The Dallas Cowboys improved to 2-0 with a 30-10 win over the New York Jets with another stellar performance by their defense and an impressive outing from quarterback Dak Prescott in their home opener at AT&T Stadium on Sunday.
The Cowboys offense took command early, while the defense returned to its turnover-forcing ways in the second half to turn the game into a blowout.
“We felt, going in, that we needed to control the ball and go the long way with efficiency, and the guys did a great job executing the plan,” Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy told the media postgame. “… That’s complementary football. That was the outlook going in, and our players did an excellent job.”
Dallas opened the game with a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive, ending with a four-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to tight end Jake Ferguson. The Cowboys went up 10-0 before the Jets got on the board with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Zach Wilson to Garrett Wilson.
Dallas responded with another touchdown drive, as Prescott connected with rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker for his first career touchdown catch. The Cowboys attempted a two-point conversion, and Tony Pollard ran into the endzone to make it an 18-7 game.
The Jets added a field goal to cut the deficit to eight at the end of the half.
Neither team scored a touchdown in the second half, but the Cowboys’ defense asserted its dominance by forcing four turnovers, including interceptions on each of New York’s final three drives, that led to four more field goals from Aubrey to increase the lead to 20 points.
Prescott finished the game with 255 yards and two touchdowns on 31-of-38 passing, while wide receiver CeeDee Lamb caught 11 passes for 143 yards.
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WHAT TO KNOW
— The Cowboys are 2-0 for the first time in head coach Mike McCarthy’s tenure and tied with Philadelphia and Washington in the NFC East through two weeks.
— The Jets were without former MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who injured his Achilles in a win over the Buffalo Bills last week.
— The Cowboys have forced seven turnovers this season.
— Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks missed the game with a knee injury.
— Cowboys guards Chuma Edoga and Zach Martin were injured during the game.
— Dallas’ offense has yet to turn the ball over this season.
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BY THE NUMBERS
— Dallas has outscored its opponents 70-10 in its first two games.
— The Cowboys converted nine of their 18 third-down attempts, while their defense held New York to just one third-down conversion.
— Dallas ran 83 plays and had the ball for 42:15. The Cowboys also called 26 more running plays than the Jets.
— Cowboys running back Tony Pollard had a career-high 25 carries.
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WHO SAID
— McCarthy on the play of the Cowboys’ defense through the first two games: “We’re off to an outstanding start. The pressure and the takeaways are [at] an incredible level after two games. This group has taken it up a notch, clearly, from last year. I think from top to bottom, not only our veteran players but our younger players are really contributing. It’s awesome to see them flying around and staying the course, and the second half was impressive.”
— Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on the start to the season: “I’m proud of this whole group. Our fans should really be excited about what’s ahead of us.”
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NEXT UP
— Dallas (2-0) heads to Arizona to play the Cardinals (0-2) at 3:25 p.m. CT on Sunday.
