Cowboys studs and duds: Cooper Rush falters in Week 6 defeat
By Randy Gurzi
Stud: DeMarcus Lawrence, EDGE
His stats aren’t what he would like them to be this season but DeMarcus Lawrence continues to be a disruptive force on the Cowboys defensive line. He pushes his blocker around and was able to flush Jalen Hurts out of the pocket several times.
One play he made that might have saved points didn’t even make it into the box score. Trailing 14-0, the Cowboys just turned it over on downs and Lawrence blew up a third-down play by getting pressure on Hurts. The Eagles had to settle for a field goal but 17-0 isn’t as bad as 21-0, which it could have been if not for Lawrence’s play.
Lawrence ended this one with eight tackles as he continued to show off his high motor.
Dud: Cooper Rush, QB
As good as Cooper Rush has been this season, he was not on top of his game on Sunday Night Football. He missed several passes including one early where Jake Ferguson was wide open, and the Cowboys ended up having to punt.
He then threw an interception right after the Eagles had gone up 7-0, allowing them to take a 14-0 lead. Looking to respond and get back in the game, Rush and the offense took the field again and after what should have been a first down for CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys inexplicably hurried up on fourth down and Rush threw an incompletion to give the ball right back to the Eagles.
Dallas led a second-half comeback and scored 17 unanswered to make it 20-17 and during that span, Rush was turning it around. But then, their hopes were dashed when he missed an open CeeDee Lamb in the fourth quarter on a deep pass that landed in the hands of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
Rush, who had been so careful with the ball, threw three picks on the night. It was a tough performance and might end his run with a sour taste should Dak Prescott return in Week 7. It also reminds us how silly it was that anyone even thought there could be a controversy brewing.
