The Dallas Cowboys can clinch the NFC East division title with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon. Linebacker Jaylon Smith is doing all he can to punch their ticket, recovering a fumble and taking it all the way back for a touchdown in the first quarter:
Cowboys are RIDIN 🍴 @dallascowboys https://t.co/yhwSPy91R2
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 23, 2018
Smith is in the midst of a very impressive sophomore campaign. He has racked up 107 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries and that defensive touchdown this season, helping keep the Cowboys afloat all year long.
Smith, who played his collegiate football at Notre Dame, was originally selected by Dallas in the second round (34th pick overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft, a move that was criticized at the time because Smith was coming off of a torn ACL and LCL.
He missed the entire 2016 season, as expected, and made his debut last year, playing in all 16 games for the Cowboys and registering 81 stops, a sack and a couple of forced fumbles.
Smith then became a full-time starter for Dallas this season.
The Cowboys came into Sunday's action with a record of 8-6. They are coming off of a very disappointing loss to the Indianapolis Colts last week, in which they were shut out by a score of 23-0.
Up until that point, Dallas had been playing terrific football, having won five straight games, including a pair of wins over the NFC East division rival Philadelphia Eagles.
After battling the Buccaneers, the Cowboys will wrap up their regular season on the road against the New York Giants next week.
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