Indianapolis Colts vs. Dallas Cowboys: Full Report Card Grades for Dallas
Don't look now, but the Dallas Cowboys are playing their best ball of the season in December. The Cowboys (11-4) beat the Indianapolis Colts (10-5) 42-7 in a matchup where the Cowboys dominated every facet of the game.
The Cowboys defense put together its best performance of the season as it stymied Andrew Luck and the Colts offense for most of the day. The Cowboys defensive line was finally able to put some pressure on an opposing quarterback, and it made everything easier for the rest of the defense.
Tony Romo looked as good as he had throughout the season. He made timely and accurate throws throughout the game and led the Cowboys offense to one of its best games of the season.
Dez Bryant continued to show why he may be the best wide receiver in the NFL as he completely dominated the Colts at times.
J.J. Wilcox continues to show improvement in his coverage, as he had a beautiful interception to end the first half.
The Cowboys win clinched their spot in the playoffs as they took the NFC East crown.
They look forward now to a division game against the Washington Redskins in which they will try to get revenge for their earlier defeat.
Let’s take a look at how each position graded out in this Week 16 matchup.
Quarterback
1 of 10
The easiest way to describe Tony Romo's performance is brilliant. He made accurate throws throughout the game and looked to be as healthy as he had been at any point this season.
Romo went 18-of-20 for 218 yards and four touchdowns as he found the Cowboys receivers with ease.
Romo was aided by the fact that he had a clean pocket throughout the game, which allowed him to set his feet and make fundamentally sound throws.
He was even effective as a runner, as he picked up an early first down with his legs—something he hasn't done much of this season.
If the Cowboys can keep Tony Romo upright with a clean pocket, the quarterback may lead the team on a Super Bowl run.
Brandon Weeden even played well when he came in for Romo, as he threw for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Grade: A
Running Back
2 of 10
The Cowboys running backs were effective throughout the game. DeMarco Murray and Joseph Randle split time due to Murray's hand injury, but the offense didn't miss a beat.
DeMarco Murray finished the day with 22 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown as his hand injury didn't appear to affect him much. Murray made timely cuts and got a lot of tough yards for the Cowboys.
Joseph Randle continued to be a great complementary back, finishing with 13 carries for 37 yards. Randle is extremely quick, and he does a great job of picking up speed when he hits his cutback lanes.
While the Cowboys didn't have a ton of rushing yards, they didn't need to, as they had a huge lead early in the game. The running backs did their job and ate up the clock, which is all the Cowboys needed them to do.
Grade: A
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
The Cowboys receivers and tight ends were marvelous throughout the game.
Dez Bryant was incredible once again as he made a few mystifying catches. He finished with five catches for 73 yards and a touchdown against the Colts.
Terrance Williams finally got out of his funk as he picked up two more touchdowns. Williams had trouble getting open for the last few games, but he was able to do so against the Colts.
Jason Witten continues to be a steady and dependable player, as he had seven catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Witten does a lot of the dirty work for the Cowboys, and he was rewarded with a touchdown Sunday.
Cole Beasley was solid once again, as he finished with two catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. He uses his quickness to get open and has been a dependable target for Romo all season.
As a whole the wide receivers and tight ends did a great job of blocking as well. They sealed the edge and allowed the Cowboys running backs to get some good gains.
The Cowboys offense looked fantastic Sunday, and a large percentage of that was due to the job the receivers and tight ends did.
Grade: A (Dez Bryant gets a grade of "X")
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
The Cowboys offensive line came to this game beat up, as it was without its starting right tackle, Doug Free, and Zack Martin was hobbled by an ankle injury. However, it was able to open holes in the run game and give Tony Romo a clean pocket.
Zack Martin was slower than usual because of his ankle injury, but he still got the job done as he kept the interior clean and got some push in the run game. He should be in the running for Offensive Rookie of the Year with the way he has played this season.
Tyron Smith continued his stellar play as he protected Romo's blind side throughout the game.
This game cemented the Cowboys offensive line as the best in the NFL this season. With that type of offensive line, Dallas can beat any team in the league.
