The Dallas Cowboys got their first win of the season on Sunday in Los Angeles against the Chargers. The 20-17 win was the first win for the Cowboys when scoring under 30 points since 2018. They have their home opener next Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

I always like to close out the previous opponent with a stock report. The stock report highlights the players that played well and the players that did not play so well. 

This is the first one of the 2021 season. 

STOCK UP 

Micah Parsons 

No better way to start this stock report than to highlight Micah Parsons day on Sunday. At the first start of his career at defensive end, Parsons finished the game with 2 tackles and one sack for a loss of 18 yards. That doesn’t begin to tell the story about his day. He had a 36% pass-rush win rate, which is the highest by a rookie in a single game since Nick Bosa in 2017. He added 8 pressures (T-1st in NFL) and a 90.8 pass-rushing grade (2nd among all defenders) according to PFF. 

Tony Pollard

The Cowboys have a two-headed monster at running back. Tony Pollard finished the game with 13 carries for 109 yards and 3 catches for 31 yards. It was Pollard’s third career 100-yard rushing game and first since 12/15/19 against the Rams. Pollard finished with a PFF grade of 90.5. 

STOCK DOWN 

Amari Cooper 

It isn’t entirely fair that Amari Cooper is on this list because Cooper had a crucial catch on the game-winning drive that helped the Cowboys reach FG range. Cooper finished the game with 3 catches for 24 yards after bringing in a career-high 13 catches against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. Now, Cooper is dealing with bruised ribs and his status for Monday night’s game is in question. 

John Fassel 

Coaches aren’t exempt from the stock report and John Fassel will find himself on the “Stock down” list this week. Far too often, Fassel tries to insert himself into the game to be the reason why the Cowboys win the game. Unfortunately, he ends up costing the Cowboys. In this game, it came when he decided it was time to send an all-out rush on a 4th and 20 that resulted in a roughing-the-kicker penalty that allowed the Chargers to keep the ball. 

He didn’t help matters when he told the media on Monday that he made that call because “I think Cowboys fans aren’t the play-it-safe type. I was going to give them what they wanted. Hope they’re happy.” 

I think I speak for the majority of Cowboys fans when I say, we aren’t impressed, John.