{"id":148446,"date":"2022-12-05T05:37:04","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T05:37:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/cowboys-erupt-for-33-unanswered-points-in-fourth-quarter-to-blow-out-colts\/"},"modified":"2022-12-05T05:37:04","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T05:37:04","slug":"cowboys-erupt-for-33-unanswered-points-in-fourth-quarter-to-blow-out-colts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/cowboys-erupt-for-33-unanswered-points-in-fourth-quarter-to-blow-out-colts\/","title":{"rendered":"Cowboys erupt for 33 unanswered points in fourth quarter to blow out Colts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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ARLINGTON, Texas \u2014 First Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan’s pass was tipped and then it was airborne and then a diving Malik Hooker intercepted it, returning possession to the Dallas Cowboys for the final minute of the first half.<\/p>\n

Five plays later, with 13 seconds on the clock, Dak Prescott scrambled to his right, throwing on the run into the waiting hands of receiver Michael Gallup, who took it the rest of the way into the end zone.<\/p>\n

That put the Cowboys up eight points. Technically, the second half still beckoned.<\/p>\n

But the Colts wouldn’t stand much further chance. The well-rounded Cowboys thoroughly dismantled Indianapolis en route to a 54-19 victory. You read that right: The Cowboys scored 54 points while improving to 9-3.<\/p>\n

Those 33 points are now tied for the second-most ever scored in a fourth quarter in NFL history, per ESPN Stats and Info<\/a>. Only the 2007 Detroit Lions, who put up 34 points against the Chicago Bears in a fourth quarter, scored more.<\/p>\n

The Colts had allowed 20.3 per game entering the night. They entered the fourth quarter allowing 21. Then the Cowboys exploded and the Colts imploded.<\/p>\n

Hooker’s interception wasn’t the end of it, but it unquestionably swung the momentum, and was a preview of things to come.<\/p>\n

In the second half, Hooker \u2014 who played four seasons in Indianapolis after the Colts drafted him 14th overall in 2014 \u2014 recovered a fumble and returned it to add his first career touchdown.<\/p>\n

The Cowboys overwhelmed the Colts as the second half elapsed, their array of weapons becoming a pick-your-poison attack while their opportunistic defense rebounded from an early embarrassment at Ryan’s hands.<\/p>\n

Sure, a pair of consecutive plays in the first quarter featured Ryan burning starting left cornerback Anthony Brown for a 45-yard completion and starting right cornerback Trevon Diggs \u2014 beware the double move \u2014 for a 14-yard, wide-open touchdown<\/a> to Ashton Dulin.<\/p>\n

But in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys defense forced the fumble return for a touchdown; intercepted Ryan on the next drive; intercepted Ryan again <\/em>on the third drive; and strip-sacked Ryan on the fourth. Dallas scored touchdowns on each resulting drive.<\/p>\n