We’re accustomed to watching a Cowboys team that seems almost determined to shoot themselves in the foot, after three-and-a-half frustrating seasons of underachievement. We did not see that team today. Dallas scored touchdowns on each of their first four possessions, jumping out to a 28-7 halftime lead, and were never challenged by the Bills, trouncing them 44-7.
How dominant were the Cowboys on offense? Just one drive ended with anything but them scoring or kneeling to end a half. That was a punt midway through the third quarter. Their 44 points were the most for a Cowboys team since the opener in 2007 when they posted 45 against the Giants.
Tony Romo was nearly flawless, completing 23 of 26 (17 of 18 in the first half) for 270 yards and 3 TD. He avoided turnovers against a defense that lives off of them. Dez Bryant outwrestled a defender for a 34-yard score. Laurent Robinson found the end zone twice, the second on a 58-yard bomb immediately after Buffalo missed a 52-yard field goal attempt.
DeMarco Murray was at it again, running 20 times for 135 yards and catching six balls for another 36 yards. Murray followed Tony Fiammetta into the end zone for the Cowboys’ fourth score on a rare rushing TD from the one yard line. With another big day, Murray stretched his remarkably productive stretch to four games. He’s gained 601 yards in that period after just 63 in the first five weeks.
Dan Bailey continued his field goal perfection, hitting three more in the second half to continue his streak to 22 straight. More surprisingly, he also managed six touchbacks on his kickoffs, as Buffalo began a drive outside of their own 20 just once in their ten possessions.
As good as the offensive side was for Dallas, they were facing a Bills team that has scored 30 points or more four times and had scored at least 20 every game until Rex Ryan and the Jets held them to 11 last week. His brother Rob topped that, keeping them in single digits and forcing four turnovers. Three of those were interceptions by cornerbacks, as Dallas confused Buffalo blockers and pressured Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick finished with just 146 yards on 31 passes, and the Bills converted just two third-downs all day.
The win keeps Dallas within range of the Giants, as they look to make up ground in November – a month that has always been kind to Tony Romo. They will travel to the nation’s capital to take on the Redskins – who fell 20-9 to the Dolphins today – and then will host those Dolphins on Thanksgiving day.