Cowboys’ Unlikely Heroes Have Made Them Truly Competitive

George Pickens has been a force on the field and well worth the trade Dallas made for him. While CeeDee Lamb has been sidelined with injury, Pickens has proven that he can play a key role in a top offense. He leads the team in receiving touchdowns with five and has scored in every game since the Cowboys’ home opener against the Eagles.

On the ground, Javonte Williams has wowed fans and critics alike. After a trade with Denver brought the young running back to Dallas, it seems as if Williams lives in the end zone. He already has more touchdowns (six) than either of Dallas’ running backs last year (five combined). He also leads the league in rushing first downs.

Cowboys’ Win Over Jets Builds Momentum

“This team knows who we Are and what we’re capable of doing,” said Prescott after the Cowboys’ Week 5 win. The sentiment is something that echoes the Cowboys’ mentality on both sides of the ball.

However, the defense has faced some glaring issues in pass pressure and within the secondary. That imbalance is frustrating when a team’s offense is operating the way Dallas’ is, but there is hope moving forward.

The Cowboys had just five sacks going into their game against the Jets, but were able to double that number and post five more, thanks to James Houston, who sacked Justin Fields on back-to-back plays.

Week 5’s performance is a sign of hope for Cowboys fans, who have been let down by the defense in their two losses to the Bears and Eagles and in the tie to Green Bay.

After admitting that some things needed to be fixed, Schottenheimer said, “What they did to Justin Fields today… He’s got to be sore because we hit him a bunch. We pressured him all over the place.”

What’s Next Going Forward?

The Cowboys know what they need to work on, and the coming weeks should give them the opportunity to improve. With numerous starters returning from injury in the coming weeks, there is no reason for regression on either side of the ball.

Defensively, play should only get better as Matt Eberflus continues to gel the defense. With the offense, consistency is key. The Cowboys have gone back-to-back games without committing a turnover, and if they can keep that up, they give themselves a much better chance to win going forward.

The Cowboys continue on the road next Sunday against the Panthers, where Rico Dowdle will be looking to put up a big game against his former team. Following the Panthers, the Cowboys will return home to face the Commanders, which will be a proving ground for both sides of this Cowboys team in a game with big-time divisional weight.