A win is a win.
To be clear Monday night was not that type for the Dallas Cowboys, but things have been so down as of late that even one road win against a hated division rival is likely not enough to bring some all the way back. That is fair.
But a win is a win as noted, and the Cowboys took a serious step forward by getting one on Monday night in Philly. Now awaits the true test in the Arizona Cardinals. If you know you know.
It was hardly a perfect effort from the Cowboys, but several key figures
on the team really shined.
Let’s get to them in our stock report.
Stock Up: Brian Schottenheimer
There was really only one direction for Schotty to go.
Public approval was about as low as it had ever been for the Cowboys head coach, and while he still had some decisions on Monday that left us scratching our heads, he had the team ready for the challenge and everyone involved executed it. We are talking step by step, once more.
In all seriousness, Schotty did have the Cowboys ready to go from a head coach perspective and also was a man of his word as an offensive play-caller. He leaned on the ground game and saw a lot of success in that area. That shows a willingness to change and he deserves credit for that.
Stock Up: Javonte Williams
Speaking of!
Javonte Williams established a new career high in rushing with 155 yards, the most that any Cowboys player has had in a game since Ezkeiel Elliott back in 2016. What a throwback.
It is one thing for the head coach to commit to running the ball more. It is another thing for the running back to be ready for the challenge. Williams clearly was.
Stock Up: CeeDee Lamb
Over training camp, as people were fawning (rightfully so!) over George Pickens, it felt like CeeDee Lamb was getting a bit forgotten. He is so incredibly special.
Lamb is one of the most dynamic players in the entire NFL and sometimes it seems that he wills things into existence. This felt like the case during Monday night’s win.
Thankfully the Cowboys have both of their star receivers.
Stock Up: George Pickens
GP3 did not have the full statistical day that his counterpart did, but he had several incredible catches that were critical to the overall team succeeding. That is commendable.
What’s more, Pickens answered the call from his head coach to be more involved and help everything out. A rising tide and all that jazz.
Stock Up: Dak Prescott
Everything was moving and grooving for the Cowboys on offense and that certainly starts with the quarterback. Like his head coach and play-caller, Prescott had struggled over the last two weeks. He put that behind him, thankfully.
Of note, this was Prescott’s 80th career game with multiple passing touchdowns. He now has the most in franchise history as he broke a tie he had with Tony Romo at 79.
Stock Up: Tyler Goodson
While Javonte Williams rightfully got all of the headlines, Tyler Goodson is seriously earning a larger role on this team. Or at least he should be.
Goodson had the kickoff return touchdown called back due to penalty, but it seems like every time he touches the ball (however that is) he is doing so with extreme tenacity. He is making the most of those touches and you love to see that.
Obviously KaVontae Turpin was out for this game due to injury, but maybe the Cowboys should look to Goodson as an alternative option.
Stock Up: Shemar James
The Cowboys put a lot of responsibility on Shemar James’ shoulders and it sort of felt like a surprise that they did so. To be clear, his stock up is relative to that context because obviously there isn’t much to write home about for the defense at large.
Still, James kept things together in an overall sense. Given that the defense is really struggling to find any kind of stability out there that is a huge plus in his favor. So good for him.
Static Stock: Quinnen Williams
I’d like the record to show that I believe that Quinnen Williams rebounded a bit in the second half, but the first half was absolutely dreadful for him.
Williams committed two penalties early on in this game that cannot happen. These penalties cannot happen for anyone on your team, one was an encroachment that gave the Eagles new life after Dallas stopped them on fourth down, let alone from your defensive leader who you traded serious capital for and gave a massive extension to.
In the second half Williams was much more himself. He got a sack, and had three TFLs. That’s a pretty decent comeback for your star on the defense. He evened out his first-half mistakes.
Stock Down: Christian Parker
How is the defense still so consistently bad? And how are they committing so many penalties? Pre-snap penalties at that?
I recognize that Christian Parker’s stock cannot go down any further. But what is his “get right” game? It wasn’t Jalon Daniels. It wasn’t Tanner McKee. What circumstances does it take for his group to look proper or dare I say even good?
Stock Down: DaRon Bland
Like with a lot of things on defense, there isn’t a whole lot to say that hasn’t already been offered.
It is a little bit easier to see Bland’s struggles now that Joey Porter Jr. is a part of the fold, but this is such a serious point of weakness for the Cowboys. It might be their highest level priority in the offseason.
Sigh.
