The Dallas Cowboys needed playmakers to step up against the Indianapolis Colts. They were without George Pickens and Joey Porter Jr. so others needed to step up to avoid another loss to a team they were favored to beat. They made the win a lot closer than it needed to be.
Luckily, they were able to get big plays from some of their best players and some from players that have endured a rough stretch as of late.
The Cowboys still trail the New York Giants in the NFC East, who also won today, but it feels
much better than if they had lost. It wasn’t always pretty. The Cowboys had to overcome difficult situations, largely ones that they created for themselves due to penalties.
Still, as the old saying goes: “A win is a win”. Here are five pivotal moments that helped Dallas secure the victory over Indianapolis.
1. Jake Ferguson answers the call on 4th down
2nd Quarter | 14:13 remaining | 4th-and-2 at Indianapolis 10-yard line
When you absolutely have to have it, your players need to deliver. Jake Ferguson made one of the better plays of the day and one of the more impressive catches of the afternoon.
Trailing Indianapolis 7-3, Dallas faced fourth-and-2 at the Colts’ 10-yard line. Rather than settle for another Brandon Aubrey field goal, the Cowboys elected to keep their offense on the field. Dak Prescott looked toward Ferguson, who made a tremendous adjustment on the football with Colts safety Cam Bynum in coverage.
Ferguson displayed strong hands and the ability to battle a very bright sun, while maintaining possession through the catch. The 10-yard touchdown gave Dallas a 10-7 lead and capped a 15-play drive that began late in the first quarter.
As for Ferguson, he has come under criticism lately and this was exactly the type of response he and the Cowboys needed. Ferguson didn’t just make a difficult catch. He delivered in a situation where failure would have meant leaving points on the field, that’s pressure and he came through.
It also rewarded Dallas for its aggressive decision-making and gave the offense some much-needed confidence. Now we’ll see how severe his injury turns out to be.
2. CeeDee Lamb lets loose in the secondary
2nd Quarter | 0:28 remaining | 1st-and-10 at Indianapolis 44-yard line
Sometimes all it takes is one busted coverage to change the tide. With less than a minute remaining in the first half, Dallas was protecting a narrow 10-7 lead. The Colts had an opportunity to drain the remaining clock, but a holding penalty pushed Indianapolis backward. Keenan Allen’s subsequent sideline reception stopped the clock, allowing Dallas to preserve a timeout.
That was the opportunity Dallas needed. The Cowboys regained possession at their own 25-yard line with 49 seconds remaining. After a nine-yard Javonte Williams run, Prescott connected with Lamb for 22 yards on third-and-1, advancing the ball to the Indianapolis 44-yard line with 38 seconds remaining. Then came the explosive play of the first half.
On first-and-10, Lamb ran free through the Colts’ secondary after a coverage breakdown, and Prescott found his star receiver for a 44-yard touchdown. Just like that, Dallas turned a three-point advantage into a 17-7 halftime lead.
The significance of this sequence cannot be overstated. Dallas had struggled to create separation, but the combination of defensive pressure, clock management, Prescott’s execution, and Lamb’s explosive ability completely changed the momentum entering halftime.
Granted, the Cowboy would eventually surrender the two-score lead later, but they mismanaged the end of half against the Arizona Cardinals last week. This was progress albeit incremental.
It was also a reminder of why Lamb remains the most dangerous weapon in the Cowboys’ passing attack and why you take the very, very good with the occasional very bad as we saw today.
3. Quinnen Williams Forces a Game-Changing Turnover
4th Quarter | 9:55 remaining | 1st-and-10 at Dallas 18-yard line
There are defensive plays that look good on the stat sheet, and then there are plays that completely alter the direction of a game. Quinnen Williams delivered the latter.
With Dallas clinging to a 20-17 lead, Indianapolis was threatening deep inside Cowboys territory. The Colts had moved the football effectively, aided by Dallas penalties, and appeared positioned to take the lead. Jonathan Taylor took the handoff, but Williams penetrated the backfield and stopped the running back while forcing the football loose. Shemar James recovered the fumble and returned it 11 yards before an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed Dallas backward.
Williams had prevented Indianapolis from potentially taking control of the game. The play also illustrated why Williams’ presence along the defensive front matters so much.
Earlier in the contest, his ability to disrupt the pocket helped create problems for Daniel Jones. Later, his pressure contributed to a holding penalty that stalled another Colts possession.
Williams repeatedly made Indianapolis account for his presence. The Cowboys needed a defensive difference-maker, and Williams provided exactly that when the stakes were highest.
4. Oh Boy, Flournoy! Flournoy does his best Pickens impression
4th Quarter | 1:37 remaining | 1st-and-10 at Dallas 35-yard line
Just when it appeared the Cowboys might let another winnable game slip away, Ryan Flournoy delivered the biggest reception of his afternoon. Indianapolis had taken a 23-20 lead following Spencer Shrader’s 50-yard field goal with 1:41 remaining. Dallas needed at least three points to force overtime, but with only 97 seconds remaining, the Cowboys couldn’t afford to waste opportunities. Prescott wasted no time.
On the first offensive snap of the drive, the Cowboys quarterback connected with Flournoy down the right sideline for a huge 46-yard gain, immediately moving Dallas from its own 35-yard line to the Indianapolis 19.
Against coverage from Sauce Gardner, Flournoy’s catch completely changed the situation for Dallas. Instead of trying to settle for a game-tying field goal, the Cowboys were now able to be aggressive and take the late lead. The Cowboys suddenly found themselves inside the red zone with plenty of time remaining.
A Javonte Williams run and two Indianapolis penalties eventually positioned Dallas at the one-yard line, where Williams punched in the go-ahead touchdown with 1:10 remaining. The Cowboys had reclaimed a 27-23 lead.
While Williams deserves credit for finishing the drive, it was Flournoy’s explosive reception that made the comeback possible. For a Dallas offense that often relies heavily on Lamb, Flournoy’s emergence as another reliable option could prove invaluable moving forward.
5. Kenny Clark applies the pressure, Caleb Downs seals the Brother Bowl
4th Quarter | 0:41 remaining | 3rd-and-22 at Indianapolis 14-yard line — Interception
The Cowboys had regained the lead, but the game was far from over. With Indianapolis receiving the football and more than a minute remaining, Daniel Jones still had an opportunity to orchestrate a game-winning drive.
Dallas’ defensive front made sure that opportunity disappeared quickly. On the opening play, Jones was penalized for intentional grounding, costing Indianapolis 12 yards and triggering a 10-second runoff. The Colts suddenly faced second-and-22 from their own 14-yard line with just 46 seconds remaining.
After an incompletion intended for Tyler Warren, Indianapolis faced third-and-22. Kenny Clark pressured Jones as the Colts quarterback attempted to find Keenan Allen downfield. Instead, Caleb Downs came away with the interception, ending any comeback hopes.
The turnover was a fitting conclusion to an afternoon that also featured an intriguing family storyline. Downs was playing against his brother, Colts receiver Josh Downs, and had already made an impact earlier in the contest, including a sack of Jones and a pass breakup against his brother.
With the game on the line, Caleb had the final say. His interception allowed Prescott to take a knee and officially secure Dallas’ 27-23 victory. For a Cowboys defense that has faced its share of scrutiny, getting a game-sealing turnover was precisely the kind of finish this unit needed.
