Every week, we gather to discuss the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have David Howman, Jess Haynie, Tom Ryle, and Sean Martin.
What stood out most about Dak Prescott’s performance in crunch time, and how much confidence should Cowboys fans take from his overtime drive?
Dak Prescott’s composure and sequencing under pressure, like the 18-yard strike to Jake Ferguson with seconds left. set up Brandon Aubrey’s 64-yarder to force overtime. Prescott then showed the same level of level-headedness in overtime when he added a gutsy 14-yard scramble
after guiding the walk-off drive capped by a 46-yard field goal. He finished with 361 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, and extended his personal win streak over the Giants to 14 straight. Cowboys fans should take real confidence from that overtime drive as it showcased clock management, pocket poise, and opportunistic legs, traits that translate when the stakes rise in January.
Howman: What stood out most to me is that Dak was playing pretty poorly for the whole game, but he turned it on in crunch time. He’s always been a clutch player – he ranks sixth among active starters in fourth quarter comebacks – but I think this is the first time we’ve actually seen him play poorly and then turn it on at the end.
Jess: I don’t feel that Prescott played that poorly early, but more that the overall offensive rhythm was off. Once they found it, he was more than fine. And to show up like he did at the end, tying Tony Romo for all-time comeback wins in team history, is just a reminder of how unappreciated Dak often goes with sectors of Cowboys fans. He’s far from perfect, but he’s often better than given credit for.
Tom: He was certainly clutch down the stretch. I’m like Jess in that I think the whole offense was out of sync before the fourth quarter, but they found themselves when it mattered. Now let’s see them have a better game from the jump so I don’t get so completely exhausted watching them.
Sean: Prescott’s ability to be the steady presence at QB around chaos everywhere else in this game is what stood out to me. This was the same thing Tony Romo was praised for throughout his career, but was mostly a result of the Cowboys not supporting him. Right now for Prescott, the Cowboys have the guys they like as a supporting cast, but many of them are new and/or young players still getting acclimated. There were more plays to be made by CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson, and Jalen Tolbert in this game, but Prescott was the one that made sure the clutch plays got executed, even taking matters into his own hands with a scramble to set up the winning field goal.
Javonte Williams played an exceptional game. Do the concerns about the running back position now feel non-existent after just two games?
Williams’ blend of patience and violence, pressing the hole, jump-cutting to daylight, and finishing with contact balance turns a routine crease into six yards is something that should give Cowboys fans huge optimism for the year. Through two weeks, his yards-after-contact authority and decisiveness does ease anxiety about the Cowboys backfield, but it shouldn’t erase it. Depth, durability, and week-to-week consistency still need proof over a longer runway. The takeaway for now is optimism with guardrails as Williams looks like a tone-setter, and the position looks stabilized, not solved.
Howman: I wasn’t that concerned to begin with, just because I knew Klayton Adams had assisted with a great Cardinals run game that didn’t feature a big name at running back. Even still, I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen from Javonte Wiliams. I still want to see what Jaydon Blue can do, but it’s hard to argue with what we’ve seen from this run game.
Jess: How concerned you are depends on your level of expectation for the position. If your concern was that this year’s backs wouldn’t even be as good as Rico Dowdle, then I think Williams has reached that bar. But if you’re still looking for the next Emmitt, Dorsett, or even prime Zeke to emerge, then we’ve got a long way to go.
Tom: I’ve always felt that an effective run game was more about the offensive line and proper use by the offensive coordinator, and I think that is what we saw on Sunday. Williams looks like he is good enough to give them good production on the ground. I’m curious about Blue as well, but there is no urgency to see him while Williams is delivering.
Sean: I wouldn’t say nonexistent because depth is going to be tested, and we still don’t know what Jaydon Blue can be even though there’s this aura of expectation around the fifth-round rookie. The Cowboys will also be without center Cooper Beebe for at least six weeks, and a lot of Williams’ best runs have come between the tackles. His style of running is a fit for this scheme though, and watching him run hard and consistently keep Schotty’s play calling on schedule has been an improvement in the ground game.
What areas of the Cowboys defense need the most improvement heading into the Chicago Bears game this weekend?
Run-fit discipline and tackling need a tune-up. There have been far too many leaks on the edges and extra yards after first contact which are putting the defense behind the sticks. Rush-lane integrity and tackles must work together to keep mobile quarterbacks from escaping and turning third-and-long into firsts. On the back end, clean up everything. Trim the penalties and coverage busts, force field goals, not hero throws. That way the Cowboys pass rush potentially can dictate, rather than chase.
