If the Cowboys needed to dominate a clearly weaker opponent in order to prove something, they did it. Tony Romo’s legs allowed Dallas to score near the end of the first half, and the game was really never close after that.
I don’t know how to describe Romo’s play near the end of the half, but I will give it a shot. Facing a 3rd-and-3 from the 50, the snap from center sailed over Romo’s head. Romo bobbled the ball trying to pick it up and did not finally retrieve it until the ball reached the Dallas 17. Two Ram defenders had a chance stop Romo there, but Romo got out of the tackle. Romo broke another tackle, then found a running lane up the left sideline. He made it all the way back to the St. Louis 46, giving the Cowboys a first down.
Here is the link to the video, and below is a shot of it.
Five plays later, Romo ran the ball again, this time with Dallas facing a 3rd-and-10 from the St. Louis 15. Romo scored, giving Dallas a 14-7 halftime lead.
Romo’s arm helped the Cowboys to put the game away in the second half. Patrick Crayton had a career day with seven receptions, 184 yards, and 2 TDs, including a 59-yard touchdown grab that gave the Cowboys a 21-7 lead. Crayton had a second touchdown later in the quarter, as did Jason Witten.
A few notes:
* Romo has already tied the team record for most 300-yard games in a season, with three. He had three last year as well.
* Crayton’s 184 yards were the most for a Dallas receiver since Michael Irvin had 198 against Arizona on December 8, 1996.
* The last time that Dallas beat the St. Louis or Los Angeles Rams at Texas Stadium was October 18, 1981 in a 29-17 win. Since that time, the Cowboys have hosted the Rams five times, losing the previous four.
* Dallas is now 2-1 vs. the Rams since the Rams moved to St. Louis.
Key Plays
1st Quarter
1-10-DAL 26 (:07) 9-T.Romo pass deep left intended for 81-T.Owens INTERCEPTED by 21-O.Atogwe at STL 43. 21-O.Atogwe to DAL 26 for 31 yards (65-A.Gurode).
On the final play of the first quarter, Romo lofted a pass that was picked off by O.J. Atogwe, who returned the ball to the Dallas 26. It looked as if the Rams would get on the board first, until…
2nd Quarter
4-5-DAL 10 (12:04) (Field Goal formation) 14-J.Wilkins 28 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-45-C.Massey, Holder-89-D.Looker.
The Rams reminded me of the Cowboys of the early decade. And it wasn’t a fond reminder.
1-10-STL 23 (8:03) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 84-P.Crayton to STL 2 for 21 yards (27-L.Walls; 21-O.Atogwe). Pass completion after Romo scrambles right.
Crayton and Witten started coming up huge. The Rams were so focused on stopping Terrell Owens that the others found open space. Julius Jones scored his first touchdown on the next play.
4-1-DAL 29 (2:32) (Punt formation) 1-M.McBriar punts 56 yards to STL 15, Center-91-L.Ladouceur. 82-D.Hall for 85 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
After stopping Devin Hester last week, the Dallas punt team had a bit of a breakdown. Hall made some good cuts and was a problem for much of the day.
3-3-STL 50 (:56) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo Aborted. 65-A.Gurode FUMBLES at STL 50, recovered by DAL-9-T.Romo at DAL 17. 9-T.Romo ran ob at STL 46 for 37 yards.
This should make the highlight reels. For about the next 30 years.
3rd Quarter
3-10-DAL 41 (12:52) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 84-P.Crayton for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
The rout begins.
1-10-STL 37 (9:46) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 84-P.Crayton for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Starts getting ugly.
2-10-DAL 10 (5:14) 10-M.Bulger pass deep middle intended for 83-D.Bennett INTERCEPTED by 26-K.Hamlin at DAL -9. Touchback.
The Rams were trying to make a game of it, but Bulger floated a pass in the end zone that was easily picked off by Ken Hamlin.
2-9-STL 17 (2:30) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 82-J.Witten for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Dallas followed Hamlin’s interception with the final touchdown of the day.
OUR COMPLIMENTS
Tony Romo
Wow. He is running up his stats– 21/33, 339 yards, 3 TD, 1 Int.– and running more effectively than most running quarterbacks. Simply amazing performance.
Patrick Crayton
We really don’t need to be in a hurry about getting Terry Glenn back.
Jason Witten
In each of the first four games, Witten has been the player who stepped up first on offense. Another good game today.
Dallas Defense
Greg Ellis made his first appearance of the year and looked very good. Terence Newman replaced an injured Anthony Henry and looked pretty good. The Rams did not do very much.
NEEDS SOME WORK
There isn’t much to be concerned about. Here are a couple of items, though:
* The Cowboys did not contain Dante Hall in the manner that they contained Devin Hester. The Rams had good field position for much of the game but could not do much with it.
* Dallas had four dropped passes in the first half and once again started slowly in general. Fortunately, there are always two halves of football.
STAY TUNED
Monday (10/1): Instant Trivia: Cowboys vs. Rams
Tuesday (10/2): Answers to Questions Waiting for Answers
Wednesday (10/3): Way Too Much Information Wednesday
Thursday (10/4) Questions Waiting for Answers
Friday (10/5): Know Your Dallas Cowboys: The Show
Saturday (10/6): Preview of Monday’s Game
Sunday (10/7): More Previews, History, and Trivia
Monday (10/8): Dallas vs. Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
