The meteorologists anticipated precipitation on the evening. Optimistic Cowboys fans anticipated Rayne making all the difference. And so while the natural juxtaposition would be the game could turn with water landing on Rayne, no one quite saw it playing out the way it did.
Six seconds into the contest, following the opening kickoff, star Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter spit on Dak Prescott, leading to his stunning ejection. That simply set the tone for a wild-and-wacky season opener, as the skies did eventually open up to change all of the game’s vibes. For Dallas though, they ruined their own chance for beating the Eagles thanks to some Butterfinger moments in their 24-20 defeat.
Unable to fulfill new head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s mantra of winning the turnover battle, the one giveaway they committed ruined what turned out to be their best scoring chance in the second half, and an inability to haul in several pinpoint passes led to heartbreaking missed opportunities that could’ve led to a monumental Week 1 upset.
Here’s a look at the position grades and snap counts for the Cowboys’ offense.
Quarterbacks: A
Prescott was quite simply remarkable on the evening, again putting to rest the idea that he needs to play in the preseason to perform well early in the regular season. Casual fans will see pedestrian volume stats, but anyone watching the game saw the precision he played with. Aside from one errant pass that should’ve been picked off (and could’ve been a catastrophic Pick-6), he was on target throughout.
His 188 passing yards don’t account for the 43 hidden yards from pass interference, or the 4 dropped passes that would’ve lit up the stat sheet with potentially two touchdowns missed (Jake Ferguson in the end zone, CeeDee Lamb with potential running room). Throw in some vintage sack escapes and making a touchdown-saving tackle on a fumble return, and fans should be really excited for what the 10-year veteran showed on Thursday night.
Running Backs: B
Sanders giveth, Sanders taketh away. Most fans have wondered what Sanders brings to the team, and his being active while rookie Jaydon Blue was in street clothes rubbed people the wrong way. Even the biggest run of the game, Sanders’ 49-yard burst through the line evoked questions of whether Blue would’ve been chased down by a defensive-end-turned-linebacker. But it was Sanders’ fumble a few plays later, being stripped in the pile, that brings this grade down. He ruined a scoring opportunity he created, and Dallas never truly threatened again.
Williams was very impressive, despite his second-half downturn in YPC. There was one run in particular where he bullied for an 11-yard gain after being hit by several defenders, not to mention his two scores will likely be near the top of the leaderboard when Week 1 concludes.
Wide Receivers: C-
The Cowboys stuck to the four-headed WR monster, but they left a lot to be desired. Lamb has had drop problems before, but not like this, letting three passes he should’ve caught hit the ground, one deflection almost being intercepted, and then failing to haul in what would’ve been a spectacular grab to keep the game going.
Pickens didn’t see many targets, but did take a questionable unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that pushed the Cowboys away from the goal line a few plays before Sanders’ fumble. Turpin was finally used as he should, with nine snaps out of the backfield in addition to 19 running routes. This group will be fine if they can cut down the mistakes, there’s a ton of playmaking potential here.
Tight Ends: B-
The Ferguson drop in the end zone was because he was looking to protect himself, and the refs did penalize the defender for the blow to the head he did receive, but the Cowboys could’ve used that score in the worst way. Prescott was dealing, but his single throws to Spann-Ford and Schoonmaker were risky.
Spann-Ford was sensational in blocking, he has a real talent there and if he has progressed with his catching should soon surpass Schoonmaker in snaps.
Offensive Line: C+
The offensive line did a great job in run blocking, especially Steele and Beebe, but were less-than ideal in pass protection. Left tackle Tyer Guyton made a speedy recovery from a broken knee, but struggled, allowing five QB pressures per PFF. Each of the other linemen allowed two each, but Prescott’s renewed escapability kept them from being credited with allowing a QB Hit or a sack.
Weathermen: A-
The forecast called for rain throughout the evening, but the drops waited until more than midway through the third quarter. A storm system brought the lightning and the game was delayed for over an hour and it really changed the trajectory of the contest. The teams had scored on every possession until Sanders’ fumble, the final play before the pause, and then the offenses became stagnant with no more points scored. The game turned from a Nascar event to a muddy horse race without the mud. The forecasters were spot on.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Lightning ‘n a Bobble: Weather, mishandles shape Cowboys offensive position grades, snaps
Reporting by K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
