Report Card Final: Did Schotteheimer's Cowboys Just 'Learn How To Win' At Colts?

The Dallas Cowboys escaped Lucas Oil Stadium with a bumpy 27-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday as Brian Schottenheimer's team gets a respite ... for a week.

In a game in which the Cowboys' offense again struggled to get much flow, an eight-play, 55-yard touchdown with just over a minute left by Javonte Williams was enough as the defense saw out the remaining time.

In truth, this result won't move the needle much for the 4-5 Cowboys' playoff chances moving forward, but a win is a win.

And Dallas - with questions about what to do as Tuesday's trade deadline approaches and maybe what to do about the head coach's job security - needed it desperately.

Said Schottenheimer after the eventful afternoon: “The best way to learn how to win is to win.”

So ... the Cowboys learned something here?

Prior to the game, we highlighted five things the Cowboys had to do in order to get what might be a season-saving win.

Let's see how they did.

1 - Entire team be shot out of a cannon: Grade C

The Cowboys needed to end the game before it got going, and a field goal on the opening drive, coupled with a three-and-out on defense, had things trending in the right direction.

But as we have become accustomed to, Dallas couldn't maintain the advantage.

Dak Prescott fumbled, and the Colts scored a touchdown on the next drive, as all the positive momentum was wiped away.

Not exactly how the Cowboys would have drawn it up.

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2 - Get your star WR the freaking football: Grade - Give Lamb an A++

With Pickens out, it was going to be interesting to see who Dak would turn to, and Jonathan Mingo had a big 23-yard gain on third down on the first drive.

Ryan Flournoy had two catches for 53 yards, and CeeDee Lamb managed 195 yards and a touchdown from 10 catches (and a sloppy fumble), as they were the main threats.

Aside from those two, no one else had more than 23 receptions on the day.

We got a glimpse into what the offense looks like without Pickens, and it was so-so. 

But man, Lamb, what a weapon. (Especially without the fumble.)

3 - Don't play scared: Grade C

There weren't too many opportunities in the game where Dallas "had" to be aggressive, but late in the game, the Cowboys got the ball with the score at 20-20 with a little over five minutes left.

After getting into field=goal range, facing a third-and-three, Dak (and Schottenheimer) went for the kill shot and missed. That set up a field goal for Brandon Aubrey, which he missed. 

Was it the right call to go for it all on that play? Debate away.

But ...

It nearly cost the Cowboys the game.

4 - Four-quarter effort from defense: Grade B+

After Colts' touchdown drive in the first quarter, the defense forced four straight punts, with Rashan Gary sack to end the half.

With just six minutes left in the third quarter, the defense gave up a field goal, just the second time it allowed points.

Quinnen Williams forced a Jonathan Taylor fumble, with Shemar James recovering, as the defense flexed in the third quarter.

While it did allow 16 second-half points, when the unit needed to make a play late, it did, with Kenny Clark pressuring Daniel Jones, and a few plays later, Caleb Downs grabbed his first interception in the NFL, ending the game.

You could argue that it was the defenses best performance of the season. 

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5 - Curb Marshawn Kneeland emotion: Grade B     

It was always going to be a tough afternoon for Dallas with the anniversary of Marshawn's passing, even against a Colts team that is now 2-6.

But the defense came out, seemingly wanting to honor him.

At one stage, the Cowboys defense forced four straight punts from the Colts offense and kept them to just 78 first-half yards.

While they did show signs of wilting in the fourth quarter, Dallas honored Kneeland to begin the game, playing with the fire and tenacity Marshawn played with. ... and maybe learned some lessons as they endured the bumps.