The Dallas Cowboys' rollercoaster 2022 season: from injury to playoff glory
In short: A thumb fracture to Dak Prescott threatened to derail the Dallas Cowboys' 63rd NFL season. Yet, through backup quarterback Cooper Rush and a dominant defense, the team defied early struggles to clinch a postseason berth and secure their first road playoff victory since 1992.
The 2022 campaign began under a cloud of misfortune. In their season opener, the Cowboys suffered a 19–3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a defeat that left them with their lowest scoring total in a premiere game since 1989. The loss was compounded by a thumb fracture to star quarterback Dak Prescott, which required surgery and sidelined him for several weeks. This forced backup Cooper Rush into the starting role, where he initially went 3–0 during a critical stretch of the season.
Despite the early setback, the Cowboys found momentum through defensive excellence and key offensive contributions. Micah Parsons emerged as a force, recording multiple sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals, while the defense forced five turnovers in a dominant victory over the Detroit Lions. A tense 27–23 win against the Indianapolis Colts showcased the squad's capacity for winning crucial matches, marking their first consecutive seasons with 10+ victories since 1995–1996.
The season culminated in a high-stakes postseason run. In the wild-card round, Dallas defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31–14, marking their first road playoff win since their Super Bowl-winning 1992 season. This victory also ended a winless streak against Tom Brady, who was playing in what would become his final career game. However, the momentum stalled in the divisional round, where the Cowboys fell to the San Francisco 49ers, marking their seventh consecutive defeat in that round.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2022 Dallas Cowboys season
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