It wasn’t the most exciting game you’ll ever see, but the Cowboys didn’t need to thrill anyone on Sunday.
They just needed to win so that they could put last Sunday night’s debacle behind them and stay alive in the race for a playoff berth in the NFC. They accomplished both missions with 17 second half points in a 23-13 victory over the Seahawks. They still have big questions to answer, particularly about a defense that failed to stop the run once again this week, but they have plenty to feel good about.
DeMarco Murray ran for 139 yards, and flashed both speed and power in another performance that makes it hard to believe Felix Jones will waltz back into a starting role when he returns to health. Murray has everything you need in a tailback and he is making the Cowboys look smart for drafting him every week. Tony Romo didn’t get sacked, didn’t turn the ball over and threw two touchdown passes in the second half. Those scores were big after a first half that saw the Cowboys fail to punch the ball in once they made their way into the red zone and allowed the Cowboys to get some breathing room over the Seahawks.
Tarvaris Jackson also contributed to that breathing room. He threw interceptions on two straight passes in the second half, leading to 10 Cowboys points that ballooned their lead to 23-6. The Seahawks got a great game from Marshawn Lynch and their defense’s play in the red zone gave them a chance, but they need better quarterback play if they are going to get any better in the weeks to come. If they don’t, it will be time to go shopping for a new signal caller.
Dallas stopped the bleeding Sunday, which is what they needed to do. Miles Austin’s injury is troublesome, but with a fairly easy slate over the next four games they should be able to use this win as a springboard into the thick of the playoff race in the weeks to come.