3 Cowboys players who silenced their critics in demolition of Patriots
By Jerry Trotta
How's that for a rebound performance? The Dallas Cowboys have seldom lost back-to-back games under Mike McCarthy and that narrative will surge forward after they demolished the New England Patriots by a final score of 38-3.
The offense's red zone struggles reared their ugly head, but they're reaching the red zone at a ridiculously highly rate. It stands to reason that the poor touchdown percentage will eventually sort itself out.
Let's not harp on the negatives after that performance, though. The Cowboys dominated in all three facets. Dak Prescott was surgical yet again, the defense added two more touchdowns to its collection, and punter Bryan Anger even tossed a two-point conversion to defensive lineman Chauncey Golston.
Fans couldn't ask for much more coming off an ugly loss. It was a collective effort from the entire roster, but these three Cowboys in particular silenced their critics in a big way.
3. Neville Gallimore
The entire Cowboys defensive front showed out defending the run, as Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott combined for 46 yards on 20 carries.
That said, Neville Gallimore feasted against the Patriots' interior defensive line. It unfortunately won't show up on the box score, but the 2020 third-round pick flashed on multiple occasions throughout the game. Granted, this defense is loaded, but when was the last time Gallimore was one of Dallas' standout players on defense?
It's been a while, but Gallimore's critics don't have a leg to stand on after Sunday. He quietly performed well during training camp and it's clear he's riding high on confidence after making the 53-man roster as one of five interior defenders.
Gallimore has been an easy target for Cowboys fans over the years. Much of the criticism was justified, of course. He was a healthy scratch for last year's playoff win against the Buccaneers and hasn't been able to replicate the success he had as a rookie.
Hopefully, Sunday will serve as a springboard for Gallimore. His ascension as a consistent player would transform an already-suffocating defense.