The Cowboys defense got worked by the Rams and it ended their season.
8-straight road playoff game losses for the Cowboys and another heartbreaking ending to make it 26 years without an NFC title appearance. The best defense the Cowboys had in years fell apart in the biggest game of the year.
Fourth Quarter
The Cowboys defense is able to get a few stops and force a 3rd and 7 but what poetry as Jared Goff runs right by Sean Lee to convert another rushing first down. The Cowboys call all of their timeouts to live on a shred of hope but CJ Anderson picks up enough to end their season.
On 1st and goal, Elliott cannot get in but Dak keeps it himself for the touchdown on the next play. It’s an 8-point lead for LA 30-22 and the clock is ticking...
help us pic.twitter.com/Y6w5FcuIDi
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) January 13, 2019
On the ensuing drive, the Cowboys get a boost with a 24-yard pass by Prescott to Gallup. A few plays later, Dak scrambles to convert another 4th and 1. After another incomplete pass on 3rd and 3, Dak looks for Cooper in the end zone and picks up a PI on Rams CB Aqib Talib.
The Rams carry the Cowboys defense with them all the way to the one. On 3rd and goal, Goff is planted short of the goal. Facing a 4th and goal, the Rams decide to go for it. After unsuccessfully trying to draw the Cowboys offsides, McVay says go for it anyway. It’s a handoff to CJ Anderson and he’s in for his second score, a 15-point lead for the Rams with 7:16 to play.
Cowboys elect to go for it on 4th and 1 but Zeke gets stuffed short and it’s turnover on downs. Rams start at their own 30, they get away with a false start on first down and LA is driving. The Rams are picking up chunk yardage in bunches with a chance to put this on ice with a red zone opportunity coming up.
Third Quarter
Zeke pushes the ball forward for three on first down and Dak finds Gallup again for 15-yards on 2nd and 7 for the fresh downs. After Rico Gathers drops the 1st down pass, Dak goes to Beasley for another conversion. Zeke loses four on first down followed by two no gain plays. On 3rd and 14, Dak hits Noah Brown for 13, Dallas has 4th down decision to make as we go to the final quarter.
On the next Rams drive, facing a 3rd and 2, two flags are down...both on the Rams! Cowboys decline and Rams try but fail to draw Dallas offsides on 4th down as the penalty for delay of game is accepted. The punt is short, Dallas will start at their own 23-yard line.
Feed the man, Zeke puts it in two-plays later for the COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN! Cowboys go for two and it’s GOOD. Rams lead 23-15, it’s an 8-point lead.
Life! pic.twitter.com/SAZpJZ6L1j
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) January 13, 2019
On 1st and 20, Dak Prescott finds a break in the coverage but more importantly, Dak finds Gallup again DEEP and he’s down at the Rams-2. What a big-time play by the rookie receiver!
A HEARTBEAT pic.twitter.com/iqPfwBRxGU
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) January 13, 2019
Cowboys offense in desperation mode needing a miracle, a prayer, or maybe a tequila shot. On 3rd and 11, Dak Prescott finds Michael Gallup for 10 but it’s one-yard short of the conversion. On 4th down, as the Rams blow up the left side, Zeke converts running right. Connor Williams makes an appearance for all the wrong reason as he is called for holding.
Cowboys start with the ball on offense needing to show signs of life. Instead, it’s a three-and-out. The Rams offense start at their own 27 but are in Cowboys territory within a few plays after Goff finds Cook sitting in coverage for an easy conversion. Todd Gurley rambles through for 18-yards with LA looking for 200 on the ground. On 3rd and short, Goff fumbles but recovers it, Greg Zuerlein nails the kick, Rams up 23-7.
HALFTIME
Second Quarter
The Rams try a little shiftiness before the half but the score stays right where it is. Rams lead by 13 and are close to running Cowboys out of the building. Dallas will possess the ball to start the third quarter.
On the Cowboys next drive, Zeke is moving the ball well and finally getting this offense on the move. On the strangest call ever, Dak is scrambling inside the pocket as La’el Collins fights off the pressure by the Rams, the official blows the play dead. What is “dead in the grasp”? I see a quarterback who wasn’t down but it’s called a sack for loss of seven. Who’s getting the credit for that sack? La’el Collins?!!!
Horrible call. Just horrible. pic.twitter.com/yLdVKnwOxb
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) January 13, 2019
Kris Richard is giving his linebackers a lashing after their putrid first-half performance:
do your thing, Kris Richard pic.twitter.com/EzO4MDRIcO
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) January 13, 2019
It costs the Cowboys seven more points as Todd Gurley breaks free for an easy touchdown. That’s 162 rushing yards in the first-half on the Cowboys defense. Rams lead 20-7 and they are dominating the Cowboys.
Like a punch in the face pic.twitter.com/9lY5DkK2u7
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) January 13, 2019
LA is just going to run this down the Cowboys throat as CJ Anderson is putting Dallas on roller skates on back-to-back plays. Just as the Cowboys force a 3rd and 14 that goes nowhere, Byron Jones gifts the Rams offense more downs with a hands to the face.
Cowboys start on offense as Zeke picks up five on first down. Dak looks for Amari but the Rams LB Ekuban almost has a pick-six but drops the ball. On 3rd and 5, the Cowboys have to take a timeout to avoid the delay of game. Dak has the open field but decides to throw it, the ball sails on him and the Rams force the punt.
Andersons gashes the Cowboys again all the way to the Dallas-1 and caps it off with a touchdown to take the lead 13-7. Anderson has 10 carried for 65-yards and the Dallas defense is stunned.
