By Will Martin
There would be no costly turnovers.
There would be less passing.
What had been suggested by many-myself included-finally came to pass.
And it worked to perfection!
See DeMarco run. See DeMarco score. See Tony stand upright. Watch Dez bail his quarterback out.
See the #32 ranked defense in 2013 makes plays and create havoc!
The Dallas Cowboys on September 14 borrowed from a page out of their past in which they dictated the flow of the game with a sharp running attack with some clutch passing mixed in. The results were wonderful.
Did I mention how the Dallas Cowboys also wore blue? And won on the road with very local fans chanting their team name?
DeMarco Murray had one of his best games with a 167-yard day running the football.
Tennessee was equally as ineffective moving the ball as Dallas was successful with the running game. Jake Locker time and time again would miss wide open receivers as he channeled a gunslinging Tony Romo. Locker completed only 3 of 11 passes for 16 yards in the first half while Tony Romo was a workmanlike 9 of 13 passing for 79 yards.
Three Dan Bailey field along with a DeMarco Murray touchdown put Dallas on top at the half 16-0. Bailey added a fourth and is a great weapon of mass consistency with the kicking.
Barry Church and Rolando McClain each collected an interception while the Cowboys defense kept Jake Locker and Shonn Greene at bay with key stops throughout the game.
If it seemed like the Dallas Cowboys were on the field for a long time indeed they were. For over 41 minutes the Dallas Cowboys played keep-away from the Tennessee Titans in their home opener for a 26-10 victory.
DeMarco Murray collected 167 yards on 29 carries in the win.
“DeMarco ran really well,” Dallas coach Jason Garrett said. “He ran hard and he ran downhill. When you can do that, drive the football again, again and again and control the football and control the game it gives you a great chance to win.”
Dan Bailey hit field goals of 44, 48 and 51 yards as he collected 12 of the Cowboys 26 points.
Dez Bryant led the Cowboys receivers with 103 yards on 10 catches. On numerous occasions he was the go to guy to help bail Tony Romo out when it was 3rd down. Tony Romo while effective was anything from the Tony Romo of years past when his arm was more fluid.
Even if this was only the Titans it was good to hear how vocal the Cowboys fans were as the game progressed. Looking forward to hearing that chant of, ‘Lets Go Cowboys!’ here in Arlington in two weeks.
Let it be said that while many have voiced concerns about the Cowboys defense its been the least of Jason Garrett’s problems Week 2.
Let it also be said that the return to the running game-something that will now be a league wide phenomenon-a form of power football that made the Cowboys of the 90s incredibly powerful and popular.
Now improved to 1-1 a road trip awaits the Silver and Blue to St. Louis. Remember that DeMarco Murray had two of his best games against the Rams in 2011 and 2013. With Jeff Fisher now on his third quarterback (with the first two out with injuries).
This could in theory turn into a trap game should the boys dare to look ahead to the Sunday night game with the New Orleans Saints on September 28.
