Cowboys studs and duds Week 14: DeMarcus Lawrence sets up game-winning drive

Following a 54-point explosion against the Colts, the Dallas Cowboys were expected to really have their way with the Houston Texans in Week 14.

That wasn’t the case at all, though, as they spent the majority of the game trying to catch up to their in-state rivals.

Dallas even needed a huge defensive stop in the final minutes, as well as a 98-yard drive, to secure the win.

But, since they captured the win, it’s safe to exhale and look back over the nail-biting contest/ identify a few studs and duds.

Cowboys studs and duds Week 14 vs Houston Texans

Stud: Donovan Wilson, Safety

With Houston up 20-17 and getting the ball to start the third quarter, they had all the momentum. Dallas needed something to go their way, and it finally did when Donovan Wilson hit Pierce and forced a fumble.

The ball bounced right to Trevon Diggs, who gained 15 yards after running around for what felt like a couple of minutes.

That should have led to points, and possibly the lead, but Dallas failed to get the ball in the end zone and turned it over on downs when Ezekiel Elliott was stuffed on fourth-and-goal.

Still, Wilson delivered when his team needed him to — something that has been true throughout the season, as he’s put together an impressive campaign.

Dud: KaVontae Turpin, Returner

Dallas was up 7-0 and forced a punt with a three-and-out on their first defensive series. A 47-yard punt was fielded by KaVontae Turpin, and he wound up muffing the ball. The fumble was recovered by Houston linebacker Blake Cashman, giving the Texans the ball at the Dallas 24.

The Texans were able to go 24 yards in six plays, and Dameon Pierce scored a one-yard touchdown to tie the game up at seven. It was the first of several miscues that allowed Houston to nearly pull off the upset.

Stud: Noah Brown, Wide Receiver

The Cowboys found themselves in a tough spot in the second quarter after Houston nabbed a 10-7 lead. Facing a third-and-12, they were in danger of really letting the Texans take control. A stop at their own 23 would have led to another punt, but Noah Brown made sure this didn’t happen.

The former seventh-round pick hauled in an impressive reception to put his team in excellent position to take the lead back. Dak Prescott had to scramble and threw the ball deep, but didn’t get enough air on the pass. Brown was still able to make the adjustment and hauled in an impressive catch for a 51-yard gain.

Brown wasn’t done there, as he showed up again on the game-winning drive with a clutch play. On the Houston 40, he brought in an 18-yard pass to put Dallas on the edge of the red zone. He finished with 85 yards on four receptions, as he continues to rise to the occasion when needed.

Dud: Michael Gallup, Wide Receiver

While Brown excelled, Michael Gallup struggled. He had an early drop on second and two during the first drive. To be fair, it would have been a tough catch, but he had both hands on it — and these are the catches they expect Gallup to make.

He also had a drop near the end of the game, when Prescott hit him in the end zone and Gallup took a shot while hauling it in. This led to him dropping the ball, forcing them to try again for the win.

Each of those drops was on a tough play, but that’s why he was given the huge contract. Gallup is paid to step up, which he didn’t do in Week 14 — while Brown did.

Stud: Tony Pollard, Running Back

Once again, Tony Pollard had himself a game.

His first two runs were impressive, as they each went for 11 yards. His initial carry was on first and 10 at Dallas’ own 45, and he put them in Houston territory. From there, Ezekiel Elliott moved it to the 11 on three carries, and then Pollard got it again. This time, he took it to the right end for an 11-yard touchdown, his ninth rushing score of the season.

Pollard continued to make plays, as he went for 18 yards to move the ball to the Houston five-yard line. A false start moved them back to the 10 and Pollard wound up scoring again from there, this time taking a Prescott pass and making a couple of players miss on his way to the end zone.

Dud: Dak Prescott, Quarterback

While the Cowboys have had a good season overall, Dak Prescott has been downright awful when it comes to protecting the ball. In seven games, he has posted seven picks, and has twice tossed two in a game. Now, he’s up to nine picks, and this was his third game of the season with multiple picks.

As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also the third game in a row where he did throw a pick — and the second one was an absolute killer.

Trailing 23-20, Dallas needed their star quarterback to step up, as they were pinned deep in their own territory. That didn’t happen, as Prescott threw a pass right into the arms of Tremon Smith, who had the earlier pick as well.

The defense bailed them out and got them the ball back, but against a better team, he would have blown the game on that play.

Stud: Ezekiel Elliott, Running Back

Since returning from his two-game absence with a knee injury, Ezekiel Elliott has been playing great football. He hasn’t put up video game numbers, as he did during his rookie campaign, but he continues to make the plays he needs to in order to put his team in a position to win.

This Sunday, he had 15 rushes for 62 yards, as well as three receptions for 19 yards, but his best play gained only two yards.

Right after Gallup dropped the touchdown pass from Prescott, Kellen Moore dialed up a run and Elliott cut right through the defense for a game-winning touchdown.

Throughout the day, he was tough to take to the ground and helped keep the offense from being a mess in this one.

Stud: DeMarcus Lawrence, EDGE

We all know that Micah Parsons gets the love, since he racks up the sacks, but that doesn’t mean DeMarcus Lawrence isn’t still an elite player and one of the main leaders on this team. He proved that on Sunday when he made the play of the game — even if it gets lost after the winning touchdown drive.

After Prescott’s interception, Houston had the ball at the Dallas four-yard line. They moved it to the one, but DeMarcus Lawrence pushed them backward on third down. Rex Burkhead took the handoff, and Lawrence flew into the backfield to tackle him for a two-yard loss.

Houston was unable to convert on fourth down, but the key to ending that drive was the play from Lawrence. Without that tackle for a loss, the Texans might have pulled off the win.

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