Did Cowboys & Tony Pollard Find ‘New Rhythm’?
Originally posted on FanNation Cowboy Maven
By Geoff Magliochetti | Last updated 11/20/23
Thanksgiving week is often used as a time to get together with familiar friends after a prolonged absence. Tony Pollard will be busy this week, so he got such celebrations started a bit earlier.
The Dallas Cowboys’ primary running back got together with his old friend the end zone on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, scoring his first touchdown since getting a pair in Sept. 10’s opener against the New York Giants.
“The O-line cleared things out and gave me lanes to run through (and I) was just being physical, running through arm tackles and making something happen,” Pollard said. “It felt great. It felt great just being in the open field, making plays, and getting into the end zone.”
Added Pollard: “We’re just figuring out what works for us, what we like to run and what works best. We’re just getting into rhythm.”
Pollard’s 21-yard six-pointer was a harbinger of doom for Carolina, kicking off a stretch of 16 unanswered to create the final margin of 33-10 in favor of Dallas (7-3). One play from scrimmage after Pollard’s points, Dallas took a permanent two-possession lead when DaRon Bland took a Bryce Young interception the distance.
“It was big, especially for the momentum of the game,” Pollard said of his score. “(Carolina) had just come off of a touchdown to make it a one-score game, so it was big for us to go down there and get those points.”
The veteran rusher is perhaps thankful for a date with the Panthers: entering Sunday’s game, Carolina (1-9) had allowed a league-worst 15 touchdowns on the ground while scoring only two of its own.
Pollard’s first season as the Cowboys’ undisputed top rushing option has been a struggle, lacking the explosiveness and consistency of his tenure as Ezekiel Elliott’s primary spell option. As the games gain importance, however, he is starting to resemble the Pollard of old: with 61 yards on a dozen Sunday carries, Pollard has 325 in his past four games, averaging just about 4.4 per attempt.
The timing of Pollard’s resurgence couldn’t be better: Dallas has a short week ahead, one they’re well accustomed to, as they face the Washington Commanders in their annual holiday haunt on Thursday late afternoon (3:30 p.m. CT, CBS). And indeed, “TP” is already turning the page.
“As soon as we get to Dallas, it’s back to work,” he said. “It’s a workday as soon as we touch down.”
This article first appeared on FanNation Cowboy Maven and was syndicated with permission.
More must-reads:
Jets fans react to Robert Saleh’s hit on Zach Wilson on sideline during Bills game
NFL
Watch: Hilarious Baker Mayfield blunder leads to 49ers’ NFL-leading 14th INT
No defense in the NFL has more interceptions than the San Francisco 49ers. But the way the team secured its league-leading 14th pick of the season was a combination of perfect timing and an unfortunate blooper at the hands of Baker Mayfield. On a third-and-6 with 3:38 left in the game from the 49ers 9-yard line, Mayfield dropped back and tried to hit receiver Chris Godwin in stride after breaking back toward the middle of the field on a snag route. Unfortunately for Mayfield, he found the helmet of 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw instead, causing the ball to bounce in the air where it was snagged by safety Ji’Ayir Brown in the end zone, halting Tampa’s best scoring threat since the first minute of the fourth quarter. It marked the second straight game that Mayfield was picked off. He’s now thrown an interception in six of his last eight games. It was also the first career interception for Brown, who’s played in just four games this season after being drafted in the third round of the 2023 draft out of Penn State. With 14 interceptions, the 49ers now have two more than the next-closest team, the Cincinnati Bengals. San Francisco has four players — Fred Warner (three), Talanoa Hufanga (three), Charvarius Ward (two) and Deommodore Lenoir (two) — with multiple interceptions and eight players with at least one.
