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Week 7 Game Recap: Dallas Cowboys 14, St. Louis Rams 34
What you need to know
| Dallas Cowboys |
This was a team loss and the Cowboys were outplayed in every facet of the game offense, defense, special teams, and coaching. Owners of any Cowboys players are hoping for a healthy Tony Romo sooner rather then later.
QB Brad Johnson certainly does not deserve all of the blame; however this is a game he would like to forget. Johnson was picked a total of three times and seemed to lack the timing needed to sustain any consistency for the offense. After a successful first drive the Rams seemed to figure out what the Cowboys game plan was. Johnson and the Cowboys really had nothing else to offer and began to make mistake after mistake. Turnovers and penalties were plentiful. Marion Barber was the high light for the Cowboys. He was able to reach the 100 yard mark and scored the Cowboys first touchdown of the day. Barber did have a lost fumble caused by Leonard Little of the Rams defensive line.
| St. Louis Rams |
RB Steven Jackson had a huge game but everyone will be talking about his health. Jackson was able to power for 160 yards and 3 scores for the Rams. He single handedly beat the Cowboys with his blend of speed and power. He took away any hope the Cowboys had for a comeback with his 56 yard run off the right tackle for a score. Mid way through the fourth quarter Jackson left the game with what's being reported as a quad injury. Jackson immediately left the field and went to the locker room for assistance.
WR Donnie Avery had a big impact with 42 yard touchdown to answer the Cowboys opening score. On the day Avery was the Rams leading receiver with five catches for 65 yards and the one score.
What you ought to know
| QB Brad Johnson, Pass: 17 - 34 - 234 - 1 TD / 3 INT, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0 |
It was apparent that the 40 year old veteran back up was rusty. He was only able to complete a very modest 17 of 34 on the day. Many of his throws were over thrown or behind his receivers. It was also apparent that the Rams were taking away the underneath routes and baited Johnson to throw it deep. After some turnovers and the score getting out of hand early the Rams could simply pin their ears back and rush the passer. Johnson's lack of mobility was a factor as he was sacked three times and hurried many more times.
| RB Marion Barber III, Rush: 18 - 100 - 1, Rec: 1 - 13 - 0 (2 targets) |
Barber had a solid stat line with a touchdown and 100 yards rushing. Much of the total yards came on the opening drive. To start the game the offensive line and Barber had their trademark tough running style. His best run came on a 35 yard trap play that Barber almost took to the house. After capping off the opening drive with a one yard dive for a touchdown Barber was held pretty much in check. As the score increased for the Rams, Barber became an after thought for offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. Also of note, Barber lost a fumble when he was chased down from behind.
| RB Tashard Choice, Rush: 2 - 13 - 0 |
The rookie running back got a pair of garbage time carries when the game was well out of hand. He had a nice gain on his first carry and showed that he could hit the hole very quickly.
| RB Deon Anderson, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets) |
The Dallas fullback caught one ball in the flat for a short gain of six yards.
| WR Patrick Crayton, Rush: 1 - 11 - 0, Rec: 3 - 30 - 0 (7 targets) |
Crayton looked to have the most chemistry with QB Brad Johnson. Most of his catches were of the short variety. He was used as a possession type receiver and helped keep a few of the drives going. Once again Terrell Owens was receiving double coverage all day so the ball needed to be spread around to the rest of receivers. Crayton was also used in the running game on an end around that went for ten yards and a first down.
| WR Terrell Owens, Rec: 2 - 31 - 0 (8 targets) |
It was an all too familiar stat line for Owens of late. The Rams employed the same press coverage with safety help over the top. He and back up QB brad Johnson did not seem to have any chemistry and Owens was often over thrown. It appears that defenses have figured a way to slow down the pro bowl wide out.
| WR Miles Austin, Rec: 2 - 43 - 0 (3 targets) |
Austin was not used much during the early parts of this game. His three targets came in the fourth quarter when the Cowboys needed points through the air. Austin continues to run nice routes and has improved his catching abilities. His first catch he displayed some nice run after the catch ability as he busted it up the middle of the field for a 36 yard gain.
| WR Roy Williams (2 targets) |
It appeared that Williams was not a big part of the Dallas game plan with him only joining the club on Wednesday. Williams was targeted deep but over thrown on his limited chances.
| TE Jason Witten, Rec: 6 - 44 - 0 (11 targets) |
Witten was targeted the most of any Cowboy on the day. He often was the target when the Rams brought the blitz and the Rams knew it. He was often tackled immediately after catching the ball. Very rarely did we see Witten further than 10-15 yards from the line of scrimmage. It was a quiet day for Witten with an extremely modest 44 yards.