Grade: A
Defensive Line
5 of 10
The Cowboys defensive line has not been good this season; however, it put together its best collective performance against the Colts. It did a great job of pressuring Andrew Luck and stopping the run, as the Colts only had one rushing yard all game.
Anthony Spencer had a solid game, collapsing the pocket and pressuring Luck on a consistent basis. Spencer has not had the best year rushing the passer this season, but hopefully this game indicates that he is finally hitting his stride.
Nick Hayden has been one of the weak links on the defensive line this season, but he did surprisingly well against the Colts. He had a pass deflection, and he made numerous hustle plays throughout the game.
Most of the defensive line's production has come from Tyrone Crawford and Jeremy Mincey as of late, so it was nice to see others join the fray as well.
Grade: A
Linebacker
6 of 10
The Cowboys linebackers, like nearly every other unit, played extremely well throughout the game.
Anthony Hitchens was particularly good, making several stops that required a great deal of instinct and athleticism, as he finished with eight tackles and an interception. Many people criticized the Hitchens pick when he was selected in the draft, but he has made them eat their words with his play this season.
Rolando McClain continues to be a great player for the Cowboys, as he has had a huge presence in the middle of the field. McClain easily flows to the ball and sheds blocks, which has allowed him to be productive with the Cowboys.
Dallas' linebacker unit has been ravaged by injuries this season, but it continues to play well.
Grade: A
Secondary
7 of 10
The Cowboys secondary has been inconsistent this year, but over the last couple of games it has shut down opposing offenses.
Brandon Carr played well, as he provided great coverage throughout the game, having two beautiful pass deflections. Carr has been ridiculed for his poor play this season, but he has come on strong, especially this week.
Orlando Scandrick continues to prove that he is one of the 10 best cornerbacks in the NFL. Scandrick is incredibly quick and agile, and he rarely makes mistakes in coverage.
J.J. Wilcox continued his stellar play as he picked up an interception at the end of the half. Wilcox has improved dramatically over the last few games, and that has to be a welcome sight to anyone with the Cowboys.
Grade: A
Special Teams
8 of 10
For the first time in forever, Dan Bailey may have been the worst player on the Cowboys, as he went 0-of-1 on field goals against the Colts.
Despite Bailey's miss, the Cowboys' special teams stifled the Colts, and they did an adequate job in the return game.
Dwayne Harris has returned to his old form, as he has been a terror covering and returning kicks this season. He has yet to break one for a touchdown, but he gets solid yardage on nearly every return.
Grade: B+
Coaching
9 of 10
The Cowboys needed a win to get into the playoffs, and that is exactly what they did. Head coach Jason Garrett did a great job of getting the Cowboys ready, and he should be commended for that.
Garrett has been one of the best coaches in the NFL this year, and he should be at least in the conversation as Coach of the Year.
Play-caller Scott Linehan called a beautiful game as he mixed up formations and route combinations.
Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli made a smart adjustment to have the Cowboys play more man coverage in the secondary, and that had great results, as the secondary was able to shut down Andrew Luck.
A special shoutout should go to linebackers coach Matt Eberflus, who has gotten the linebackers to play at a high level despite the fact that they have been significantly hindered by injuries.
The Cowboys have exceeded expectations this season, and that is due to the fantastic job the coaching staff has done.
Grade: A
Final Grade
10 of 10
| Positional Unit | Overall Grade |
| QB | A |
| RB | A |
| WR | A |
| OL | A |
| DL | A |
| LB | A |
| Secondary | A |
| Special Teams | B+ |
| Coaching | A |
| Cumulative Grade | A |
The Cowboys put together their best game as a team, and it is reflected in their cumulative grade. Outside of a Joseph Randle fumble and a Dan Bailey missed field goal, the Cowboys played a near-perfect game. They have been heralded as a team that chokes down the stretch, but they did everything but that this time around.
The Cowboys look ahead to a matchup against the Washington Redskins in a game that will be a tuneup for the playoffs.
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