Titans Get Back On Track With Win In Big D
Trading for Amari Cooper two weeks ago was in the Cowboys eyes a move made with the focus on winning now.
The former Oakland Raider would make a strong first impression with his new team, but the Cowboys as a whole were stuck in neutral as an offense thereafter by a rugged and tough-minded Titans defense.
The Tennessee Titans upended the Dallas Cowboys 28-14 on Monday night at AT&T Stadium to get back to .500.
Marcus Mariota would throw for 240 passing yards and have a total of three touchdowns (one rushing) in the Titans victory. He also ran for 36 rushing yards.
Dion Lewis would chip in with 114 total yards from scrimmage while scoring on a touchdown reception.
In a battle of two of the top scoring defenses in the NFL this season, it was the Tennessee Titans, which rose to the challenge.
Tennessee got after Dak Prescott all night as they tallied five sacks while forcing him into a red zone interception and a fumble. They would stymie the Dallas Cowboys rushing attack as Ezekiel Elliot was held to 3.6 yards per carry.
The Titans offense, mired in a season long funk, produced one of their better performances of the season vs a tough Cowboys defense.
Tennessee out-gained Dallas 340-297 on Monday night. They also went 4-for-5 in the red zone.
The Tennessee Titans (4-4) came in 20th in the NFL in third down conversion percentage but would have a huge night concerting third downs as they went 11-for-14.
It was a bumpy ride to begin the game with two turnovers in the first quarter, but Mike Vrabel’s team showed resilience and fight as they punched the Cowboys in the mouth in Jerry World.
The Titans came in losers of three straight, with their last being a heartbreaking 20-19 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in London at Wembley Stadium.
With the Houston Texans taking off for six straight wins, this was a much-needed victory for the Tennessee trying to keep pace.
The Cowboys lost oft injured linebacker and team captain Sean Lee to a hamstring injury at the beginning of the third quarter, which would loom large in the second half.
Newly acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper scored his first touchdown in a Dallas Cowboys uniform in the first quarter when he beat Titans cornerback Malcom Butler for a 4-yard score to put Dallas up 7-0.
He would finish the game with five receptions for 58 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Dak Prescott was roughed up on the night as he managed to throw for 243 passing yards and two touchdowns with an interception and a lost fumble.
Ezekiel Elliot would finish with 112 total yards from scrimmage, but was kept out of the end zone for a second straight game.
DeMarcus Lawrence strip sack set up the Cowboys deep in Titans territory for their first points of the game.
The Cowboys would record four sacks on the night, giving them 23 for the season so far.
It’s going to be a long road for the Dallas Cowboys trying to win the NFC East as their upcoming schedule is less than favorable.
Having lost tonight with the offense looking mostly inept even with the addition of Amari Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys, who fell to 3-5, are in a virtual must-win next Sunday night vs the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
In third place behind the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles, there’s little margin from error here on out for the Cowboys. Based off what we’ve seen, there isn’t much of a chance that Dallas is capable of locking in and sustaining success as they have yet to win back-to-back games this season.
For Tennessee, this win has to become a distant memory with the New England Patriots making a visit to Nissan Stadium to play the Titans next Sunday afternoon in a Patriots reunion between Bill Belichick and his former player now head coach Mike Vrabel.
It’ll be a rematch of the AFC Divisional playoff game last season where the New England Patriots dominated the Titans in a 35-14 win.
Win that game, and their previous losses prior to Monday night’s game becomes a distant memory.
What are your thoughts on the Tennessee Titans victory on Monday night? Leave your comments below!