ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 28: KaVontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas Cowboys passes the ball in the third quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
KaVontae Turpin's raw numbers, four balls on five scores for 53 yards, may not seem worthy of an elite performance, but the way he amassed those statistics is worthy of an elite performance. Turpin could be Dallas' best weapon next to Lamb, and he never gets regular touches on offense. The Cowboys tried to get him involved early and often, starting with a pass reception behind the line of scrimmage. Turpin started moving and returned to where he started, but the snap came just as he was about to pass in front of the quarterback. Rush quickly threw him the ball and he ran for 16 yards. The offense ran the same style of motion on the next snap, but it was a fake to Turpin. Rush found him in the flat and scored a six-yard gain. Turpin was targeted on the first drive for the third straight time, but Rush overthrew him while he was open in the end zone.
Three goals in an opening attack for Turpin is a rarity, but he was made the focal point of the game and it worked early on. He also hit a wide receiver screen that went 30 yards later in the contest. They required a lot of movement plays and gave Turpin different options. This is a great way to utilize a playmaker like Turpin and he didn't disappoint.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or YouTube on the About the Cowboys Podcast.
