2 Cowboys stars who need to bounce back in Divisional Round vs 49ers
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys couldn’t have played a better game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if they tried.
Granted, Brett Maher had one of the biggest meltdowns by a kicker in playoff history, but between Dak Prescott accounting for five touchdowns, Micah Parsons playing like the Defensive Player of the Year, the team committing just two penalties and the defense causing fits for Tom Brady, the Cowboys turned in their best performance of the season in their biggest game of the season.
If we had the time, we’d rattle off 10 more players who contributed to the victory. The offensive line gave Prescott a clean pocket all game, and Osa Odighizuwa finished as the team’s highest-graded defender, via Pro Football Focus.
Handing out accolades is all well and good, but the 49ers represent a significant upgrade in competition in the Divisional Round, and the Cowboys will need these two stars to rebound from poor displays against the Buccaneers.
2 Cowboys who need to clean up their act vs the 49ers
2. Trevon Diggs, CB
By no means was Diggs awful against the Buccaneers, but to say he didn’t bring the same energy as his defensive teammates would be an understatement. While guys like Jayron Kearse, Micah Parsons and Donovan Wilson set the tone with physical tackling, Diggs wanted no part of getting his jersey dirty.
On a 3rd and 7, he got turned around on a simple jump cut from Rachaad White. Forget making the tackle, Diggs didn’t even put himself to get a hand on the Bucs running back. The catch-and-run moved the chains.
A few plays later, Diggs allowed another first down after playing soft coverage on Mike Evans. Instead of squaring up the tall receiver, Diggs lunged with his shoulder pad, and Evans shrugged it off and picked up more yards.
Diggs was bailed out later in the drive after Kearse’s end zone interception, but his effort on this drive in particular was inexcusable for a playoff game. Say what you will about how Diggs performed in coverage — which, yes, is his top responsibility — but he has to show more willingness to tackle ball-carriers.
And who could forget Diggs not even diving on Chris Godwin’s fumble? He appeared to box out an incoming Buc to allow Malik Hooker to recover the ball, but Diggs was in perfect position to jump on it and establish possession.
The play ultimately got reversed as Godwin was down by contact, but it’s not unfair to say Diggs struggled to replicate the intensity of his teammates Monday night.
With Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and Elijah Mitchell on deck Sunday night in San Francisco, Diggs really needs to clean up his act or the Cowboys will suffer the consequences.