The Cowboys Report

Cowboys top Redskins; Dolphins up next

Roger Rivero
Sep 18, 2019, 11:28 pm
Tim Warner/Getty Images

The Dallas Cowboys whipped the Washington Redskins Sunday afternoon by the score of 31-21.

Dak Attack

Dak Prescott and the Cowboy offense started the game off sluggish. They couldn't get anything going for most of the first half and the Redskins intercepted a tipped pass that led to an early 7-point deficit. But that was the only time the Redskins would lead in the game.A bout mid-way through the 2nd quarter the Cowboy offense found its rhythm and went on to score on five consecutive possessions.

Prescott finished the game 26/30 for 269 passing 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.He also ran the ball 5 times for 69 yards that included a 42-yard scamper down the left side. His longest career run helped lead to another Cowboys touchdown. Dak connected with 8 different receivers, which included a 51-yard bomb to Devin Smith that tied the game at 7.

With the offense clicking, Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott saw his workload increase and finished the day with 25 touches. He had 23 carries for 111 yards, 1 rushing touchdown, and 2 catches for 9 yards .When he has games like this, Dallas is extremely hard to beat.

The Cowboys are now 2-0 for the season and all alone in first place of the NFC East.

3 Things to Watch For

1.Ezekiel Elliott (Running Back): Looks like he is back to regular season form and is set for another big day this week when he goes up against the Miami Dolphins who are the worst defense in the league so far. Zeke should get 20+ touches again.

2.Randall Cobb (Wide Receiver): With #2 receiver Michael Gallup out for the next few weeks due to a knee injury, Cobb should see an increased amount of playing time.He was the second most targeted pass catcher last week and could be in store for a big day.

3.Cowboys Defense (All): The Dolphins are the worst team in the league so far and the defense should have multiple opportunities for turnovers, sacks, and maybe even scoring.Miami gave up 2 defensive touchdowns last week.I would expect career games from both Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch.

Coming Up

Sunday Sept. 22, the Dallas Cowboys (2-0) will be taking on the Miami Dolphins (0-2) at home in AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon Central time.I expect another easy win for Dallas. Dak and company should have no problem going to 3-0 and I am sure Zeke will have another 100 yard game with multiple touchdowns.

If you have any fantasy players, the only must start players are:

Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott (RB), Amari Cooper (WR), and Dak Prescott (QB)

Dolphins:N/A

For you gamblers out there, the Cowboys are currently -22.5 and the over/under is 47. 21+ points is ridiculous, I don't think I have ever seen the any team favored by this many points. There is no possible way anyone should take that. If you have to play it, I think the under might be the way to go. You would be banking on Miami not scoring more than 10 points.

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Astros improve to 6-4

Astros overpower Diamondbacks in blowout win to start series

Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

After grinding through back-to-back extra-inning games in the series with the Los Angeles Angels where they would ultimately come away with the victory, the Astros had a day off on Monday before getting back into action on Tuesday. They were in Arizona for the first of three games against the Diamondbacks. Here is a rundown of the series opener:

Final Score: Astros 8, Diamondbacks 2.

Record: 6-4, first in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Cristian Javier (1-0, 1.42 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Madison Bumgarner (0-2, 7.04 ERA).

Houston takes an early lead against Bumgarner and then piles on

Houston wasted no time going after Madison Bumgarner, with George Springer going after the first pitch of the game for a groundout, then Jose Altuve launching a solo home run on the next pitch to get an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. They added to that lead in the second inning, with Carlos Correa leading it off with a solo home run of his own, making it 2-0. After two hit batters and a single, the Astros had the bases loaded for George Springer with one out, and he would deliver a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 3-0.

They would put runners on base in the next two innings, but would not score again until the fifth when a Bumgarner fielding error on a potential double-play would bring in a run and extend the inning. Houston would go on to load the bases, setting up Kyle Tucker for an RBI-single to make it 5-1 and end Bumgarner's night. Against Arizona's new reliever, Martin Maldonado worked a bases-loaded walk to make it 6-1, then Springer followed with a two-RBI double, blowing the game open at 8-1.

Javier gets first-career win in another impressive start

With a lead in hand when he went to the mound, Cristian Javier had another strong performance in his second-ever start. He allowed just one baserunner over the first three innings, a single in the second. After those three efficient innings, he would face some adversity in the bottom of the fourth. After allowing a double and one-out walk, he would give up his first run of the night on an RBI-single to make it a 3-1 game. Luckily, a great double play behind him would get him out of the jam and the inning.

Javier was able to settle back in after that rougher inning, getting quick, scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth, earning him the win. His final line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR.

Yet another rookie pitching debut as Houston's bullpen finishes the win

Bryan Abreu was first out of Houston's bullpen, taking over for Javier in the bottom of the seventh. He would not have an inning to remember, allowing a leadoff double followed later by two walks to load the bases. He then walked in a run, making it 8-2, and prompting another call to the bullpen. Enoli Paredes would enter and get the final out of the seventh inning.

Paredes ran into trouble of his own in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases after a walk and two singles, but with some help from Houston's defense would keep it a six-run lead heading to the ninth. In yet another Astros debut for a pitcher in 2020, Humberto Castellanos entered in the bottom of the ninth, and he recorded the final three outs to close out the victory for Houston.

Up Next: This series continues on Wednesday with the middle game of this three-game set at 8:10 PM Central. Lance McCullers Jr. (1-0, 5.40 ERA) will return to the mound in another start for the Astros, while Robbie Ray (0-2, 8.64 ERA) will look to turn things around in his early season with the Diamondbacks.

astros recap mlb astros vs diamondbacks madison bumgarner cristian javier jose altuve carlos correa george springer astros

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