3 impressive Cowboys performances despite offensive struggles vs Lions
The Dallas Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions at home by a score of 26-7 and are now 5-2 on the season. That’s the most important thing.
However, if you watched the game, you likely saw that this offense struggled. Although it was great to get Dak Prescott back, he seemed to have difficulty finding his rhythm, and outside of the run game (which also had its fair share of struggles), the offense looked out of sorts.
The Lions came into this game as the worst defense in terms of rushing yards allowed and points allowed. Yet, the Cowboys couldn’t amass more than three points in the first half.
Kellen Moore was calling confusing plays on third downs that only needed short gains and the 1-4 (now 1-5) Lions seemed to move the ball much easier than Dallas did. This team definitely needs to go to the drawing board and figure out how to use the imposing weapons they have in a much more effective yet simple way.
However, there are still things that were impressive in this game. The defense, as always, continues to shine and there were three players who really helped keep the ball moving for the Cowboys today. Let’s talk about those guys.
3 impressive Cowboys performances despite offensive struggles vs Lions
3. KaVontae Turpin, KR/PR/WR
KaVontae Turpin may not technically be a large member of the offense but his impressive punt and kick returns certainly help the offense in terms of field position.
Each week it seems like the former USFL MVP is just a broken tackle away from getting all the way into the end zone. Today was no exception.
In fact, today you could literally see in real-time just how fast Turpin is. On his first punt return, the NFL rookie literally took a full second to stop and read the situation before making his first step. He went several yards before being brought down.
His highlight of the game was a 52-yard return in the third quarter. Turpin caught the ball on the Cowboys’ 8-yard line. He ran through a massive group of people, increased speed, juked a defender, and was finally taken down at the Lions’ 44-yard line.
KaVontae Turpin ripped off a 52-yard punt return in the third quarter today, the second-longest punt return by any player this season (Avery Williams, Atl - 56 yards). Turpin is the only player this year with multiple 50-yard returns (63-yard kick return at Phi, 10/16).
— Dallas Cowboys Public Relations (@DallasCowboysPR) October 23, 2022
This play marked the second longest by an NFL player this year and makes the former USFL WR the only player in the league with multiple 50-yard returns this season.
Turpin actually was part of a few offensive snaps today and had a three-yard rush off a handoff from Prescott.
Turpin was actually lined up in the backfield for the victory formation at the end of a game and a fan in the stands caught him just casually doing a celebratory backflip by himself while “no one was watching.”
Someone at the game caught Turpin doing a victory backflip pic.twitter.com/37VuqiCG72
— Mark Gajda (@Mark_GUY_dah) October 23, 2022
The other excellent thing about Turpin is that he is smart with his returns. He’s great at looking at the whole field and being smart about whether he should take a touchback, call a fair catch, or move the ball forward. This kid is really something special and we know he will take it to the house off a return soon.