Cowboys @ Chiefs
Final Score: Chiefs 19, Cowboys 9
Writer: Justin Herrera (@Semtexmex93 on Twitter)
The Dallas Cowboys rolled into Arrowhead stadium to take on one of the best quarterbacks in the game, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. The key injuries in this game were Amari Cooper who was put on the COVID-19 list for at least two games, while CeeDee Lamb also had a head injury that took him out for the game. The Chiefs got back Clyde Edwards-Helaire for this game after an extended stay on the IR. This was supposed to be the best game of the week, but instead, it turned into a turnover fest and a low-scoring game. The game result was Kansas City Chiefs 19, Dallas Cowboys 9.
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott: 28/43, 216 yards, 2 INT
Chiefs CB Charvarius Ward with the pick on Dak Prescott! pic.twitter.com/8CGfrcxZvI
— USA TODAY NFL (@usatodaynfl) November 21, 2021
Can the real Dak Prescott please stand up? At this point, I can’t figure out if the problem is Dak or the Cowboys. Prescott tried really hard in this game to show that the Cowboys could overcome losing Amari Cooper and Tyron Smith. One of the keys to this game was the five sacks that the Chiefs got on Dak, three and a half belonging to Chris Jones alone. Whether it was a strip-sack by Frank Clark or eight QB hits delivered to Prescott by the Chiefs defense, the protection wasn’t there for the Cowboys and Prescott suffered mightily because of it.
Prescott threw two interceptions, both ending promising touchdown drives. The first one was forced to CeeDee Lamb who was covered by Charvarius Ward in the end zone as the first half came to an end. The second interception was thrown out of desperation into double coverage and was picked off by L’jairus Sneed.
The best throws from Prescott came on the Cowboys’ last drive as he went 6/9 for 77 yards and ended the drive with an interception. Here’s some perspective for you, outside of this drive Dak was 22/34 for 139 yards and an INT. This game was a real bummer if you had Prescott on your fantasy team.
Running Back
Tony Pollard: 7 carries, 50 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 20 yards
Ezekiel Elliot: 9 carries, 32 yards| 6 targets, 6 receptions, 36 yards
Tony PollardĀ had the best game of the Cowboys’ running backs, but that’s mostly because he took a direct snap for 31 yards. Pollard’s stat line minus this run was 6 for 19, averaging 3.1 ypc, this was discouraging considering the matchup. Ezekiel Elliot‘s biggest run of the day was eight yards, and the team’s lack of scoring lead to the Cowboys drifting away from the run in the second half. Elliot’s best play was a 19-yard catch and run along the sideline, this extended the final drive and was the longest play of the game through the air for the Cowboys. Zeke did end up getting hurt at one point in the first half, but it may just be a pain tolerance thing because he was able to return to the game shortly thereafter.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Dalton Schultz: 8 targets, 6 receptions, 56 yards
Michael Gallup: 10 targets, 5 receptions, 44 yards
Cedrick Wilson: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 36 yards
CeeDee Lamb: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 11 yards
Malik Turner: 2 targets, 1 reception, 11 yards
Sean McKeon: 1 target, 1 reception, 2 yards
https://twitter.com/CRobb15/status/1462533609617866756
Amari Cooper was a late addition to the COVID-19 list and his absence was felt tonight. The offense dropped four balls today and two of them came from Cedrick Wilson who was supposed to help fill the Cooper void. Wilson did have 16-yard and 18-yard catches in this game that helped set up two field goals for the Cowboys. Michael Gallup was back and got quite the workload when Lamb went out. Gallup had 10 targets on the day, catching five receptions, with his biggest catch going for 16 yards. Dalton Schultz showed up as the go-to guy for Dak Prescott catching six of his eight targets, mostly in short distance and for not a lot of yardage. Overall this receiving unit could be a lame one going forward if Lamb and Cooper are both out for the Thanksgiving game.
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: 23/37, 260 yards, INT | 7 carries, 11 yards
Another INT for Mahomes, right off the hands of Kelce to Jayron Kearse š@NFL | #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/iFBr1Hlcv7
— FanSided (@FanSided) November 21, 2021
Patrick Mahomes started the first drive 3/4 for 19 yards and most importantly he used his legs to get 11 yards and set up a Travis Kelce TD run. Two drives later, Mahomes went 5/6 for 70 yards, including a 37-yard bomb to Byron Pringle. A couple of drives later Mahomes would fumble the ball while scrambling, but luckily it wouldn’t backfire on the Chiefs as they picked off Dak Prescott on the next drive.
The second half started with Mahomes connecting with Kelce twice for 38-yards. This eventually led to an interception, that helped the Cowboys put up points. Mahomes would get back to work hitting Kelce for 22-yards, Tyreek Hill for 10, and Mecole Hardman for 12-yards, setting up a 53-yard field goal.Ā Overall this was the extent of the Chiefs offense, Mahomes looked good at times but also was very ordinary.
Running Back
Clyde Edwards Helaire: 12 carries, 63 yards, TD | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 13 yards
Darrell Williams: 5 carries, 11 yards | 3 targets, 1 reception, 11 yards
CEH score! (PLEASE be advised the end of this play is PG-13, think of the kids) pic.twitter.com/XF4srSi8ui
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) November 21, 2021
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (CEH) is back and he made an impact in this game. The Chiefs’ first two plays went to CEH for a total of 14 yards. On their second drive, CEH got a one-yard toss for a TD. Naturally, as he pointed to the defender he was called for a taunting penalty that ultimately didn’t mean much. This is the NFL in 2021. The Chiefs, while still a passing juggernaut, did give the ball to CEH 12 times while averaging 5.25 ypc. CEH was also used as a receiving back getting 12 of his 13 yards on one catch. Darrell Williams immediately took a back seat to CEH, getting five carries for 11 yards. As far as fantasy goes CEH should still be a low-end RB2 and Williams can be dropped.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Tyreek Hill: 11 targets, 9 receptions, 77 yards | 1 carry, 33 yards
Travis Kelce: 8 targets, 5 receptions, 74 yards | 1 carry, 4 yards, TD
Byron Pringle: 2 targets, 1 reception, 37 yards
Mecole Hardman: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 25 yards
Blake Bell: 1 target, 1 reception, 8 yards
Noah Grey: 1 target, 1 reception, 8 yards
Josh Gordon: 2 targets, 1 reception, 7 yards
Travis Kelce THE running back š pic.twitter.com/1v3trIVck4
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) November 21, 2021
Tyreek HillĀ started his day off with a reverse run that he took for 33 yards. Hill’s next big play was a 23-yard catch, where Hill took a short route and turned upfield for 23. Travis Kelce also had a strong game today, scoring on a four-yard run. The Chiefs’ TE got all of his 74 yards in the second half, mostly on two plays for 46 yards. Byron Pringle showed up to catch a 37 yarder that set up a one-yard TD run. On this very same drive, Mecole Hardman received his biggest play of the day, a 13-yard catch and run. Overall it wasn’t the game we thought it would be and even though Hill and Kelce pulled out good games, we fantasy managers selfishly wished for more production.
— Justin Herrera (@Semtexmex93 on Twitter)