Howman: The easier question is what areas don’t need improvement. Matt Eberflus is a genuinely good defensive coordinator, but something was fundamentally wrong this week. The secondary shouldn’t be giving up big plays left and right, and they need to figure it out fast with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams up next on the schedule.
Jess: QB Caleb Williams already has 80 rushing yards on just 11 carries so far this year. After Jalen Hurts’ performance in Week 1, Ben Johnson will have a much easier time finding ways to use that against the Cowboys than replicating the deep passing of Russell Wilson in Week 2. Dallas’ defensive front has to be ready to contain and attack Williams to stop both of those things, but especially the running and extending of plays.
Tom: With two receivers getting over 140 yards each against them, the answer has to be the pass defense, and that includes both the secondary and the rush. Having said that, I certainly don’t expect Williams to exploit the secondary the way Wilson repeatedly did. That should allow Eberflus to focus on stopping the run, and they proved they could against the Eagles in week one. But if Williams does show an ability to hit open receivers running free in the secondary, all bets are off.
Does Brandon Aubrey deserve to be the highest paid kicker in the NFL? And is he the man?
Sending the game into overtime with a huge 64-yard kick in the dying moments of the fourth-quarter, followed by an extremely high-pressure, and very tricky field goal to secure the win in overtime is all we need to say here. Aubrey waits for his contract extension patiently, but it’s pretty obvious that not only will it happen, he deserves every penny. Not bad for an ex soccer player.
Howman: Yes and yes, unequivocally. There’s no better kicker than Butter right now. He’s a genuine weapon for this team.
Jess: Double yes. He deserves a new contract before they leave for Chicago.
Tom: Affirmative to both. Time for big Butter bucks.
Sean: Well, I don’t know how to say anything that hasn’t already been said. Pay Butter. Extra…..butter?
Rapid Fire Section
Who do you have for Defensive MVP for Dallas against the Bears?
Howman: Jack Sanborn going up against his former team.
Jess: Osa Odighizuwa.
Tom: Given the need to stop the run and the sack he got, I’m going to go with Kenny Clark. That doesn’t say they were right to make the trade, just that Clark is off to a good start.
Sean: Kenneth Murray.
Who scores Dallas’s first touchdown?
Howman: Brevyn Spann-Ford.
Jess: Bears have been getting run over so far, so sticking with Javonte Williams.
Tom: I’m sticking with CeeDee.
Sean: Javonte Williams
Dak Prescott passing touchdowns- over/under 1.5
Howman: Under. Javonte Williams is too good inside the red zone right now.
Jess: Over, because I think Chicago forces a high-scoring game.
Tom: Over, just because he has so many weapons.
Sean: Over considering this defense allowed five last week.
Most critical offensive line efficiency- pass pro or run blocking?
Howman: Pass pro. As good as the run game has looked, Sunday was a good example why you need to be able to throw the ball consistently.
Jess: Run blocking. Cowboys need to dominate the clock and keep defense fresh.
Tom: They go so hand in hand. Still, I’ll take pass pro, because that is how Dallas is going to have to win games.
Sean: Run blocking, to put the Bears offense in a situation where they’re on the field playing from behind with less clock.
Longest Cowboys field goal made- over under 56.5
Howman: Over, because Butter.
Jess: Over.
Tom: I’m taking the optimistic under that they don’t have to try long ones when they are scoring TDs.
Sean: I’m with Tom, we know Butter can make them, but let’s see more touchdowns this Sunday.
Team rushing attempts- over/under 25.5
Howman: Hammer the over.
Jess: Narrowly over.
Tom: Over, I hope, because that will mean they are in control.
Sean: Over.
Who wins turnover margin? Dallas, Chicago, or even?
Howman: Dallas should win it, just because Caleb Williams can get reckless with the ball.
Jess: Bears have five in two games, so going Dallas.
Tom: I’ll take the Cowboys, too.
Sean: Even.
George Pickens DPI calls- over/under
Tom: 1.5. I think 1 is a lock and Dak is smart enough to throw some balls that force PI.
Sean: I say he gets one this week.
Javonte Williams rushing yards- over/under 82.5.
Howman: Over. Javonte can’t be stopped.
Jess: Over. Think he gets fed more than ever after last week.
Tom: Let’s see his first 100 wearing the Star.
Sean: Comfortable over.
First Cowboys takeaway comes from who?
Howman: I’m tempted to say Jadeveon Clowney, but I’ll go with Marist Liufau.
Jess: Malik Hooker on a tipped ball.
Tom: Odiggy on a fumble recovery.
Sean: Kenny Clark fumble recovery.
