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.
1. Ezekiel Elliott, RB
Man, is a Ezekiel Elliott on a downward trajectory, or what?
It’s become abundantly clear to everyone that Tony Pollard is the more explosive back, but Pollard might flat-out be the better back at this point. On Monday night, the Buccaneers had zero problem containing Elliott, who finished the game with 27 yards on 13 carries. That’s 2.08 yards per attempt, folks.
Elliott looked a step slow bouncing outside, and didn’t hit the trenches with the same burst we’ve grown accustomed to over the years. He didn’t make anyone miss in the open field, and seemingly only sheds tackles these days when he lowers his shoulder and embraces contact by carrying defenders a extra few yards.
After averaging 4.12 yards per carry from Weeks 1-12, Elliott managed a lowly 3.29 yards per attempt in the final six games. Including the playoffs, he’s topped 70 yards once in that span, and has now gone three straight games without averaging more than 2.1 yards per carry. The standards have indeed plummeted.
A conversation about Elliott’s future will be had in the offseason, but he can still be a catalyst for the Cowboys in the playoffs. If Elliott can turn back the clock and deliver a vintage performance Sunday night, Dallas will be in good shape. That is, if he’s given enough of a workload to make an impact.
After the Wild Card round, this might be Pollard’s backfield.
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