"How about them Cowboys!"
The Dallas Cowboys have continued their streak of domination across the NFL by defeating the defending champion Seattle Seahawks 30-23. It was a game to remember as the Cowboys exorcized their demons that have plagued them since Tony Romo's botched hold on the field goal attempt that forced the Cowboys out of the playoffs in 2006. Romo rewrote history today punishing the Seahawks' Legion of Boom whenever the Cowboys needed positive yardage. Dallas is the first team outside of the NFC west to win in Seattle since 2011 and this is only Russell Wilson’s second career loss at home.
On the sixth snap of the play Tony Romo took a huge hit from Bobby Wagner forcing him to the ground. A few plays later the Seahawks blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown. The Cowboys were then facing an early 10-0 deficit on the road at the Link; it does not get much more difficult than that in this league.
But the Cowboys kept their poise and composure while focusing on chipping away at the Seahawks.
Demarco Murray ran for 115 yards and a touchdown, continuing his play as the anchor role for the Cowboy’s offense. Murray, who is on pace to break various rushing records , also tied Jim Brown’s record with his sixth consecutive 100 yard game against the league's best rushing defense.
Some might not have been that surprised to see the Cowboys pull off the upset, especially after the way that they have been playing lately. But what was shocking was the way the Cowboys dominated time of possession, the line of scrimmage and weather the storm created by the "12th Man" to hand Seattle the loss. Its not everyday you see a team beat the Seahawks at home, especially when they have three turnovers (one being returned for a touchdown).
This game was not as much about stats as it was about being clutch in key moments. Tony Romo, under pressure, hit Terrance Williams to convert a 3rd and 20 which kept the momentum on the Cowboy’s side. Dez Bryant and Richard Sherman battled all game, but in the end Dez had some huge conversions that kept the offense on the field. The Cowboy’s defense pulled through with less than three minutes to go as Rolando McClain intercepted Russell Wilson to seal Seattle’s fate.
Its too early to crown them champions, but its hard to deny the Cowboys success. Whats even crazier is that this defense is not healthy with Sean Lee, arguably their best player prior to the season, out for the season, Demarcus Lawrence still has yet to play a snap dealing with a foot injury and Morris Claiborne is out for the season. They are not conforming to other teams strengths but defusing them with their own game. They possess the best offensive line and rushing game in the NFL, and this win shows that everyone should now believe in this team.
There's no bigger Statement to make in the NFL than defeating the defending champs at home, and now that the Cowboys have done that, loftier aspirations await.
