Behind Lance, Cowboys win, 27-12

The Dallas Cowboys traded for Trey Lance final season in hopes they might faucet into the expertise that made him the third general choose within the 2021 NFL Draft. On this preseason matchup in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders, he lastly gave a glimpse of that potential.

Getting into the sport within the second quarter, Lance would lead the Cowboys to a 27-12 victory over the Raiders behind a pair of scoring drives. He accomplished 15 of 23 passes on the evening for 151 yards and a landing to complete with a 98.3 passer ranking. Only for good measure, he additionally added a speeding landing and tied for the staff lead with 34 yards on the bottom.

Total, the Cowboys recorded 294 yards of offense, which included 137 speeding yards as a gaggle. Deuce Vaughn sat out the preseason opener on the Rams attributable to damage, however he made up for it with a powerful exhibiting in Las Vegas. The second-year man shook and shifted for 34 yards on 5 carries, a powerful 6.8 yards per carry common.

Mike Zimmer’s protection once more was efficient. Whereas the unit allowed the Raiders to complete 315 yards of offense, Dallas solely allowed one landing for the second straight week. Cornerback Andrew Sales space led the Cowboys with eight tackles with security Juanyeh Thomas shining in restricted motion with a pair of move breakups.

First Quarter
Though the Raiders started the sport with their first-stringers whereas Dallas went largely with backups, the reserves held their very own in opposition to the starters. In truth, after stopping Vegas on a fourth-and-3 on the Cowboys’ 47-yard line, beginning quarterback Cooper Rush then moved his aspect shut sufficient to permit Brandon Aubrey to kick a 54-yard area aim for an early 3-0 lead.

The sport was quickly tied, although. The Raiders began their possession on the 40-yard line after Aubrey’s kickoff went out of bounds. On their first snap, quarterback Gardner Minshew then related with Tre Tucker on a deep publish sample for a 48-yard acquire. The Cowboys protection held its floor, although, as Vegas settled for a 29-yard area aim.

Second Quarter
Regardless of the Raiders starters nonetheless being within the recreation, the Dallas protection pressured a three-and-out on Vegas’ first collection of the second quarter. However on the following punt, a booming 69-yarder, returner Jalen Cropper fumbled the ball with the house aspect recovering on the Cowboys’ 23-yard line.

The protection once more did its job, although. The Raiders determined to go for it on fourth-and-5 on the Dallas 18, however Minshew’s move sailed excessive, the Cowboys taking on on downs.

Lance got here in at the beginning of the second quarter, however his first two collection resulted in three-and-outs. And particular groups once more had its difficulties. This time the Raiders’ Tucker discovered a lane down the left sideline and was capable of return the punt 43 yards. With a 5-yard penalty on Dallas tacked on, Vegas was again in enterprise on the Cowboys’ 28-yard line.

The Dallas protection once more did its job, however this time the Raiders determined to take the straightforward factors, kicking a 27-yard area aim for a 6-3 lead.

Nevertheless, Lance got here again and displayed a few of that expertise that warranted the Cowboys taking an opportunity on him. He accomplished all 5 of his move makes an attempt for 34 yards, and ran for a primary down on third-and-1 on the Raiders’ 8-yard line. The final of his throws was an ideal 1-yard fade to Ryan Flournoy within the again proper nook of the top zone for the Cowboys’ first landing of the preseason

However Lance and firm weren’t achieved but. Getting the ball again at his personal 14-yard line with 28 seconds left, the younger quarterback threw a pair of 8-yard passes to tight finish John Stephens, scrambled for a 2-yard acquire, after which took off on a 20-yard scamper earlier than calling a timeout with 1 second left.

That gave Aubrey an opportunity to strive a 66-yard area aim, and his kick went proper down the center to offer Dallas a 13-6 benefit on the half.

Third Quarter
Sadly, the lead was quickly lower to at least one. After the Cowboys had been pressured to punt on their first possession of the third body, the Raiders marched 57 yards in 13 performs for the rating. The landing got here on a 5-yard move from Aidan O’Connell to tight finish Harrison Bryant, however when the pair tried to attach once more on the two-point conversion, the toss fell incomplete.

Fourth Quarter
The Raiders had been on the transfer when the clock ticked into the ultimate quarter, the house aspect lined up on the Dallas 35-yard line for the primary play of the fourth. However Cowboys cornerback Kemon Corridor stepped in entrance of one other O’Connell move try and Bryant and took the interception again 69 yards for a pick-6.

With the Dallas protection persevering with to handle enterprise, Lance’s evening simply saved getting higher. He later took the offense on a 13-play, 88-yard drive that noticed him full passes of 17, 15, 12 and 30 yards, however took the scoring honors himself, dashing up the center on a quarterback draw from 2 yards out for the landing to wrap up the scoring, 27-12.