Idaho ties in the NFL: Kellen Moore, Cowboys deliver historic performance vs. Belichick

Rachel Roberts
·8 min read

Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was already having a hard time keeping a lid on the head coach talk.

After the numbers his Dallas offense put up in a 35-29 overtime win against Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots on Sunday, Cowboys players, former teammates and the media heaped even more praise on the Boise State Hall of Famer.

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott totaled 445 passing yards, the most ever allowed by a Belichick-coached Patriots team. Including the postseason, Hall of Famers Kurt Warner (401), Peyton Manning (400) and Warren Moon (399) had the most passing yards in a win against Belichick before Prescott.

And the Cowboys’ 567 yards were the most a Belichick team has allowed in his 27 years as an NFL head coach.

“I would say it’s a credit to our guys’ resiliency,” Moore told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “There (were) a lot of adverse situations in that particular game, and it was really awesome to watch in reflection when you watch the film how many times we end up in first-and-20, and the next play we get 20 yards and we’re in a first down. And (then) we get another penalty or maybe a negative play, then bounce right back and handle it.

“Our guys just kept going. I thought it was awesome to see. Our guys handled it really well.”

Former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who was teammates with Moore in Dallas, said during the CBS broadcast of Sunday’s game that Moore is destined to be an NFL head coach very soon.

“Oh, Tony. I love Tony,” Moore said during postgame interviews. “I have no thought to that. That’s a long way away.”

The Cowboys are 5-1 this season and lead the league in both points (34.2) and yards (460.8) per game. To keep his offense rolling, Moore said he spends time on Mondays watching film from both NFL and college teams, looking for wrinkles the Cowboys can incorporate into their own offense.

The ingenuity has impressed even the Cowboys’ star players.

“How do you come up with some of this stuff?” Dallas receiver CeeDee Lamb told DallasCowboys.com last week. “He reminds me a lot of (Oklahoma) Coach (Lincoln) Riley in college. It’s just like, so smart, so smart for his own good. He knows it. That’s why he brings so much success to this offense.”

The Cowboys have a bye in Week 7 and return to action Oct. 31 at Minnesota (6:20 p.m., NBC).

BOISE STATE

TE, John Bates, No. 87 Washington Football Team: Started his first NFL regular-season game and caught his first career reception, which was a 7-yarder in the second quarter. Bates played 13 snaps on offense (22%) and 10 on special teams (40%) in Washington’s 31-13 loss to Kansas City.

G, Ezra Cleveland, No. 72 Minnesota Vikings: Started at left guard and played all 89 snaps on offense and six on special teams (17%) in Minnesota’s 34-28 overtime win against Carolina.

CB, Dont’e Deayon, No. 21 Los Angeles Rams: Deayon was promoted from the Rams’ practice squad to the 53-man roster on Oct. 16. He came off the bench and made four tackles while playing 66 snaps on defense (88%) in the Rams’ 38-11 win over the N.Y. Giants.

“Double D is a really smart, instinctual player, great competitor,” Rams coach Sean McVay told theramswire.usatoday.com. “He did a great job being able to play outside. He played some inside, played over 50 snaps for us and was a heavy contributor in a big way. I thought he did a great job. Definitely wasn’t too big for him, came up and made some tackles as an enforcer in some of the run fits. He did a really good job. I was really pleased with him.”

WR, John Hightower, No. 82 Philadelphia Eagles: Hightower is a member of the Eagles’ practice squad and was not called up for their 28-22 loss to Tampa Bay.

DE, DeMarcus Lawrence, No. 90 Dallas Cowboys: Lawrence is expected to miss six to eight weeks after fracturing a foot during practice on Sept. 15.

OT, Charles Leno Jr., No. 72 Washington Football Team: Started at left tackle and played all 59 snaps on offense and four on special teams (16%) in Washington’s 31-13 loss to Kansas City.

RB, Alexander Mattison, No. 25 Minnesota Vikings: Came off the bench and had three carries for 10 yards while playing 12 snaps on offense (13%) in the Vikings’ 34-28 overtime win against Carolina.

RB, Jeremy McNichols, No. 28 Tennessee Titans: Came off the bench and played one snap on offense but did not record any stats in the Titans’ 34-31 victory over Buffalo. McNichols participated only in one limited practice during Week 6 prep due to an ankle issue.

DT, David Moa, No. 96 New York Giants: Moa is a member of the Giants’ practice squad and was not called up for their 38-11 loss to the L.A. Rams.