Rams hand the ball to Todd Gurley but Sean Lee is there to make the stop after a minimal gain. DeMarcus Lawrence just comes up short on sacking Goff and it’s a 20-yard completion. Goff fires another strike to Woods and the Rams are inside Dallas territory. LA is picking the Cowboys defense apart as Higbee gets LA fresh set of downs. Gurley and Anderson team up for another 10-yards as the Cowboys run defense is being dominated.
First and 10 for the Cowboys and Dak fires it to Dalton Schultz on play-action for 20-yards. Zeke adds another three on the next carry but Tavon Austin loses two-yards on the quick screen, it’s 3rd and 9. Prescott is pressured by Ndamukong Suh on 3rd down, he avoids the sack but can’t connect with Michael Gallup. Cowboys punt.
Anderson batters his way through the Cowboys defensive line for the first down. On the 1st and goal, Goff flushed out to his right finds Cooks in the end zone for the touchdown but the catch was never completed as the ball rolls and it’s incomplete. Anderson only gets four on 2nd and goal and Goff’s pass in incomplete on third down. Cowboys red zone defense forces the field goal as Rams reduce the Cowboys lead to one point. 7-6 Cowboys, so far the Rams have run 27 plays and have possessed the ball for almost 13 minutes but have just two field goals.
First Quarter
Robert Woods gets nine on first down to set up 2nd and short but Anderson is blown up behind the line by Antwaun Woods, facing a 3rd and 2 as the first quarter ends.
Rams are back out on offense but after they come up short on 3rd down, Sean McVay does his best Jason Garrett-impersonation and decides to go for. Jared Goff sneaks it for the conversion at midfield, there will be no punting allowed it seems. CJ Anderson gashes the defense and the Rams are on the move at the Dallas-29.
On 1st and 10, Dak finds Amari Cooper on the crossing pattern as he blows by the Rams for 29-yards and a COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!!! Cowboys take a 7-3 lead!
WELCOME TO THE DIVISIONAL ROUND AMARI COOPER pic.twitter.com/isSXXTDvnb
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) January 13, 2019
4th and 1, why not? Jason Garrett goes for it and Zeke busts a five-yard run to keep the chains moving. Even better, LA’s CB Marcus Peters gets called for unnecessary roughness on Cooper and Dallas is knocking on the door of the red zone.
Cowboys start with the ball, that Rams defense plays Ezekiel Elliott tough on the run, knowing who they need to worry about. On 2nd down, Dak Prescott finds Blake Jarwin for a nice 13-yard catch and run. Elliott can only pick up three yards in the next two plays setting up the Cowboys with 3rd and a long 7. Dak delivers the ball to Amari Cooper for six but the Rams get him down short of the sticks at midfield.
After a short run to set-up 3rd and 2, Leighton Vander Esch pressures Goff on 3rd and 2, forcing an incomplete pass. Rams boot the field goal to take a three-point lead and the defense was able to keep LA out of the end zone.
The Rams and quarterback Jared Goff begin at their own 25. Todd Gurley gets the first carry for three and Goff finds Tyler Higbee for 19 on a play-action bite by the Dallas defense. Gurley gets a few and then Dallas spots LA five more on an offsides for Antwaun Woods. Rams convert another first down with a jumpy DeMarcus Lawrence. Just like that, the LA Rams are in the red zone on the opening drive.
Cowboys win the toss and DEFER! The defense will start first against the high-powered Rams offense.
Pregame Inactives
Though both Cole Beasley and Blake Jarwin came into this game with ankle sprains and were listed as questionable. They both tested those heavily-taped ankles during warmups and will give it a ‘go’ but we’ll monitor their effectiveness.
Cowboys: QB Mike White, LB Chris Covington, DL David Irving, S Darian Thompson, DL Dorance Armstrong, RB Darius Jackson, and DL Daniel Ross
Rams: DB Darious Williams, RB Justin Davis, OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB Trevon Young, OL Jamil Demby, DL Sebastian Joseph-Day, and DL Tanzel Smart
The wait is almost over. On Saturday night, the Dallas Cowboys will attempt to reach the NFC Championship game for the first time in decades when they take on the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are the favored team having secured a first-round bye and home field for the Divisional Round playoff game, but the Cowboy are the hotter team. The Rams are rested, but the Cowboys are riding momentum and confidence.
The game will showcase two of the best running backs in the league in Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley, It also features two of the young guns in the NFL, Dak Prescott and Jared Goff. The Cowboys defense is the better unit statistically than the Rams defense, but the L.A. offense holds the advantage over the Cowboys.
It’s win or go home on Saturday night, and right now no one wants to go home.
What You Need To Know
Important links: Cowboys depth chart | Roster
Date: Saturday, January 12, 2019
Game time: 8:15 PM EST
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
TV channel: FOX
Coverage Map: 506 Sports
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Chris Myers
Radio: 105.3 The Fan | Full listings | Westwood One | SIRIUS: 81 (NYG), 83 (Dal) | XM: 226 (NYG), 225 (Dal) | TuneIn
Streaming: Fubo | NFL.com GamePass (audio only during game) | FoxSportsGo
Cowboys record: (11-6)
Rams record: (13-3)
Prediction: Dallas 28 - Los Angeles 25
Enemy blog: Turf Show Times
Twitter: @BloggingTheBoys
Facebook: Please Like us!
from Blogging The Boys - All Posts http://bit.ly/2QF1rlK
No comments:
Post a Comment