By Dwain Price, NDG Sports
Another preseason game netted another perfect outing for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
A week after completing all four of his passes during a loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Prescott was 5-of-5 for 64 yards this past Saturday in helping the Cowboys to a 14-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in a game played in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Cowboys (1-1) will return to the field on Saturday at 6 p.m. when they host their home preseason opener against the Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Prescott was flat-out brilliant in his only series against the Rams. Starting a pulsating drive at the Dallas 3-yard line, the fourth-year veteran marched the Cowboys 97 yards to paydirt, with the 12-play excursion climaxed by a 14-yard touchdown scamper from rookie running back Tony Pollard.
Needless to say, coach Jason Garrett was more than pleased to watch Prescott engineer a drive – from the shadows of his own end zone — which consumed more than six minutes.
“It’s always a challenge coming off your own goal line,” Garrett said. “We call that a ‘coming out situation.’
“One of your goals is to get a first down and change field position. To be able to have a 12-play drive and cash it in for points was big for us.”
Pollard also was big for the Cowboys (again). Subbing for Ezekiel Elliott, who remains a contract holdout, Pollard was very instrumental in the opening TD drive.
Pollard also was big for the Cowboys (again). Subbing for Ezekiel Elliott, who remains a contract holdout, Pollard was very instrumental in the opening TD drive.
As a whole, Pollard finished the game with five rushes for 42 yards, and also had one reception for nine yards.
“That’s a playmaker — TP Playmaker,” wide receiver Michael Gallup said. “That’s what he’s going to do for us.
“Very excited for that young cat. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, so it should be fun.”
Owner Jerry Jones even had some fun – at Elliott’s expense – when discussing Pollard. Asked if Pollard is his best negotiator with Elliott, Jones jokingly told reporters: “Who? Now Zeke who?”
Jones then looked at a TV camera and, as if he was talking directly to Elliott, said: “We’re having some fun – not at your expense.”
Adding his praise for Pollard, Jones said: “If he continues this through the next several weeks, he’s going to be right in the middle of it early. And that’ll really compliment what we’re doing with Zeke.”
As a whole, Pollard finished the game with five rushes for 42 yards, and also had one reception for nine yards.
“That’s a playmaker — TP Playmaker,” wide receiver Michael Gallup said. “That’s what he’s going to do for us.
“Very excited for that young cat. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, so it should be fun.”
Owner Jerry Jones even had some fun – at Elliott’s expense – when discussing Pollard. Asked if Pollard is his best negotiator with Elliott, Jones jokingly told reporters: “Zeke who?”
Jones then got serious and said of Pollard: “If he continues this through the next several weeks, he’s going to be right in the middle of it early. And that’ll really compliment what we’re doing with Zeke.”
Indeed, like Elliott, Pollard has proven that the NFL’s bright lights aren’t too bright for him at this early juncture of his career.
“Tony is very poised,” Garrett said. “He plays with maturity beyond his years.
“We’re only a couple of preseason games into it and not a lot of plays into it. But it kind of follows with what we’ve seen in practice and just how he handles himself.”
The game against the Rams was the first for long-time Cowboys tight end Jason Witten since he retired following the 2017 season to pursue a career as a television analyst. Witten caught one pass for 10 yards and felt like he was opening his favorite present on Christmas morning.
“I was very anxious to get out there and play,” said Witten, who is in his 17th season with the Cowboys. “It is just the next step in the comeback.
“I worked really hard to get back in shape. I hold myself to a high standard, so I can say it was not perfect. I got a little antsy early, but had a big third-down conversion on an option route.”
As far as the race for the backup quarterback spot goes, Cooper Rush once again out-played Mike White. Rush was 10-of-16 for 83 yards, and also tossed the game-winning touchdown – an 8-yarder to Devin Smith with 1:50 remaining in the third quarter that erased a 10-7 deficit.
White, meanwhile, struggled for the second straight game as he finished 7-of-13 for only 30 yards, and also hurled an interception.
Overall, the Cowboys had 251 total yards, with 94 coming on 24 rushing attempts. They also held the Rams to 270 yards, including just 67 rushing on 22 carries.
Afterward, a lot of the talk centered around the poise and precision Prescott displayed for the second consecutive week.
“It is a small sample size, and we’re not going crazy about him being 9-for-9, but what he’s done well though is play well,” Garrett said. “He’s played well in practice, he’s played well in preseason games, he’s handled himself well, he’s making good decisions, making good throws, and that follows with how he prepares.”
