Depending how you view it, the Cowboys can be considered lucky to have slipped out of Week 6 with a win over the Redskins. In a night that the leading receiver was Cole Beasley with 44 yards and the leading rusher DeMarco Murray with 29 yards, the Cowboys still managed to score 31 points. That was due to a couple Robert Griffin III turnovers and a big Dwayne Harris punt return for a touchdown.
Either way, it was a huge win for Dallas that propelled them to 3-3, tied with the Eagles for first place in the NFC East and 1.5 games ahead of the Redskins. Here are a few thoughts on the game. . .
- Tony Romo averaged only 5.4 YPA, which is really poor, but it was due primarily to a lack of pass protection. Whereas Romo seemed hesitant to get the ball downfield to start the season, he just didn’t have time to do much of anything on Sunday night. Romo got the ball out quickly to minimize the damage with just one sack, but he was under fire all night.
- It’s pretty clear that to stop the Cowboys’ offense, you just need to stop Dez Bryant. Who else does this team really have? Miles Austin didn’t have a catch on Sunday night, Jason Witten’s decline has been coming for years, and Murray can’t offer consistent production. At this point, the offense’s second-best weapon is rookie wide receiver Terrance Williams. Dallas needs to continue to use him to stretch the field.
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- Rookie running back Joseph Randle had 11 carries for 17 yards and a touchdown. His efficiency will inevitably increase, but by how much? Probably not a lot considering he’s a light back with poor speed. I didn’t like Randle before the draft, I didn’t like him after it, and I don’t think he’ll offer the Cowboys much long-term value. It was smart for Dallas to wait on a back in the draft, but not one with a horrific weight/speed combination.
- Prior to the season, I argued that Barry Church will have a big 2013 season. Still, I projected him at only 80 tackles in the preseason and 98 tackles after Week 1. He’s currently on pace for 125, which is remarkable. Church still needs to improve in coverage, but he’s playing some good football.
- Orlando Scandrick has undoubtedly been the Cowboys’ best defensive player in 2013. He’s been a lockdown player inside, and he was rewarded with an interception on Sunday night. Who could have seen this sort of play coming from Scandrick? Me, when I graded him as the top player on the team last season. He’s also the most underappreciated.
Jonathan Bales is the founder of The DC Times. He writes for DallasCowboys.com and the New York Times. He's also the author of Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft.
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