G, John Molchon, No. 75 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: On Monday, Molchon was activated from injured reserve, where he began the regular season with a leg injury. The Bucs released wide receiver Jaydon Mickens to make room for Molchon on the 53-man roster.

C, Matt Paradis (Council High), No. 61 Carolina Panthers: Started at center and played all 74 snaps on offense in the Panthers’ 34-28 loss to Minnesota in overtime.

QB, Brett Rypien, No. 4 Denver Broncos: Rypien was not on the active roster for the Broncos’ 34-24 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

S, Darian Thompson, No. 23 Dallas Cowboys: Thompson is a member of the Cowboys’ practice squad and is currently listed as injured.

ILB, Tanner Vallejo, No. 51 Arizona Cardinals: Vallejo was not on the active roster for the Cardinals’ 37-14 win over Cleveland because of a hand injury.

LB, Leighton Vander Esch (Salmon River High), No. 55 Dallas Cowboys: Started at outside linebacker and made three tackles while playing 28 snaps on defense (52%) and four on special teams (14%) in the Cowboys’ 35-29 overtime victory against New England.

DE, Curtis Weaver, No. 59 Cleveland Browns: Weaver is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 37-14 loss to Arizona.

CB, Avery Williams, No. 35 Atlanta Falcons: Williams and the Falcons had a bye in Week 6.

WR, Cedrick Wilson, No. 1 Dallas Cowboys: Started at receiver and caught four passes for 42 yards, with a long of 13 yards, and also returned two punts for minus-2 yards. Wilson played 44 snaps on offense (49%) and five on special teams (18%).

With less than 2 minutes to play and the Cowboys down by three, Wilson caught a 13-yard pass on fourth-and-4 from the Dallas 35-yard line. Wilson’s catch extended the drive that ended with a game-tying field goal to force overtime.

“Huge,” Prescott told cowboyswire.usatoday.com of Wilson’s reception. “Great play call. Great play call that I’m very comfortable in, very comfortable with. The moment (Wilson) came in, obviously, I started with my reads and, knowing that he was coming open right there, great catch by him. Great job to get his feet down. Without that, we’re not up here talking about the win.”

Added Wilson: “I was like, it’s coming to me. I just had to find the ball and catch it.”

IDAHO

WR, Jeff Cotton, No. 88 Jacksonville Jaguars: Cotton is a member of the Jags’ practice squad and was not called up for their 23-20 win over Miami.

G/T, Jesse Davis, No. 77 Miami Dolphins: Started at right tackle and played all 70 snaps on offense and five on special teams (18%) in the Dolphins’ 23-20 loss to Jacksonville.

LB, Christian Elliss, No. 53 Philadelphia Eagles: Elliss was released from the Eagles’ practice squad Monday to make way for wide receiver Deon Cain.

LB, Kaden Elliss, No. 55 New Orleans Saints: Elliss and the Saints had a bye in Week 6.

DE, Benson Mayowa, No. 10 Seattle Seahawks: Started at outside linebacker and made two tackles in 40 snaps on defense (53%) in the Seahawks’ 23-20 overtime loss to Pittsburgh.

RB, Elijhaa Penny, No. 39 New York Giants: Came off the bench and scored the third touchdown of his career — and first since 2017 — on a 4-yard run with 6:21 to play in the fourth quarter. Penny finished with three carries for 15 yards, a 1-yard reception and two tackles on special teams. He played 15 snaps on offense (20%) and 15 on special teams (56%) as the Giants lost 38-11 to the L.A. Rams.

HIGH SCHOOLS

DE, Porter Gustin (Emmett High), No. 94 Cleveland Browns: Gustin is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 37-14 loss to Arizona.

QB, Taysom Hill (Highland High), No. 7 New Orleans Saints: Hill and the Saints had a bye in Week 6.

OL, Tristen Hoge (Highland High), Cleveland Browns: Hoge is a member of the Browns’ practice squad and was not called up for their 37-14 loss to Arizona.

DT, Tommy Togiai (Highland High), No. 93 Cleveland Browns: Togiai was on the Browns’ inactive roster for the sixth straight game.

DL, Jonah Williams (Rocky Mountain High), No. 92 Los Angeles Rams: Came off the bench and made one tackle in the fourth quarter. Williams played 26 snaps on defense (35%) and three on special teams (11%).

Note: There are currently no players from Idaho State listed on an NFL roster.

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