Dallas City News

NFL preseason Week 2: Takeaways on top players, Staff, ESPN

What was your takeaway from the 27-12 Cowboys victory?

This wasn’t a dress rehearsal for the Cowboys because almost all of the starters were spectators, but they were able to get a long look at their projected left tackle, first-round pick Tyler Guyton, for the first half.

While he did not match up much against Raiders All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby, he was able to get looks against the Raiders’ first-team defense most of the half. Guyton continued to show he’s on the correct trajectory for the season opener when he will see a lot of Cleveland’s All-Pro Myles Garrett. The Cowboys were able to run for 114 yards in the first half and did not allow a sack. While all of that wasn’t due to Guyton, there weren’t glaring mistakes.

Backup quarterback Trey Lance’s first-half showing was promising against most of the Raiders’ defensive starters. After a sluggish start, he completed his final seven passes of the half, including a fade for a touchdown to Ryan Flournoy. He also ran for 34 yards, including a 20-yard gain that set up a 66-yard field goal from Brandon Aubrey. — Todd Archer

PFF grades are LIVE: NFL preseason Week 2 – Staff, PFF

Some love for Cooper Beebe

The Cowboys’ third-round draft pick played 21 snaps against the Raiders, all at center, and looked the part for a second straight week. He earned a 64.7 PFF run-blocking grade and a 77.7 PFF pass-blocking grade, with no pressure allowed from 10 pass-blocking snaps.

Preseason Week 2 NFL highlights: Cowboys make unofficial history – Cody Benjamin, CBSSports

Would have been good from 72 yards.

Preseason statistics don’t count toward the NFL record books, but don’t tell that to Brandon Aubrey, the emergent Pro Bowl kicker. One year after debuting with a league-leading 36 field goal conversions, the former MLS draft pick drilled a 66-yard try to close the first half for Dallas, unofficially tying the all-time record set by Baltimore Ravens star Justin Tucker back in 2021. And it would’ve been good from farther!

Also, take this review of the Raiders as an endorsement of the Cowboys second-string defense:

With head coach Antonio Pierce watching (and desperate to crown a winner of the competition), the journeyman [Gardner Minshew] uncorked an early deep shot to Tre Tucker. Unfortunately for Minshew, the big play wasn’t an immediate sign of things to come, with the veteran going just 10 of 21 for 95 yards and producing three points through more than a full quarter of work.

Cowboys QB Trey Lance has fun, gets comfortable in preseason win vs. Raiders – Calvin Watkins, DMN

Lance made a case for the Cowboys to keep three quarterbacks.

The Cowboys’ backup quarterback commanded eight offensive drives against the Raiders’ first and second teams and produced three scoring drives. Lance threw for one touchdown and ran for another in the Cowboys’ 27-12 victory.

Lance completed 15 of 23 passes for 151 yards with a 98.3 quarterback rating.

“I thought we improved today starting with Trey,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “I felt that some of the things we were trying to do was trying to get certain individual touches. So really didn’t get them into a rhythm right away. The third-down conversions, we missed a couple there. But two 14-play drives, that’s incredible for preseason football.

“It just shows you his understanding and confidence, and he just needs to continue to play. He needs reps. He needs to play in live games, particularly in the drop-back phase because he’s doing a very good job managing everything else. So I thought he clearly took a step today.”

Trey Lance ‘took a step’ for Cowboys and flashed the potential that makes him intriguing – Saad Yousuf, The Athletic

Yousuf ruminates on the expectations Lance faces.

Lance is under an unusual spotlight for a third-string quarterback. Many of those reasons are out of his control. Lance didn’t ask to carry the baggage of all the San Francisco 49ers gave up to select him third in the 2021 draft, but he does. The Cowboys gave up a fourth-round pick to acquire him, a decent price for a young quarterback with unrealized potential that looked a bit pricier because of subsequent quarterback trades around the league.

Lance can’t control those perceptions. He also can’t control that, because of Dak Prescott’s contract situation, some only grade his performances based on his potential to be a QB1. His natural next step — should he progress — is to be active on game day as QB2.

Preseason games have greatly subjective significance. For many players, they’re tiny steps that stand in the way of the real tests, when the regular season begins. For others, these games are personal Super Bowls.

Lance didn’t dazzle against the Raiders, but he didn’t need to. He just needed to do enough to buy time until his next Super Bowl, which is Saturday at AT&T Stadium in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. He was able to do that.

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4 takeaways from Cowboys’ win vs Raiders in second preseason game- Tyler Reed, Sports Illustrated

More things to like.

Signs of life in the backfield

It is easy to root for Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn. Undersized but plays with plenty of heart, Vaughn showed on Saturday night that his stature isn’t anything to worry about. On five carries, Vaughn finished with 34 yards, putting him at an average of 6.8 yards a carry. There’s plenty of opportunity for anyone to assist Ezekiel Elliot in the backfield, and Vaughn may be just the one to do it.

1. Earning a spot

In his preseason debut last week, Trey Lance didn’t show anything that would have anyone making the argument for him to be on the opening-day roster. However, on Saturday night, Lance made things a lot more interesting for the people who make those decisions. Lance was 15 of 23 with 151 yards and a touchdown pass while tied with Vaughn as the team’s leading rusher with 34 yards while adding a rushing score to his night.

Cowboys hit jackpot in Vegas; record first preseason win – Mario Herrera Jr, Inside The Star

Is the defense going to be just fine?

For those who were concerned that the departure of former DC Dan Quinn would cripple the Cowboys’ ability to create turnovers, I hope you didn’t place a bet on it.

Last week, Mike Zimmer’s defense intercepted Rams QB Stetson Bennett four times, and a fifth interception was wiped out by penalty.

They didn’t create four turnovers versus the Raiders, but they did limit the big plays as promised, giving up a 46 yard reception but nothing over 17 yards for the rest of the game.

The defense also joined in on the touchdown party when roster hopeful CB Kemon Hall stepped in front of an Aiden O’Connell pass for the interception, running untouched for 69 yards until he reached pay dirt.

Zimmer’s defense is going to be just fine, and Cowboys Nation should be excited to see what’s to come for the 2024 season.

3 emergency Trey Lance trades for Cowboys to cash in on his value now – Mark Powell, FanSided

To the Raiders for a 4th, to the Packers for a 5th, or to the Vikings for a 5th and a 2026 4th?

Lance would be an immediate upgrade for several QB-needy teams looking for more depth at the position. He’s proven himself as a backup-caliber passer, at the very least. For Dallas, the time is nearing to cash in.