Dallas Cowboys (9-3) – Seattle Seahawks (6-6): 41-35
This is only the fifth time this has happened in the NFL: no team punted Thursday night. But that doesn't mean the defenses were completely useless.
The Cowboys were able to finish the match. With the Seahawks leading 35-30 and having the ball with 7 minutes to play, DeMarcus Lawrence stopped Zach Charbonnet on a 4th & 1. Dallas then regained the advantage (38-35) thanks to a touchdown thrown by Dak Prescott (29/41, 299 yards, 3 TDs) to Jake Ferguson (6 rec, 77 yards, 1 TD) and converted to two points. The defense then continued its undermining work, stopping Seattle twice more on fourth down attempts. Micah Parsons and his comrades brought the pressure on at the right time, while the offense added a kick to make the final score 41-35.
Hard for Geno Smith (23/41, 334 yards, 3 TDs, 1 int) and DK Metcalf (6 rec, 134 yards, 3 TDs) who found some offensive bite this Thursday. But he missed the conclusion.
The Seahawks and Cowboys are on the floor
Smith for Metcalf, 73 yards and a touchdown. Seattle is only waiting for its fourth offensive action of the evening to set the tone (3-7). In the first half, the two teams went blow for blow. It's CeeDee Lamb (12 rec, 116 yards, 1 TD), also stratospheric, who responds immediately by passing into the end zone (10-7). Brandin Cooks (4 rec, 45 yards, 1 TD) takes advantage of a missed kick by Seattle to widen the gap (17-7).
But Seattle does not weaken. Zach Charbonnet (12 races, 60 yards, 1 TD) and DK Metcalf score before the break, which the Seahawks reach with a 21-20 advantage. Returning from the locker room, Geno Smith scores on the ground to widen a first gap in favor of his team (20-28). Tony Pollard immediately responds on the ground and Dallas picks up (27-28).
We had to wait until the end of the third quarter for the defenses to wake up. Especially that of the Cowboys, in this case. DaRon Bland signs his eighth interception of the season to calm Geno Smith. But Dallas fails on fourth attempt! Smith and Metcalf take advantage of this opposing slack to return to the charge, with their third connection of the evening in the end zone (27-35). The Cowboys only respond on foot (30-35).
Finally the defenses!
With a five-point lead, possession and less than eight minutes on the clock, the suspense is still there, but Seattle has a break point. Missed. Micah Parsons slowly increases the pressure. The Seahawks' latest offensives therefore all ended in failure, while Ferguson's touchdown gave the Texan franchise a decisive advantage. Brandon Aubrey, the 28-year-old rookie kicker, ended the evening on the right foot, with a 26th success in a row, a record for the start of his career!
And it's Parsons who signs the decisive sack on fourth attempt.
Ahead of their upcoming clash against the Eagles, the Cowboys are once again showing that they are one of the most in-form teams in the league. For the Seahawks, the satisfaction is having the offense back on track. But the fight for the playoffs is going to be terrible.
