Cowboys Costume: Dallas Dresses as Contender in 43-20 Halloween Win Over Rams
ARLINGTON - The Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at AT&T Stadium entered what coach Mike McCarthy refers to as the "second trimester" of the NFL season, and did so with another milestone - Tuesday's Halloween NFL trade deadline - on the horizon.
And in celebration of it all, the Cowboys, in registering a resounding 43-20 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Rams, dressed up like a true contender.
The Cowboys vaulted to 5-2 in part by simply costuming up as the team they always are when they succeed; Dallas has now won its five games by a grand-total margin of 171-50.
Lamb vs. Rams
Is the spookier version of this team, with its two losses coming by a combined score of 70-26, buried in the holiday graveyard? Maybe not yet, given that next week's challenge is at the Philadelphia Eagles, who are 7-1 as they survived Washington on Sunday. But for the moment, Dallas at Philly now looks at least as much as an opportunity as it does a "Día de los Muertos'' that extends all "Semana.''
The Cowboys, with Tyron Smith (neck) out injured, experienced some early issues with the pass rush of the now 3-5 Rams; rather incredibly, Dak Prescott was sacked on all three of his first three dropbacks. But the third one was nullified because of an illegal contact penalty on the Rams that kept alive a possession that ended with Prescott's terrific 18-yard pass-and-catch with tight end Jake Ferguson.
And from there, Dallas poured it on, gaining a 33-9 halftime lead powered by two more Dak TD throws (both to CeeDee Lamb), plus all-three-phases pitch-ins from DaRon Bland (with his third pick-6 interception of the year) and Sam Williams (with a blocked punt for a safety).
"Our identity,'' McCarthy said, "is complementary football.''
In the end, Dak retired early, going 25 of 31 for 304 yards and four TD throws. Lamb did the same, with 12 catches for 158 yards and the two scores.
The win puts Dallas on pace to follow up nicely its consecutive back-to-back 12-5 seasons (and consecutive playoff appearances). It also gives Dallas 11 straight wins at home, the league's best active mark. ... all accomplished while successfully dealing with Rams standouts Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and Aaron Donald.
This outing is part of a streak during which the Cowboys, stretching into the "second trimester," play five of seven at home. The chance to show themselves to be able to dress the part as "the real Cowboys'' - not to mention to beat Tuesday's NFL trade deadline with an addition if possible - exists.
"We've got to make sure we take care of these games at home,'' McCarthy said.
As McCarthy said before the game, "4-2 is a good solid record, a good start, but we need to grow."
The 5-2 Cowboys did that on Sunday, maybe "growing'' in the process ... maybe ready for bigger holidays and larger-sized costumes.
