Prescott Registers 2 Touchdowns, Wilson Suffers 3 Interceptions in First Game Post-Rodgers Injury; Cowboys Defeat Jets 30-10

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In the Cowboys’ first home game of the season, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb took the field without his recent addition, Brandin Cooks, who sustained a knee injury in his initial game with Dallas.

Despite this, the team’s leading receiver had a standout performance. Lamb was instrumental in setting up both of Dak Prescott’s touchdowns with key plays. Meanwhile, Brandon Aubrey, a 28-year-old rookie kicker, successfully made five field goals in his home debut, contributing to the Cowboys’ 30-10 victory over the New York Jets this Sunday.

In his first game as starting quarterback since Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles injury, Zach Wilson of the Jets threw three interceptions. This enabled the Cowboys to complete their opening-season clean sweep against New York teams, moving to a 2-0 record.

Dallas had previously trounced NFC East competitor, the New York Giants, in a 40-0 victory. The Jets, now standing at 1-1, were coming off an emotionally charged overtime win over the Buffalo Bills after Rodgers suffered his injury in the early minutes of his debut game for New York.

Jerry Jones, Dallas owner and general manager, expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance. “I am particularly pleased with the comprehensive strengths demonstrated by our team across all units—special teams, offense, and defense,” Jones said.

Lamb, now in his fourth year, tied his career high with 11 receptions, including a notable 25-yard catch that led to a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Ferguson. Later in the game, Lamb secured another 20-yard catch that set the stage for rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker’s first career touchdown, following a pass interference call on Brandin Echols in the end zone.

Prescott targeted Lamb a near-record 13 times, narrowly avoiding a possible interception by Sauce Gardner that could have given the Jets the lead before halftime.

Lamb acknowledged his ongoing efforts: “My performance is a continual process. I’m not just proving my worth to others but also to myself, week after week.”

Wilson’s lone touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson brought the Jets within a three-point margin in the second quarter. However, their offensive output was limited to just 147 yards aside from that touchdown, and four turnovers in the second half sealed their fate.

Jets coach Robert Saleh criticized his team’s performance. “We failed to establish any rhythm and couldn’t sustain drives. This prevented our defense from getting the necessary respite, leading to fatigue,” Saleh said.

Defensively, the Cowboys were dominant, with interceptions made by Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, and Trevon Diggs. Micah Parsons caused a fumble, stripping the ball from Dalvin Cook just before a tackle.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy lauded his team’s defense, stating, “Our performance in the area of takeaways and quarterback pressure has been commendable through these initial two games.”

In the statistics, Prescott completed 31 of 38 passes for 255 yards, while Tony Pollard contributed 72 rushing yards. Wilson had a difficult day, finishing with 12 of 27 for 170 yards.

Additional Notes

Brandon Aubrey was consistent with his kicks, including a 55-yard field goal, and has been reliable since his initial missed extra point in his NFL debut against the Giants.

Dallas defensive assistant Sharrif Floyd left the game during the second half due to medical concerns and was escorted to the locker room.

Injury Updates: Left Guard Chuma Edoga, who has been filling in for Tyler Smith due to a hamstring injury, exited the game in the second half with an elbow problem. He was substituted by undrafted rookie T.J. Bass. Right Guard Zack Martin sustained an ankle injury during the game.

Coming Up Next

The Jets will host New England next Sunday, marking their second AFC East rival in the first three weeks. The Cowboys will travel to Arizona next Sunday.

Source: AP NFL via BigBigNews

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• Full Game Recap on AP NFL
• CeeDee Lamb’s Performance
• Zach Wilson’s Struggles
• Cowboys’ Previous Win Against Giants
• Notable Defensive Plays by the Cowboys
• Brandon Aubrey, Rookie Kicker
• Injuries During the Game
• Cowboys’ Next Game Against Arizona
• Dallas Cowboys’ Head Coach Mike McCarthy
• New York Jets’ Next Game Against New England