‘A Lot Of Mentality’: Brevyn Spann-Ford Credits Cowboys Coaches For Run-Blocking Growth After 204-Yard Night In Philadelphia
FRISCO, Texas — Brevyn Spann-Ford played a career-high 53% of the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive snaps Monday night, and Dallas ran for 204 yards in a 38-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Cowboys came into the game last in the NFL in carries per game at 20.9. Their 76 rushing yards per game ranked 30th. Against Philadelphia, they ran 38 times and averaged 5.4 yards per carry, up from 3.7 over their first six games, and Javonte Williams rushed 25 times for a career-high 155 yards and a touchdown.
Spann-Ford had to get used to blocking for the run at Minnesota, he said after practice Wednesday. He called Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, offensive line coach Conor Riley, and the rest of the offensive staff “instrumental in my growth in the run game and run blocking.”
“I’ll say both because at tight end obviously it’s not always a favorable matchup. So it has to be a lot of mentality in it,” Spann-Ford said. “But at the same time, without your technique, you’re going to get beat up pretty bad. So just a little bit of both. I’ll say both are equally as important.”
Dak Prescott wore a shirt that read “linemen lead the way” to his postgame news conference. Dallas did not allow a sack. After the game, CeeDee Lamb pointed to a scoreboard showing 200 rushing yards and 200 passing yards.
Nobody on the field stops to notice the line moving people during a game, according to Spann-Ford. Whether the last play went well or badly, the next one is the only concern.
“It was awesome being able to run the football effectively as we did. Huge shout-out to the offensive line. They played their tails off, the backs as well,” Spann-Ford explained.
“It was definitely good being able to play complementary football, help the defense, and they take the ball away and we score,” Spann-Ford continued. “So being able to be efficient in that, you can never go wrong with it.”
Brevyn Spann-Ford’s Snap Share Climbs
Spann-Ford went undrafted out of Minnesota in 2024 and made the Cowboys’ 53-man roster out of training camp as a rookie. He played in all 17 games in each of his first two seasons. Last year, he caught 9 passes for 90 yards and scored his first career touchdown against Philadelphia in a 24-21 comeback win in November.
Dallas signed him to a three-year extension on Sept. 10 that runs through the 2029 season. He caught 4 of 5 targets for 35 yards in the Oct. 18 loss at the Green Bay Packers, then caught both of his targets for 11 yards Monday.
“It’s awesome. I’m willing to do whatever we need offensively to win games, special teams-wise as well,” Spann-Ford said. “Getting increased roles is cool, but winning is what’s most important. So as long as we get the win, I’m cool with whatever role I’ve got to play for the offense.”
Spann-Ford, Cowboys Look To Carry Run Game Into Arizona Cardinals Matchup
Dallas ran nine times on its first 15 plays across its first two possessions Monday for 61 yards. The Cowboys scored 10 points in the first quarter on a 55-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey and a 9-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to Lamb.
A working run game opens up the play-action game and gives Dallas a chance to take deep shots down the field, Spann-Ford said. Every offense wants that efficiency, in his view.
“I think throughout the league, I mean, you can ask any offense, and they want to be efficient on the ground. We want to be efficient in whatever we do, but we know it helps set up the rest of our offense,” Spann-Ford said. “So starting things on the ground, getting off to a fast start was really important.”
The Arizona Cardinals visit AT&T Stadium on Sunday at 2-5 after a 30-16 home loss to the Denver Broncos. Arizona has won the last four meetings with Dallas, dating to 2020. Nine Cardinals did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.
Kickoff is set for noon CT on FOX.
