The biggest game on the late afternoon docket turned into laugher. The Dallas Cowboys dominated the Indianapolis Colts, 42-7, and go streaking into Week 17 as one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
Cowboys vs. Colts final score: 3 things we learned from Dallas’ blowout
The Cowboys blew the doors off the Colts in what was a telling game ahead of the postseason.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
To understand how lopsided this game was, you need not look further than the quarterbacks. Tony Romo was near perfect, going 18 of 20 for 218 yards and four touchdowns before being replaced by Brandon Weeden in the fourth quarter. Andrew Luck, meanwhile, had arguably the worst game of his career. His 41.7 passer rating was the lowest of his tenure. He was replaced by Matt Hasselbeck in the third quarter after going 15 of 22 for 109 yards and two interceptions.
With the win, the Cowboys keep themselves in position for a first-round bye in the playoffs. They will need a lot of help, starting with a Seattle Seahawks win over the Arizona Cardinals tonight. Even if they don't get an extra week of rest, however, they will still be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
Three things we learned:
1) The Colts should worry
Indianapolis has a dearth of quality wins this season. Wins over the 9-4-1 Cincinnati Bengals and 9-6 Baltimore Ravens are the best by record, and at the moment only the Bengals look likely to make the playoffs. The Colts have lost to practically every other team with a pulse -- by seven points to the Denver Broncos, three points to the Philadelphia Eagles, 17 points to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 22 points to the New England Patriots and now 35 points to the Cowboys.
The Colts gave up at least 30 points in each of those five losses, with a high of 51 to the Steelers. This is a team with a suspect defense and a moribund running game. Andrew Luck is capable of greatness against anyone, but he looked terrible Sunday with T.Y. Hilton out of the lineup and everyone else dropping passes. With the playoffs just two weeks away, fans have reason to be concerned about how the Colts will fair.
2) The Cowboys will hopefully get to rest DeMarco Murray
Murray desperately needs a breather. He has been a workhorse this season, and that’s good, but one has to wonder whether the Cowboys are running him too hard at times. On Sunday, he had 22 carries for just 58 yards against what had been, until this week, a bad run defense, all while playing with a padded hand that kept him from catching passes and remaining in the game for pass protection.
Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar may not have been more effective, but they weren't much worse. Yes, Murray is attacking the Cowboys' record book, but the Cowboys would probably be much happier to have Murray fresh for what could be a promising postseason run. They should be able to rest the running back next week with a first-round playoff bye looking unlikely.
Speaking of which ...
3) The Cowboys are Super Bowl caliber
As demoralizing as the game was for the Colts, it was encouraging for the Cowboys. Dallas hasn’t been a perfect team this season, but no “top” team in the NFL has looked unbeatable. The Cowboys have looked like they could be the best team in the league at times, and they should view the upcoming postseason as a great opportunity to hoist the Lombardi Trophy once more.
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