:23 remaining in the game.
Dallas starting their next possession on their 27, came right out quickly on a 21 yard run by Ezekiel Elliott. Dak hit Cedrick Wilson for a first down to the Patriot 41 after an Elliott 8 yard run. Tony Pollard gashed the Patriot defense for another 7 yards. Following a holding penalty, Dak missed Amari Cooper down the sideline. On fourth and 2 from the New England 32, the Cowboys went for a 51-yard field goal attempt but Greg Zuerlein missed wide left.
New England with the game all but cinched, Mac Jones on 2nd and 15 threw an errant pass off the hands of Kendrick Bourne into the hands of ballhawk Trevon Diggs for his 7th interception who took it in for a pick 6. The Cowboys went for two but Tony Pollard was stopped. Score Cowboys 26 New England 21.
New England came right back when Mac Jones hit Kendrick Bourne on a 75-yard touchdown pass beating Trevon Diggs on a double move and poor over-the-top safety help. The Patriots converted the 2 point conversion on a pass from Jones to Jakobi Meyers giving the Patriots a three-point 29/26 lead.
Dallas took over at their own 29 with 2:05 seconds left in the fourth needing at least a field goal to tie the game. On fourth down from their own 35, Dak threw a perfect pass to Cedrick Wilson to get the first down. Dak hit Dalton Schultz to get to the Patriot 40. On second down the Cowboys committed another penalty to move them back to their own 45. On 2nd and 25 with 31 seconds left Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb across the middle to get to the Patriot 31. On fourth and 1 Kicker, Greg Zuerlein made a 49-yard field goal with twenty seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 29/29. New England ran the clock out to take the game to overtime.
New England won the coin toss and received the ball to start overtime. The Patriots took over from their 25. Mac Jones hit Jakobi Meyers under pressure for a 14 yard gain to get to the 39. After two runs by D. Harris on third and 3, Jones missed down the sideline.
Dallas took over at their 20-yard line. Zeke gained 1 on 1st down, then Dak dodged a rushing Patriot defender to hit Lamb at the Cowboy 35. Prescott hit Dalton Schultz for a 6 yard gain followed by a slant pass to Amari Cooper to New England 49. Tony Pollard gained seven down to the 42 then Dak hit Lamb for seven on a quick out. Dak Prescott finished the game by rolling to his right hitting a wide-open CeeDee Lamb coming across the middle who then pranced into the endzone for the game-winning touchdown. Cowboys win 35/29.
In a game full of Dallas Cowboy mistakes, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb save the day. Prescott had big numbers completing 36 0f 51 passes for 445 yards and 1 interception but most of all 3 touchdowns including the 35-yard game-winner. CeeDee Lamb not to be outdone had 9 receptions for 149 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Cowboys run game was held in check with Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 69 yards on 17 carries and Tony Pollard chipped in 41 yards on 10 carries.
The Cowboys' defense bent but didn't break coming through in the end despite giving up the late 75-yard touchdown pass. Trevon Diggs stepped up again with another interception his 7th in six games, this time for a pick-six to keep Dallas in the game. The defense forced New England to punt on their overtime possession giving the Cowboys the chance to win the game.
Sports reporters and armchair coaches will definitely be talking about Mike McCarthy's choice to go for it on fourth and 1 at their own 34 on the opening possession of the game giving the Patriots a short field and an early lead to start the game. With a bye week, the Dallas Cowboys 5/1 are now on a five-game win streak. They will have a chance to heal and address the penalty issues before heading to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota to face the 3/3 Minnesota Vikings on Halloween Night @ 7:20 pm.
Until next time, enjoy yourself and be safe.
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