FRISCO — One thing the Cowboys emphasize to their offensive players, according to wide receiver KaVontae Turpin, is the importance of picking each other up when they’re down. They’re literally taught to go toward their teammate carrying the ball and pick them up once they’re tackled.
In the fourth quarter of the Cowboys’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, Turpin did more than simply pick up a teammate. He helped preserve a drive deep in Chiefs’ territory by diving on a fumble from wide receiver George Pickens. The Cowboys converted a field goal shortly after; they ultimately beat the Chiefs by three.
There were a lot of plays that resulted in Dallas’ pivotal win over the reigning AFC Champions — the Cowboys’ third in a row — but Turpin’s was among the most pivotal.
“That fumble recovery is as big a play as I’ve seen in years,” Jones said to 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) on Friday. “I’m telling you, everything about Turpin was showing up in that.”
Cowboys
Related
Turpin was lined up in the slot on the other side of the field. He ran a drag route that naturally took him toward Pickens, who was trying to make a Chiefs defender miss. Instead, Pickens fumbled.
“I was already running over there, so why stop?” Turpin said, reflecting on the recovery. “You don’t know what could happen.”
Turpin is one of the fastest players in the NFL, so once he had momentum, a quick extra burst, he said, is all it took to get ahead of multiple Chiefs defenders.
“How about kudos to KaVontae Turpin, man?” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said after the 31-28 win.
“That was a huge, huge play.”
Turpin earned more kudos this week from the coaches. He said his play was shown during a team meeting — one teaching example about the good things that happen when players run to the ball.
“I learned that as a young kid,” Turpin said.
And he showed it in a crucial moment that helped secure a three-game win streak for the Cowboys.
Cowboys’ playoff outlook: Dallas boosts long-shot chances with victory over EaglesCowboys injury update: The latest on Tyler Guyton’s ankle, situation at left tackle
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.