JOURNAL SPORTS
Last year’s Super Bowl champions aren’t looking the part. Sunday’s 22-10 homefield loss by the Los Angeles Rams was the second straight game they were overwhelmed.
But overwhelming an opposing offense is becoming habit for the Dallas Cowboys. Sunday afternoon on the Left Coast, Dallas continued its season-long string of holding the opposition under 20 points, giving up only 10 for the second straight week in a fourth consecutive victory.
“One thing we preach to each other is we work so hard throughout the week making sure we’re locked in on our details,” said DeMarcus Lawrence. “Now it’s time to come out here and party. That’s what we did today. We came out here and partied.”
The Cowboys cranked it up early. On the third play, Lawrence recovered a fumble and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown. Dallas’s Dorance Armstrong blocked a Los Angeles punt, recovered it and the Cowboys added a 33-yard field goal by Bret Maher.
The Rams (2-3) recovered with a field goal and a 75-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp.
The Cowboys (4-1) regained the upper hand before halftime as Tony Poullard scored on a 57-yard run.
That was enough, although Dallas added a pair of field goals in the second half. The Cowboys shut out the Rams in the final two quarters and forced two more turnovers, while backup quarterback Cooper Rush continued to steer an error-free, efficient Dallas offense.
While there are constants like All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons, Dallas’ defense is an ensemble effort.
“If it’s not the same guy this week, it’s a new guy. That’s the good thing about our defense – we’ve got guys that can actually go,” said Armstrong.
The Cowboys have allowed only four touchdowns in the first five weeks, while facing offenses led by Tom Brady, Joe Burrow and Matt Stafford.
Next Sunday, they’ll be across the country squaring off against one of the league’s hottest QBs, Jalen Hurts, as Dallas visits the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football.
