Mike McCarthy answered the Dallas Cowboys fans’ hopes with a last-second victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. After a lackluster and predictable offense in the first four games, McCarthy finally introduced shift and motion into his play-calling.

Although the Cowboys managed only 20 points due to some crucial turnovers in the red zone,

Dak Prescott and the offense delivered their best performance of the season.

Prescott threw for 352 yards, while Rico Dowdle had a standout rushing game, marking a career high.

This improvement isn’t surprising, given that Dallas utilized a 64.5% shift and motion rate, according to Pro Football Focus.

However, the success of the offense stemmed from more than just McCarthy’s newfound creativity.

The Steelers focused on CeeDee Lamb throughout the game, which opened up opportunities for other receivers like Jalen Tolbert and Jake Ferguson.

Notably, Dallas demonstrated a greater ability to generate explosive plays, largely due to the presence of one key player.

When Prescott targeted Brandin Cooks this season, many passes seemed to come under tight coverage, primarily because Cooks struggled to gain separation.

He recorded a passer rating of just 79.1 when targeted, ranking ninth out of twelve Cowboys pass-catchers. Only Ezekiel Elliott, Brevyn Spann-Ford, and Jalen Brooks had lower ratings.

In contrast, KaVontae Turpin has proven to be significantly more explosive than Cooks. McCarthy has started to find ways to integrate Turpin into the offense beyond simple gadget plays.

Turpin’s passer rating when targeted is an impressive 128.9, the second highest on the team and the best among all Cowboys receivers.

I n the game against the Steelers, Turpin caught four passes for 50 yards, including a crucial 35-yard reception on a seam route—one of Prescott’s favorite plays—during a critical 3rd-and-5 situation while trailing 10-6 in the third quarter.

Although the drive ended with a blocked field goal, Turpin’s catch was pivotal in that moment.

Cooks was expected to be a speed threat who could add explosiveness to the offense.

However, Turpin’s role has varied from week to week, yet he consistently brings energy to the field.

He demonstrated his potential in Week 3 against the Ravens, where he caught three passes for 51 yards and scored a touchdown.

If McCarthy continues to utilize Turpin effectively rather than relegating him to a gadget role, opposing defenses will need to prepare for a wider array of routes from the slot, in addition to the possibility of jet sweeps, screen passes, or other innovative plays.

This will force defenses to take him seriously.

While Cooks is a veteran with a successful track record in the league, he currently doesn’t pose a significant threat.

It’s not suggested that Cooks should be completely benched when he returns from injury, but giving Turpin meaningful playing time would be beneficial for Prescott and the overall offense.

In summary, McCarthy’s adjustments and the integration of Turpin into the offensive scheme could be crucial in enhancing the effectiveness of the Cowboys’ offense, providing Dak Prescott with the suppor the needs to thrive.