Braves reportedly focused on one pitcher after missing out on Aaron Nola
NFL
Week 11 NFL winners: Tommy DeVito surprises, Josh Allen bounces back
With most of the Week 11 schedule in the books let’s take a look at some of the biggest winners around the NFL. Tommy DeVito, QB, New York Giants. The most stunning performance of the day on Sunday came from the Giants’ backup quarterback. DeVito bounced back from a miserable performance in Dallas a week ago and led the Giants to a 31-19 win in Washington. DeVito played the game of his life in throwing all over a terrible Commanders defense, finishing the day with 246 yards and three touchdown passes. With Daniel Jones sidelined for the remainder of the season DeVito is going to have an opportunity to audition for both the Giants and other NFL teams when it comes to his future, and Sunday was a great showing. Micah Parsons, DL, Dallas Cowboys. It was another dominant performance by the Cowboys on Sunday as they were no match for a Carolina team that might be the worst in the NFL. One of the big standout stars for the Cowboys was Parsons as he continued his push for NFL Defensive Player of the Year consideration. He finished with 6.5 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits. Myles Garrett, DL, Cleveland Browns. The Browns’ 13-10 win over the Steelers probably set offense back about 25 years, but there was also a lot of great defense played. Nobody played better than Garrett who seemed to be in the backfield even before the football was on my Steelers plays. He had two sacks, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits. One of his sacks came on the first defensive snap for the Browns and nearly resulted in a safety. That set the tone for the whole game. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins got quite a fight from the Las Vegas Raiders, but Hill was again the difference-maker for their offense. He caught 10 passes on 11 targets for 146 yards and a touchdown to continue his incredible year. After Sunday’s game is up to 79 catches for 1,222 yards and nine touchdowns. No player has had more receiving yards through 10 games in the Super Bowl era. Detroit Lions. Just simply everything about the Lions. The fact they were able to rally late in the game to find a way to win on a day where they did not play their best. The fact they are 8-2 and legitimately look like one of the best teams in the NFC and have complete control over the NFC North. The mindset that head coach Dan Campbell has put into them. This is the most excitement the Lions have had around their franchise in decades, if not ever. Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers. Perhaps the concerns over Purdy’s struggles were a little premature. For the second week in a row, Purdy and the 49ers offense excelled as they continue to make that three-game losing streak a distant memory. Purdy completed 21-of-25 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has thrown for 629 yards, six touchdowns and zero interceptions over the past two games. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills. Allen has been under fire for the Bills’ offensive shortcomings in recent weeks, but he looked like the good version of Allen on Sunday in a 32-6 win over the Jets. He only threw for 275 yards, but he threw three touchdowns while his only turnover was an interception on a Hail Mary at the end of the first half. When he plays like this the Bills can be one of the toughest teams in the league to beat. He just needs to play like this more often.
Wizards guard speaks up following Jordan Poole’s season-worst performance
NFL
Bills safety taken from field in ambulance after collision
There was a scary scene at the end of the first half of Sunday’s game between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets when Bills safety Taylor Rapp had to be taken off the field in an ambulance. It was a harsh reminder of last season’s game when Buffalo defensive back Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac episode on the field in Cincinnati. Fortunately for Rapp and everybody involved here, this incident was not as severe. Rapp was attempting to make a tackle on Jets running back Breece Hall when his shoulder and helmet hit Hall’s helmets. Bills defensive back Taron Johnson was also injured on the play, and initially seemed to be the one with the more significant injury. But Rapp could be see close to the Bills sideline pulling on his shoulder pad before falling to the ground. He remained on the field for several moments before leaving in an ambulance. The encouraging news is that for as scary as the scene looked with the ambulance, the CBS broadcast reported that Rapp remained in the locker room and was not taken to a hospital. The Bills announced him as being officially out with a neck injury. Rapp spent the first four years of his career with the Los Angeles Rams before joining the Bills this offseason. He has appeared in 10 games as a depth player. The Bills’ secondary has been crushed by injuries this season, and with Rapp and Johnson both going down on the same play it only complicates their depth chart in the defensive backfield.
Cowboys hit with last-minute injury ahead of Week 11
MLB
MLB owners add ‘flip tax’ caveat with A’s move to Vegas
MLB owners voted unanimously last week to approve the Oakland Athletics’ move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season. The approval was somewhat of a formality, as there was very little reason to believe the move would not be approved by the other owners once the Commissioner’s Office recommended as such. Up until the votes were cast, however, there were doubts whether it would receive unanimous support. A’s owner John Fisher received the approval he was seeking, but it seems there is a unique provision in place within the agreement. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the other owners added a provision to the approval they are callin
