December 12, 2018

  • Todd ArcherESPN Staff Writer

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    • Covered NFL since 1997, Cowboys since 2003
    • Previously covered Bengals and Dolphins
    • Lives in Dallas surface area with his married woman and two children

FRISCO, Texas -- Margins of error are small in the NFL. A win or loss can swivel on a play here or in that location, early or late.

The Dallas Cowboys are on the edge of claiming their second NFC East title in iii seasons because of a v-game winning streak that started Nov. 12 at Philadelphia. The Cowboys were viewed as a dead squad after their 3-five tape in the commencement one-half, but they left Lincoln Financial Field with a 27-20 victory against the Eagles and have not stopped since.

In that game -- besides equally the four since -- there have been central moments that swung things into the Cowboys' favor.

THE Terminate

November. 11 at the Philadelphia Eagles

The situation: Cowboys pb 27-twenty with two minutes remaining in the game. Philadelphia has the ball at the Dallas thirty, facing third-and-ii.

The play: The Cowboys are in their nickel defense force -- five defensive backs -- against the Eagles' spread look. At the snap, Leighton Vander Esch'southward eyes practise not get out running back Corey Clement. The Cowboys bring five pass-rushers with Jaylon Smith on a blitz.

Equally Clement shuffles to his right, Vander Esch optics him and shuffles wide with Eagles middle Jason Kelce and right guard Brandon Brooks, locking their vision on the Cowboys' linebacker. As Wentz pivots to throw to Cloudless, Vander Esch starts to sprint toward the flat. Kelce and Brooks can't catch him and he trips up Clement for a 5-thousand loss.

If Vander Esch doesn't brand the play, the Eagles take a first down at the least or a big play at the most on a game-tying drive. Vander Esch's read of the situation was reminiscent of veteran linebacker Sean Lee, who has had an uncanny power to diagnose plays quickly and slip through blockers to make tackles for loss.

On quaternary-and-7, Wentz hit tight end Zach Ertz for a vi-yard gain with safety Jeff Heath making the first-down saving tackle. Without Vander Esch's stop, the Eagles would accept been in a much more than favorable spot to get a first down.

"I knew they were going to try something kind of swell," Vander Esch said after the game. "They tried that screen, and I knew that was coming. I but put myself in position to make sure I was exterior to turn back, if annihilation, and made the play."

THE RECOVERY

Nov. 18, at the Atlanta Falcons

The situation: The Cowboys lead 9-six in the third quarter but face up a big third-and-1 from their 45.

The play: The Cowboys load upwardly with 13 personnel -- one back and iii tight ends. At the snap, center Joe Looney is beat, forcing Ezekiel Elliott to speedily change direction in the backfield. Former Cowboys defensive lineman Jack Crawford tracks Elliott down as the runner is lunging for the offset down and pokes the ball free.

Grady Jarrett, who disrupted the play to begin with, is about to pounce on the loose ball when information technology is inadvertently kicked by De'Vondre Campbell. Correct tackle La'el Collins jumps on the bollix, giving the Cowboys' the first-downwards conversion.

"That would be an incredibly meaning play in my mind," coach Jason Garrett said.

Eight plays later on, Dak Prescott had a touchdown run for a 12-nine lead. On the side by side bulldoze, Vander Esch intercepts Matt Ryan, setting up Elliott'due south touchdown run that gave the Cowboys a 19-ix lead in the fourth quarter.

THE JUKE

Nov. 22, vs. the Washington Redskins

The situation: The Cowboys trail thirteen-10 in the third quarter and are facing tertiary-and-ii from the Washington xl.

The play: The Cowboys have iii receivers on the field with Prescott in the shotgun. To his left are Amari Cooper and Cole Beasley, who is in the slot. To his right is Allen Hurns.

At different parts of the game, the Redskins had matched upwardly Josh Norman on Cooper, but they didn't this time, putting Quinton Dunbar on him. Afterwards the game, Cooper said the ball was not supposed to come his way based on the pre-snap look. He made a quick fake to the sideline so sharply changed his direction to come up back underneath with Beasley running wide to take the slot receiver out of the pic. Prophylactic Ha Ha Clinton-Dix slid far over to the sideline thinking Cooper was running a deep route and was not in position for help.

Dunbar was so flummoxed by Cooper's alter of direction he fell down and Prescott hit him in stride, leading to a xl-yard touchdown pass that helped the Cowboys take the atomic number 82 for good.

The Cowboys scored 21 points in the adjacent 7:36, including a xc-chiliad touchdown by Cooper.

"He does it all," Prescott said. "His route-running, his creating space, his strength equally nosotros see him making him contested catches. Not only that, but breaking tackles. As yous saw, his speed in the open field to run away from people. It makes him dangerous."

THE Stand

Nov. 29, vs. the New Orleans Saints

The situation: The Cowboys held a 10-0 atomic number 82 in the second quarter but for all of the dominance the Saints appeared poised to score a touchdown with third-and-goal from the 4.

The play: The Cowboys answered the Saints' empty backfield await with their nickel personnel. Earlier the snap, running dorsum Alvin Kamara goes in a speed motion to get the defense thinking about a jet sweep but doesn't become the ball.

The Cowboys are in zone and have away Drew Brees' threats to his correct. He speedily flips the ball to his left to Kamara, who has just cornerback Byron Jones to beat out for a touchdown. Jones does his chore past forcing Kamara dorsum inside but he can't hold on to him. He did, however, deadening him down enough for Jaylon Smith to brand the tackle at the Dallas ane.

Smith's closing speed was impressive. He was on the play-side hashmark when Brees threw the ball but was able to pummel Kamara later 10 fast steps to set up fourth-and-goal. Against a lot of other defenses and linebackers, that might accept been a touchdown. On fourth down, DeMarcus Lawrence stops Kamara on a handoff thank you to the work of Vander Esch and Tyrone Crawford, who stand up two Saints offensive linemen.

THE YARD

Dec. 9, vs. the Philadelphia Eagles

The situation: In overtime, the Cowboys faced fourth-and-one from the Philadelphia 19. A field goal would accept given the Cowboys the atomic number 82, simply the Eagles would take a chance to win the game on their possession.

The play: On third-and-1, the Cowboys went with 21 personnel -- 2 backs, one tight cease -- to try selection up a first down only Elliott was stopped for no gain to fix fourth down. Garrett did not think about a field goal. He was going for information technology and had two tight ends and Noah Brown, their best blocking receiver, on the field but had to call a time out with the play clock running downward.

The Cowboys changed personnel to three tight ends and one back. The Eagles had nine defenders in the box. They knew what was coming.

"Go me the rock," Elliott said.

The left side of the line blocked down merely rookie tight end Dalton Schultz was beaten at the snap past Brandon Graham, forcing Elliott to his left where an unblocked Malcolm Jenkins was waiting. Elliott was willing to carry Jenkins merely far enough for a one thousand and a beginning down.

Iii plays later Prescott and Cooper hooked up for a xv-k touchdown and the Cowboys had their walk-off win.