Cowboys snap out of funk, make statement vs. Rams

ARLINGTON, Texas – In the end, it didn’t much matter whether the Cowboys elected to kick or defer.

Beyond coin-toss drama that proved much ado about nothing, the Cowboys left few aspects of the game up for the debate in a 44-21 win over the Rams on Sunday.

The win marked Dallas’ first victory all season over an opponent with a winning record. It was also their first win in a month.

Credit offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s play calling finding more success than Sean McVay’s, a healthier Cowboys defense playing the best it had in weeks, a new kicker making all of his kicks and the Cowboys’ run game exploding in a manner similar to the way the Rams’ runners did when Dallas lost to Los Angeles in the divisional round of the playoffs in January.

The Cowboys returned to .500 and sit atop the NFC East with the Eagles, who also are now 7-7. The teams face off next week.

Two of the franchise’s three longesttenured players set the tone for Dallas’ first win in four games.

Tight end Jason Witten, who emerged from retirement this season, scored Dallas’ first touchdown on a drive nearly wrecked by an interception that was negated by offsetting penalties. Instead, the Cowboys bled 6:21 of clock on a 15-play, 90-yard drive capped off by Witten snagging a 19-yard touchdown reception with one hand on 3rdand-10. The Cowboys would never cede their lead.

Linebacker Sean Lee, who didn’t practice all week with pec and thigh injuries, helped ensure that. He returned his first interception in more than two years for 25 yards, giving Dallas’ offense a rare short field. Elliott scored four plays later, capping off 28 Cowboys points before halftime. Lee also sacked Jared Goff for a loss of 12 yards in the third quarter.

New Cowboys kicker Kai Forbath connected on all four extra-point attempts and all three field goal attempts.