There is no such thing as a must-win game in Week 7, but this was about as close as it gets for the Dallas Cowboys. With a record of 2-3-1, the Cowboys couldn’t afford to drop another game, especially in the NFC East. But Dallas managed to score 41 points in the first three quarters of this game and get a much-needed win to improve to .500 for the first time since Week 2.
So without further ado, here are the biggest winners and losers for the Cowboys coming off a big divisional win:
Winner: Daron Bland, CB
For the first time all season, Daron Bland looked like himself. Dallas put him up against Zach Ertz on some key third downs, and he did a good job slowing down Washington’s top weapon. He made a few big plays in run support, and it was clear that he looked fully healthy for the first time in two seasons.
And then the big play happened. With Dallas leading 34-15, Bland picked off a pass by Marcus Mariota on a key third down and returned it for a touchdown. It was his sixth-career pick-six, and that was the play that ended up sealing the win for the Cowboys.
If the Cowboys want to be better on defense in the second half of the season, having a fully healthy Bland will be key. He is the biggest playmaker on the defense, and that was proven again in Week 7.
Winner: Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE
The Cowboys have been waiting for someone to step up as a pass rusher and it finally happened in Week 7. Jadeveon Clowney made several plays throughout the game, including his first sack with Dallas. He also knocked down multiple passes at the line of scrimmage and was a factor in the run game.
While it might be too much to ask of Clowney to be a full-time player, this was easily the best he’s looked all season and it’s fair to wonder if he’s finally in football shape. If the Cowboys can get anything close to this for the remainder of the season from Clowney, they might not be in bad shape on defense. Relatively speaking, of course.
Winner: CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens
We were promised fireworks when Lamb and Pickens were on the field together, and that was the case in Week 7. The Cowboys scored 17 points in the first quarter and never looked back. Pickens drew a 37-yard defensive pass interference call that set up a one-yard touchdown run by Javonte Williams. On the next possession, Lamb scored a long touchdown to really open up the game.
This duo is among the best in the NFL, and they showed just how dynamic they can be on Sunday. They finished the game with a combined 192 yards on 14 targets and several defensive holding/pass interference calls.
Winner: Dak Prescott, QB
What more can you say about Dak Prescott at this point? He’s playing the best football of his career and has total control of the offense. For the third time this season, Dallas scored 40 or more points. Prescott did not turn the ball over, and offense racked up over 400 yards of offense and took their foot off the gas in the second half.
This was the fourth time this season that Prescott has thrown three or more touchdown passes without throwing an interception. Dallas is loaded on offense, but they are functioning at an all-time level because of Prescott.
Loser: Offensive Line
Dak Prescott was only sacked one time on Sunday, but he was under constant pressure for most of the day. And that was without Dorance Armstrong, who left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury. It wasn’t a dreadful performance by any stretch, but this was a day to forget for the offensive tackles.
The Cowboys will take on the Broncos in Week 8, who have one of the NFL’s best pass rush units. The offensive line will need to perform much better in that contest if the offense wants to keep up its elite scoring pace.