Forgotten hustle play by Cowboys OL was huge momentum-changer in win vs Jets

The Dallas Cowboys' star players rose to the occasion in Sunday's 30-10 beatdown of the New York Jets, but several role players proved pivotal in the win.

Between Jalen Tolbert drawing a huge penalty in the end zone on 3rd and goal, Rico Dowdle exhausting the Jets defense with some bruising runs, and young tight ends Jake Ferguson and rookie Luke Schoonmaker catching both of Dak Prescott's touchdowns, it was a big day for Dallas' role players.

Behind (another) elite defensive performance and surgical showing from the offense, the Cowboys puled away from the Jets in the second half.

The first half wasn't as convincing, however. Garrett Wilson's 68-yard touchdown made things interesting in the second quarter while the Jets were trailing 10-0. Looking back at that TD, an incredible (and forgotten) hustle play by Tyler Biadasz two possessions earlier looms large after the victory.

Late in the first quarter, CeeDee Lamb fumbled at the Cowboys' 34-yard line after a 31-yard catch-and-run. Lamb was surrounded by Jets defenders, but little did they know that Biadasz followed the play and the center dove on the football to retain possession for Dallas.

Tyler Biadasz saved the Cowboys with an incredible fumble recovery in win vs Jets

Biadasz sprinting 30 yards downfield to save the day. Incredible. As we noted earlier, there were several game-ball-worthy performances from the Cowboys on Sunday, but this effort from the former fourth-round pick is right up there.

Tony Romo called it a "winning play" on the CBS broadcast and he's right.

If the one of the Jets five defenders recovers the fumble and the offense scores on a short field, there's no telling how the game ends up. Garrett Wilson's touchdown underlined how close the game was (at the time) even though the Cowboys were dominating in all facets.

If the Jets score a TD after the fumble, we could be talking about a tie game at halftime, or the Cowboys even trailing by a few points.

The only way the Jets were going to keep it close -- and possibly win like they did against the Bills in Week 1 -- was if Dallas made it easy on them. Just ask Josh Allen.

Lamb fumbling in Cowboys territory would've done exactly that, but Biadasz's hustle allowed Dallas to maintain momentum and a comfortable lead going into the half.

Sure enough, the offense put together a 14-play, 78-yard drive that shaved 6:44 the clock and ended with a field goal to make the score 10-0. On the very next drive, Wilson took a post route to the house after a missed tackle by Malik Hooker. These are fine margins, folks.

Again, the Cowboys were by far the better team, but we all know the better team doesn't always win in this league.

Biadasz made sure the depleted Jets didn't attain any unnecessary momentum. The play might be forgotten in the aftermath of the blowout, but coaches and teammates will be praising the center all week long, and rightly so.

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