The Seattle Seahawks appeared to be coasting to another routine romp at CenturyLink Field on Sunday. Then the Dallas Cowboys stormed back to take a halftime lead, gave it away and went on a season-defining drive to win one of Week 6's marquee matchups, 30-23.
How 'bout them Cowboys, indeed.
5-1 #HowBoutThemCowboys http://ift.tt/1z2CXbH
- Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 12, 2014
NFL Network's Rich Eisen commented on the intensity Sunday's showdown facilitated:
This Cowboys-Seahawks game absolutely feels like a playoff game. Might eventually be one for the right to play in Arizona.
- Rich Eisen (@richeisen) October 12, 2014
SportsCenter noted how rare it is for the reigning Super Bowl champions to lose on their home turf:
Seahawks loss at home is just team's 2nd since start of 2012 season. http://ift.tt/1tTsqrl
- SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 12, 2014
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network provided his take on the disparity between the two teams:
The #Cowboys go into Seattle and take it to the Seahawks with a 30-23 win. Out-gained SEA 401-206, including 162 yards rushing. Legit.
- Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 12, 2014
After the Seahawks scored a field goal on their opening possession, a blocked punt resulted in Seattle special-teamer Mike Morgan taking it 25 yards to the house. That gave the home team a big 10-0 edge with 7:13 left in the first quarter.
Spurred by a stalwart offensive line, America's Team was undeterred despite a tough start.
A bold commitment to keep feeding the NFL's leading rusher in DeMarco Murray proved fruitful by the end. The star ball-carrier continued his run of 100-yard games with 115 on 29 carries, including the winning 15-yard touchdown with 3:16 on the game clock.
The NFL on ESPN accentuated the significance of Murray's hot start to the year:
DeMarco Murray has joined Jim Brown as the only players to start a season with 6 straight 100-yard rushing games. http://ift.tt/1vl9yan
- NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 12, 2014
Vic Lombardi of CBS4 weighed in:
Cowboys proving that a physical run game can beat Seattle. DeMarco Murray and that O-Line just smacked them in the face. Open hand slap.
- Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) October 12, 2014
Before the game, Dallas quarterback Tony Romo remarked about how leaning on the run was vital to winning in such a hostile environment, per The Dallas Morning News' David Moore:
I think you've got to be able to run the ball. You have to stay committed to what your plan was going in and I think we want to do some different things. You might win this game throwing for 150 yards. That might be one of the best ways to beat this team, but it requires a certain way of going about it and we'll see as the game unfolds.
Between Murray and Joseph Randle, enough of a ground foundation was established for Romo to attack the vaunted 'Legion of Boom' secondary.
Ed Werder of ESPN praised the way Romo handled adversity after guiding the Cowboys to their first touchdown drive of the day:
That should be considered one of Tony Romo's great character drives _ taking painful hit, ST allowing TD and driving his team for 80-yd TD
- Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) October 12, 2014
Since Tony Romo was drilled by Bobby Wagner and #Cowboys punt blocked for TD, Dallas has outscored #Seattle 17-0.
- Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) October 12, 2014
Romo did his scoring-area damage by hitting tight ends Gavin Escobar and Jason Witten on touchdown passes, with the latter to Witten coming just 16 seconds before the midway intermission.
That also marked a big milestone for Witten, per the Cowboys' official Twitter account:
.@JasonWitten now has 900 career receptions! #DALvsSEA http://ift.tt/1vl9yap
- Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 12, 2014
ESPN Stats & Info highlighted how Romo lit it up in critical situations:
In the 1st half today Tony Romo was 7-9 for 74 yards and 2 TD on 3rd down. #DALvsSEA
- ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 12, 2014
But things began to turn the other way when Dwayne Harris muffed a punt, leading to a nine-yard TD scamper by Seahawks signal-caller Russell Wilson to even the score at 17.
Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News criticized Harris' blunder:
Such a careless play by Dwayne Harris there to let ball go right through his hands with no one around him. Turns game around for Cowboys.
- Brandon George (@DMN_George) October 12, 2014
Then Romo fumbled the ball away on a dropped shotgun snap, resulting in a field goal that put Seattle back on top with 3:20 remaining in the third.
Dan Bailey's clutch, 56-yard kick tied things up at 20 just before the final quarter, setting the scene for a magnificent final 15 minutes of action.
Dan Bailey just kicked a career-long 56-yard field goal to tie the game. #DALvsSEA
- Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) October 12, 2014
Wilson and the Seahawks offense were largely limited by a Dallas defense that caught a lot of flack before the season. Former NFL executive Joe Banner lauded the Cowboys' efforts, particularly those of defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli:
Cowboys D is showing what a huge difference a great coordinator can make. Other than ST they have really controlled Seahawks
- Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) October 12, 2014
Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar pointed to another potential factor to explain Seattle's lack of production, specifically through the air:
Seattle's receivers struggle to gain separation. Yes, even Harvin. Under-talented secondaries can shut them down with well-played press.
- SI_DougFarrar (@SI_DougFarrar) October 12, 2014
Field position tilted in Seattle's favor in the fourth, leading to a 48-yard field goal by Steven Hauschka to put the Seahawks back on top with 8:16 to go in the game.
The improvisational magic Wilson has been known to generate was lost amid a sensational, 3rd-and-20 conversion on a Romo pass to Terrance Williams. That play held up on review to keep the drive alive, as the Cowboys tried to answer.
Wow. Romo scrambles and avoids @BIrvin_WVU11's rush and finds Williams for 23 yards on 3rd and 20. #DALvsSEA #Challenged
- Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 12, 2014
Murray broke off his best run of the game thereafter and capped the possession off with a 15-yard rumble to paydirt. Although Seattle got a final possession with just over a minute left, Wilson's pass intended for Luke Willson was intercepted by Rolando McClain to clinch the big victory.
NFL.com's Chris Wesseling mentioned the Dallas linebacker as a potential superlative candidate:
Cowboys could end up with the MVP (Murray), Coach of the Year (Garrett) and Comeback Player of the Year (McClain).
- Chris Wesseling (@ChrisWesseling) October 12, 2014
The Cowboys truly look like an offensive juggernaut and were able to get physical with one of the most hard-nosed teams in the league in a tough environment. The big men up front can blow just about any opposing line off the ball, which will be invaluable for the remainder of the year.
Their 5-1 record holds far more significance after getting a win in Seattle, but Dallas has to gear up for an NFC East clash at home with the New York Giants in Week 7. It could be difficult to get back up for that contest, even against a rival, after the physical toll the Seahawks game will have taken on them.
It's no time to panic for Seahawks fans, if only because the St. Louis Rams are on deck. That will be a heated NFC West battle, yet Seattle should be able to get Marshawn Lynch going more in that one. Lynch had just 10 carries and 61 yards in Week 6, so the game plan should revolve around feeding 'Beast Mode' to get the Seahawks back on track.
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