ARLINGTON, Texas — Something seemed a little off. DeMarvion Overshown took a hard hit, and the running back caught him. But after the two collided, Dui let go of the Dallas Cowboys linebacker.
And that’s when Overshown changed the game.
The second-year linebacker raised his right arm, caught a short pass intended for the running back, and pulled it near the New York Giants’ 25-yard line. Overshowen then finished his run by running into the end zone with the ball in the air near the 5-yard line.
The play helped the Cowboys take a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter, and they never looked back, beating the Giants 27-20 on Thursday at AT&T Stadium.
“I was thinking, ‘Let’s just blow up the play,’” Overshown said. “It was an offensive with my number on it. I knew I had to make an impactful play or at least cause some kind of disruption there. When the running back released me, I thought, ‘Something BS is going on.’ And the quarterback threw the ball and I thought, ‘This is the play I need to make.’”
The quarterback was Drew Lock, replacing the injured Tommy DeVito. The running back was Devin Singletary. On the Fox game broadcast, Tom Brady pointed out how the Giants didn’t anticipate potential turnovers and made what he called “low-risk plays” on screen.
“Lock isn’t even thinking about intercepting,” Brady said. “You think I can throw it easily. But his length was so long that he made a game-changing play.”
The AT&T Stadium crowd, which has booed the home team several times this season, was as loud as it had been all season when Overshown finished the game.
This is a great play from OVERSHOWN.
📺: #NYGvsDAL on fox
📱: Streaming #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/o9hC8Zduzw— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2024
“I was able to inhale some Nitrous and then dance in the end zone,” Overshown said. “As soon as I got the ball I knew I was scoring. So I thought, ‘What kind of dance do I want to show today?’
“It couldn’t have come at a better time. “Thanksgiving, the world is watching.”
The start of Thursday’s game looked similar to previous Cowboys home games this season. The offense was unimpressive and the defense was struggling to shut down a Giants offense that managed just one meaningless second-half touchdown in a 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
However, after the overshow play, there was a disappointing feeling at home. In Dallas’ previous five home games, they entered the game after falling behind significantly entering the fourth quarter, and suffered decisive losses in all of them. It was an odd situation for a team that had enjoyed a 16-game home winning streak over the past two seasons. The Cowboys led 27-10 by the end of the third quarter.
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Rico Dowdle had his first 100-yard game and six more big plays in the win for the Cowboys.
“This is our home,” Overshown said. “This is our castle. Teams should be afraid to play us when they come here. It wasn’t good for us to go on a losing streak. It’s nice that this place rocks as expected. Now we have to keep working.”
The Cowboys have won two straight games and improved their record to 5-7. However, it is far from realistically discussing advancing to the playoffs. Beating the Washington Commanders and Giants is certainly no reason to erase how this disappointing season started. Even the usually half-full team owner and general manager Jerry Jones didn’t want to discuss playoff possibilities after the game.
However, Overshown’s play is a reason to be optimistic about the future. It also makes you wonder what last season might have been like, as his rookie season ended in Dallas’ second preseason game. Could a play like the one he made Thursday make a difference during the season? Or would that have been the case in the playoffs if he hadn’t torn the ACL in his left knee?
“I told him from the beginning that he was going to be a friend,” said Cowboys All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons. “Before the injury, I said, ‘That guy is going to be an All-Pro, Pro Bowl-type player.’ Now, he’s not (No. 11) yet. That’s Agent 0. He doesn’t try to be like me. He is a special specimen of his own. He is the wildcat of the field. Oh, I like playing next to him.”
Overshown showed flashes of play early in the season, but he became more consistent as the year progressed. Playing next to a veteran like Eric Kendricks helped. The two connected on another key defensive play Thursday.
On the opening series of the third quarter, Kendricks sacked Lock and stripped him of the ball in the process. Overrecovered. Dallas scored the next six games to become 20-10.
DeMarvion Overshown’s interception return for a TD was a game-changer on Thursday. (Andrew Deeb/Image Image)
“D-Mo is a great player,” Kendricks said. “He’s one of the best people I’ve ever seen. His attitude is pure. He loves games. I love watching it. And that motivates me in my 10th year. Seeing a sophomore like him, especially what he brings to the field, motivates me.
“He’s getting better every game. He knows he has work to do. He’s taking it seriously. The sky is the limit. I am very excited to see what he has in store. “I expect bigger games from him this year.”
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy had similar thoughts after the game, saying Overshown’s interception was one of Dallas’ highlight plays this season. He also predicted that last year’s third-round pick would have a better future.
“I’m very grateful,” Overshoven said. “Right before the game I said to myself, ‘This time last year I was waiting to show people my testimony.’ When I return to the field, I will show you what God has truly given me. To go out there and inspire and play like me.’ Staying healthy on the field is all I can hope for.”
(Photo: Andrew Dieb / Imagn Images)