| TE Martellus Bennett, Rec: 2 - 67 - 1 (2 targets) |
The rookie second round draft pick was the top yardage receiver on the day with 67 yards and he caught his first career TD. This TD came in the fourth quarter facing the Rams prevent defense.
| PK Nick Folk 0 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 2 points |
Pro Bowl kicker Nick Folk was able to convert his two extra point attempts. However, he missed his only field goal attempt from 46 yards as it was pushed right.
| DAL Rush Defense |
This group was destroyed by stud running back Steven Jackson. The Cowboys had no answer for the inside power running game of the Rams. Steven Jackson ran for three touchdowns and helped the Rams win the time of possession stat as well.
| DAL Pass Defense |
After the opening score to Donnie Avery, this group played solidly. Although keep in mind that the Rams were nursing a lead at the time. The Cowboys were able to generate some pressure and sacked Marc Bulger five times. DeMarcus Ware had three sacks on the day and continued his sack streak to 10 straight games.
| QB Marc Bulger, Pass: 14 - 19 - 173 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - -2 - 0 |
Bulger and the Rams benefited from good special team returns and multiple Dallas turnovers that gave them short fields to work with. However, the beneficiary of this was Steven Jackson and not Bulger. Dallas had some pressure on Bulger throughout the day and the Rams relied on the running game to move the ball. In the first quarter Bulger was given a clean pocket and hit a streaking Donnie Avery for a pretty score. This was the only touchdown on the day for the Rams passing game. Of note, Bulger missed a wide open Donnie Avery who simply ran down field almost uncovered as rookie Mike Jenkins of the Cowboys dropped his coverage. Unfortunately for Rams, Bulger over threw Avery or this would have gone for a score.
| RB Steven Jackson, Rush: 25 - 160 - 3, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (3 targets) |
This was the first time that Steven Jackson faced the Cowboys since Dallas passed him by in the draft. Jackson was a man possessed, he ran very hard with great determination on his way to a big game. The Rams ran almost exclusively up the gut and to the right with Orlando Pace being out of the game. Jackson showed a little something different on each of his three scores. On his first, it was excellent patience and following his blocks. On the second touchdown he simply wiggled in from a yard out. On the last score he blew through the Dallas line and displayed great speed for a big man as he went on to score from 56 yards. The extent of his injury will be of interest to many fantasy owners.
| RB Travis Minor, Rush: 5 - 15 - 0, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (2 targets) |
With the apparent Steven Jackson injury many people may be looking to pick up Minor. In this game, he looked good catching the ball out the back field and gained positive yards on his two opportunities. On the ground, he had one nice carry that he broke for 13 yards. On his other carries he was not able to find any room to run and was held in check.
| WR Donnie Avery, Rush: 1 - 7 - 0, Rec: 5 - 65 - 1 (6 targets) |
In back to back weeks Avery has made a huge impact in Rams victories. He caught a beautiful pass from Bulger after torching corner Anthony Henry for an easy score. Avery displayed impressive speed and route running throughout the day. Of note, Avery caught another touchdown that was called back to a Rams penalty. He is quickly becoming an excellent complement to pro bowl partner Torry Holt.
| WR Torry Holt, Rec: 3 - 51 - 0 (5 targets) |
The silky smooth veteran ran good routes all day and gave Mike Jenkins all he could handle. The score of the game dictated that the Rams ran the ball, so Holt was used primarily for possession type receptions.
| WR Dante Hall, Rec: 1 - 20 - 0 (2 targets) |
Hall was used sparingly, but made a nice catch for 20 yards that kept the chains moving.
| WR Keenan Burton, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets) |
The rookie wide receiver made his first career reception late in the game.
| PK Josh Brown 2 - 3 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 10 points |
Josh Brown was able to hit from 52 and 35 yards while missing from 54 yards although not due to distance. It was also evident on both of the longer kicks that his distance is likely around 60-65 yards. Brown converted his four extra point attempts as well.
| STL Rush Defense |
After a rough first drive where the Cowboys marched down the field the Rams defense did a good job of making adjustments and limiting Barber the rest of the game. Aided by having the lead most of the game made the Cowboys a little more one dimensional.
| STL Pass Defense |
The early lead really helped the Rams pass rush and allowed them to really rush with confidence to generate extra pressure on the rusty Dallas back up quarterback. They held the Cowboys to 234 yards and only one late score through the air. All in all it was a good effort from the St Louis defense.
