The Dallas Cowboys delivered a much-needed performance on Monday night against the Raiders. For the first time ever the Cowboys went to Las Vegas for a regular season game and they left home having hit
21 with an ace and king. It was that kind of trip to Sin City for them.
Some will offer (fairly if we are being honest) that the dominant performance came “only” against the Raiders, but it was so sorely needed by this Cowboys team who has been through a tough season on the field and an tragedy off of it. As the great Kevin Malone once said, sometimes it is just nice to win one.
The Cowboys won this one with relative ease though, and in the spirit of maximizing the joy from it we are keeping things purely positive with our Stock Report.
Let’s begin.
Stock Up: George Pickens
My goodness, George Pickens is special.
It felt like incredible plays were happening left and right from Pickens throughout this game. He scored with ease and did everything else at that level if we are being honest. He runs in the most physical way with the most graceful look about it, and he is such a problem for opposing defenses.
So much has been made about how the Cowboys have unlocked Pickens, but multiple things can be true as he has clearly unlocked a level of Dak Prescott as well. What a find.
Stock Up: Quinnen Williams
How about 1.5 sacks for Quinnen Williams in his Dallas Cowboys debut? Having expectations beyond that was not exactly being realistic, but he not only had the sacks but was so disruptive in the interior, hitting the QB five times. The pressure generated from Williams up front had a ripple effect that benefited everyone. It was wonderful.
Stock Up: Dak Prescott
The last few weeks have been a bit rough for Dak Prescott, but he was on fire in this game. Prescott was spreading the ball all over the place. He was in full and total control and played a very clean and efficient game as he dominated the Raiders almost from the jump (more on that in a second). It was just about a perfect game from your QB1.
Stock Up: Brian Schottenheimer
The game began with some question as Brian Schottenheimer appeared to bench CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens for the opening possession. It was reported that this was the result of them “missing” some things.
Whatever happened, both Lamb and Pickens had incredible games. That may or may not have anything to do with the fact that they were “punished”, but the point is that Schotty tried to instill some discipline and deserves kudos for rolling those dice.
Many of us have said that the Cowboys need to establish accountability. It appears their head coach is trying to do that. That is very good to see.
Stock Up: Donovan Ezeiruaku
Quinnen Williams is the big name from everything because of recent events, but Donovan Ezeiruaku reaching the form he had in training camp is an important development as well. How about that safety?
Ezeiruaku is arguably the top-tier pass rusher of the future from this group and he does appear to be finding that footing. This is a long game and expecting him to be beyond special right away can be unrealistic, but then he plays the way he did on Monday night and makes those dreams seem within reach.
Stock Up: DaRon Bland
Last we saw the Cowboys was arguably the worst game that DaRon Bland has ever played as he got thoroughly beaten by the Cardinals and Marvin Harrison Jr.. He bounced back and did so in full force. Again, this was “only the Raiders”, but the form and effort from Bland was noticeable. He was in lockdown form and deserves credit for rallying after his darkest hour.
Stock Up: Javonte Williams
It is so impressive to see Javonte Williams run the football for the Cowboys. He is incredibly tough and seems to get stronger with every stride. Williams has become so dependably solid that it doesn’t even surprise us anymore. We are just assuming and expecting that he will grind out all of the tough yards that he makes look so easy.
Stock Up: James Houston
There were so many things to be excited and happy about on defense and James Houston was certainly one of them. Seeing him break through and get in on the sack action was great and a reminder about some of the better times in the early part of the season.
The whole defensive group really stood tall.
Stock Up: Kenny Clark
Speaking of… how about Kenny Clark? He had a strong outing for the first time in a while and put together perhaps his best overall game in a Cowboys uniform. Williams opens thing sup for a lot of people as noted, but Clark made a lot of magic happen on his own and deserves some credit for doing so.
Stock Up: CeeDee Lamb
As discussed with Pickens, Schotty was firm with both of his star receivers to start the game. But it is one thing for Pickens who is still in his first year with this team as opposed to Lamb who has been around for his entire professional career, and received a second contract and been named a captain. Needless to say the situations are hardly apples to apples.
Lamb, like Pickens, responded very well to that adversity, though. He was incredibly reliable and trustworthy and helped the offense really move things along throughout the entire game.
