Week 7 of the 2021 season will be off for the Dallas Cowboys, and this break couldn’t come at a better time. The team has a 5-1 record so far, which could have been 6-0 were it not for missed field goals in Week 1 against the Buccaneers. However, this does not stain the great moment that Dallas is having.
After six weeks, the Cowboys’ offense is the best in the NFL with 2,765 total yards, averaging 460.8 yards per game. Besides, it is also the offense with the most points per game (34.2). On the other hand, cowboy attack is 5th in the league in passing yards (296.5 per game) and 2nd in rushing yards (164.3 per game). Besides, and according to Pro Football Focus, Dallas is one of the only four teams to score in more than 50% of their offensive series.
The only offenses to score on over 50% of their drives 🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/PpyaIfY2vJ
– PFF (@PFF) October 15, 2021
But that is not all. On defense, Dallas has excelled primarily in possession changes. In this section they are second in the league with 14 behind the Buffalo Bills (16). In addition, the Cowboys lead the NFL in interceptions with 11 total, seven of them achieved by cornerback Trevon Diggs.
However, the team has sections to improve in its defensive facet. Dallas has the third-worst passing defense in the league (295 yards allowed per game). Only Washington (309.5 yards) and Jacksonville (297.8 yards) have worse records. Additionally, the western defense ranks 19th in points allowed per game at 24.8.
It is true that Dallas’ defensive unit has improved a lot in the running game and in changes of possession compared to 2020. However, the large number of passing yards and points allowed puts the Western defense in 23rd place in total yards. allowed (2,287). This, on average, equates to 381.2 yards per game. Without a doubt, this is a facet that the team has to improve, and that the coaching staff will have time to evaluate during this bye week.
Three Dallas players are breaking records
The Cowboys’ strong performance so far is being driven by great teamwork. However, several players in the cowboy team are playing at a high level. Some of them have even broken records for both the franchise and the NFL in general.
The most prominent could be none other than Dak Prescott. The Dallas quarterback had a historic performance against the Patriots, throwing for 445 yards. In fact, that’s the most yardage allowed by the Patriot team in Bill Belichick’s 22 years as their head coach.
Dak Prescott passed for 445 yards in Sunday’s overtime win, the most allowed by the Patriots in the 22-year Bill Belichick era. https://t.co/u6xvFlmFLb
– Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) October 20, 2021
Prescott also broke some NFL records this past Sunday. Dak became the only quarterback since 1994 not to have thrown an incomplete pass in overtime after at least six pass attempts. In fact, his career overtime records are 18 completed passes of 18 attempts, throwing for 214 yards and three touchdowns.
Besides, Dak Prescott also broke some Cowboys records. Not only did he become Dallas’ first quarterback with three touchdown passes in four straight games, but also the quarterback with the most TD passes (16) in the first six games of a season.
In addition, Prescott added his ninth career game with 400 passing yards or more. This makes him the historical leader of Dallas in this section, also occupying the 8th place of all time in the NFL along with Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning.
Dak Prescott recorded his ninth career 400-yard passing game in today’s win, which is the most in franchise history and ties Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers for eighth in NFL history.
– Dallas Cowboys Public Relations (@DallasCowboysPR) October 18, 2021
Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb for 32 yards – the longest play for both the Cowboys and Patriots in this game so far. pic.twitter.com/3M5f0zsqZW
– Justin (@hobokenjustin) October 17, 2021
Another record-breaking cornerback is Trevon Diggs, who posted his seventh interception of the season against the Pats. This makes Diggs the first player in the Super Bowl era to have seven interceptions and multiple touchdowns in the first six games of a season.
But that is not all. Diggs’ six-game interception streak beginning the season set a new record in the cowboy franchise. In addition, it ties all-time NFL records achieved by defensive backs Tom Landry (Giants, 1951), Barry Wilburn (Redskins, 1987) and Brian Russell (Vikings, 2003).
Another notable statistic is that Trevon Diggs has more interceptions than 27 other NFL teams. Only the Bills (10), the Saints (9) and the Rams (8) have accomplished more than the Dallas cornerback. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers also have 7 interceptions so far.
At this rate, Diggs could break the interception records of Dallas (Everson Walls, 11 in 1981) and the NFL (Dick Lane, Rams, 14 in 1952). This, of course, as long as Dallas’ next rivals don’t avoid throwing passes into the area covered by the young cornerback.
On the other hand, Trevon Diggs could also break the record for passes defended in a season, a statistic he currently leads with 11. This leaves him on track to the record of 31 passes defended set by Darrelle Revis (Jets) in 2009. Record aside, Diggs is projects to lead this statistic in the 2021 season.
Trevon Diggs is the first player in franchise history to tally an interception in each of the first six games of a season. Diggs’ six-game interception streak to start a season also ties a NFL record – joining Tom Landry (1951), Barry Wilburn (1987) and Brian Russell (2003).
– Dallas Cowboys Public Relations (@DallasCowboysPR) October 18, 2021
TREVON DIGGS. AN UNREAL RUN OF INTERCEPTIONS.
📺: #DALvsNE on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/AzoU8oRs3b– NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2021
A third Cowboys player who is also breaking all-time franchise records is CeeDee Lamb. On Sunday, Lamb became the fastest Dallas receiver to reach 100 interceptions, charting it in 22 games. In addition, he also became the Cowboys player with the most receiving yards (1,432) in his first 22 games.
After six weeks, Lamb has logged 497 receiving yards, more than half of his in 2020. At this rate, the # 88 Dallas could surpass 1,400 receiving yards by the end of the season. His production rate may slow down a bit when Michael Gallup returns from his injury. At this rate, though, the 1,000 receiving-yard mark in a season can be easy for Lamb to break.
CeeDee Lamb reached 100 career receptions faster than any wide receiver in Cowboys history. Needed only 22 games, tying RB Herschel Walker’s franchise record.
Lamb has more receiving yards (1,432) in first 22 games than any player in Cowboys history.
Waving bye to record book.
– Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) October 18, 2021
CeeDee Lamb waved bye to him ðŸ˜
pic.twitter.com/mi0UaD8KXU– PFF (@PFF) October 17, 2021
After breaking negative records in 2020, this season the Cowboys aim to continue breaking records but in a positive way. While it’s still too early to measure collective marks, some Dallas players could still break individual records. For now, the cowboy team must take advantage of this week off to evaluate and correct its weakest points. If the trend continues to rise, Dak Prescott and company may continue to destroy brands in the franchise and in the league.