All the Cowboys needed was a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars to return to it's winning ways. Dallas handled Jacksonville 31-17 at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
It also didn't hurt getting Tony Romo back in the fold either. Romo was 20-27 for 246 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He once again proved why he's such a special player.
Dez Bryant chipped in with a franchise-record 158 yards in the second quarter, six catches and two touchdowns. This was a welcomed sight after struggling in back-to-back games before the London trip. Bryant is now tied with Drew Pearson for sixth most receiving touchdowns with 48. It took Dez 69 games to get there, while Pearson needed 156.
DeMarco Murray ran for 100 yards on 19 carries, reaching the 100-yard plateau for the ninth time in ten games this season. Murray also chipped in with six catches for 31 yards. The guy continues to fill up the stat sheet week after week.
Big Picture:
The Cowboys are 7-3 as they head into the bye week and are in phenomenal position to battle for the NFC East title. Nobody expected this team to play this well through ten weeks of the season, but they have and now have a legitimate shot at doing something special this year. The key from here on out is health, starting with Tony Romo. The stretch run is no joke and if #9 isn't on the field, this start will quickly be forgotten.
Turning Point:
Dez Bryant's 68-yard touchdown catch with 19 seconds left in the second quarter. Bryant's second touchdown of the afternoon put the game on ice as the Cowboys took a 24-7 lead into halftime. The momentum had been yanked from Dallas after Cole Beasley's fumble on the previous offensive drive, however Tony Romo connection with Bryant settled things down and allowed the Cowboys to coast to a big time victory.
Key Stat:
Dallas had three touchdowns in the game of 35 yards or more. They had just two in the nine previous contests this season. Dez Bryant tallied touchdown catches of 35 and 68 yards, while Joseph Randle rumbled 40 yards to the end zone for his first career NFL score. Big plays, fueled by the best players on the team led to a much needed victory for the Cowboys.
Unsung Hero:
Anthony Hitchens is turning into quite the player at linebacker for the Cowboys. The rookie made big play after big play. He chased down Cecil Shorts from behind on what was a sure touchdown in the second quarter. The very next play Dallas took over after forcing a fumble. Hitchens also made a huge tackle on fourth and inches in the third quarter. He had a team high nine tackles and one quarterback hit in the win.
Don't Forget About…
The unnecessary hits Tony Romo took after the game was well in hand for the Cowboys. The franchise quarterback, who is coming off two back surgeries and a couple cracked bones in his back, remained in the game until the 6:42 mark of the fourth quarter. It's worrisome each and every hit he takes and those late in the game should of never happened. Romo's recovery not only from this game, but how he responds to the long flight back across the Atlantic will be crucial. The Cowboys go as Tony Romo goes.
