The Cowboys defense delivered enough balls to their offense to beat the Saints with authority in New Orleans.
It is true that various things on offense have to improve or regain their level, but a victory like this Thursday should give the team confidence that they did not have before; the one that can win games with defense.
The Cowboys had four interceptions; including the ninth in the season for Trevon Diggs. But the last one, from Carlos Watkins, was worth the trip to New Orleans, due to his reflexes, the agility of a defensive lineman and the six points he put on the scoreboard to seal the 27-17 victory over the Saints.
“He made an incredible play,” Diggs said of Watkins’ interception. “He was in the right place and he did a great job. He looked like a secondary defense player and put us in position to win.”
That defense, despite the problems it had against the Raiders, when it collapsed on Thanksgiving, pulled the Cowboys out of a slump that extended to two straight losses and three in four November games, including two in November. home.
“December has to be our month,” said safety Jayron Kearse. “Keep rolling. You have to follow one game at a time.”
Micah Parsons continues to show that in addition to being just in the running for Rookie of the Year, he can be considered a serious contender for Defensive of the Year.
He made his 10th catch of the season, two more than the previous mark for a rookie in the award-winning Cowboys history, which was from DeMarcus Ware, who, to put it in context, is a Hall of Fame nominee in his first. year of eligibility.
The five tackles that his stats show are not even close to the reality of Parsons, who walked all over the field, hit Saints quarterback Taysom HIll twice, and thanks to the return of defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, was able to play more in his natural linebacker position, which is so urgent given Leighton Vander Esch’s obvious loss of play.
The secondary showed off, particularly Diggs and Kearse, who continues to prove he’s the Cowboys’ best free agency signing in years.
Three players from the perimeter intercepted, which added to Watkins achieved four, which is the most for the team in a game since 2010. It is the ninth time in 12 games that the Cowboys have recovered multiple balls from the rival.
“This defense is growing week by week. Today was more special because of DQ,” Kearse said in reference to defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who served as head coach in the absence of Mike McCarthy by Covid.
The offense, led by CeeDee Lamb with his 122 total yards, and Tony Pollard’s 58-yard dash, did enough to win a game in which five assistant coaches and head coach McCarthy were absent.
The Cowboys will return to Dallas with a record of 8-4, not bad for a team that tonight had its best receiver, Amari Cooper, on the field without training for almost three weeks because between Monday and Tuesday he still had Covid discomfort, and that he has never had his first defender playing together this season.
“Triumph in adversity, ugly victory, or whatever you want to define it,” coach McCarthy said from his quarantine at home. “You should have these wins when you get to this point in the year. This is a great experience for us. Let’s face it, this is today’s NFL.”
The Cowboys assure that when they arrive at their next game, in the capital of the country, they will have at least two games of advantage precisely against Washington, their closest pursuer in the East of the National Conference.
And with the advantage that they will have almost a week and a half before visiting them to prepare and, above all, give rest to beaten players, such as Ezekiel Elliott, who is increasingly noticeable with greater discomfort in his right knee, or like the defensive linemen Randy Gregory and Neville Gallimore, who should be ready to play.
“It’s going to be huge for the whole team,” Kearse said of the 10 days before the next game. “Especially after all these games that we had in a row in short weeks. The guys are beaten and playing with injuries. Definitely 10 days will be very valuable for us.”
