The Cowboys marched right down the field after forcing a Cincinnati three-and-out. They reached the Cincinnati 11, where they faced a fourth-and-1.
Instead of running it, which they tried on third-and-2 with Rico Dowdle, the Cowboys lined up with an empty backfield and with quarterback Cooper Rush in the shotgun. He threw a fade to CeeDee Lamb, who badly beat cornerback Mike Hilton.
Lamb’s 11-yard touchdown catch has the Cowboys holding a 7-0 lead with 8:55 remaining in the first quarter.
Dallas had not scored a first-quarter touchdown since Week 4 against the Giants.
Rush went 4-for-5 for 42 yards and the touchdown on the nine-play, 60-yard drive. Dowdle ran it four times for 18 yards.
