'Get Open!' Crafty Dallas Cowboys Enjoy 'Special' Fake PAT with Chauncey Golston Score

Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Chauncey Golston authored a new section of the NFL stat book on Sunday against the New England Patriots with a special-teams score.

The scoring summary of Sunday's NFL showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots, a 38-3 victory for the former, could go down as one of the most unique in professional football history. 

For one thing, the 35-point margin of victory was the largest over a team led by eight-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick. But the Cowboys, already originators of the unbreakable 99-yard touchdown mark earned by Tony Dorsett, also managed to score in a way that no team ever had before.

Already riding a massive wave of momentum thanks to Leighton Vander Esch's fumble return for a touchdown, Dallas further established a multi-possession lead that proved permanent by eschewing the extra point unique style. Facing a Patriots team well-regarded for its adjustments in the third phase of the game, the Cowboys (3-1) had holder/punter Bryan Anger pick up the snap from Trent Sieg and found a wide-open Chauncey Golston for two more.

Chauncey Golston (L) outruns New England's Deatrich Wise Jr. for a two-point score / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The creation of that 18-3 lead was unique in the sense that it became the first 15-yard two-point conversion in NFL history. Extra points have been situated from the opponent's 15 since 2019. Planned two-point conversions continue to be staged at the prior spot at the two. 

Golston, an unexpected box score entrant who is normally listed as a defensive lineman, praised special teams coordinator John Fassel for his ingenuity and attention in film prep.

“You know Bones,’’ Golston said, referring to Fassel by his nickname. “He’s a guru back there. He’s going to see all the tendencies.’’

Find someone who looks at you like Chauncey Golston looks at the end zone on a Cowboys fake PAT attempt pic.twitter.com/bXe2zDVLAI

— Marc Istook (@MarcIstook) October 1, 2023

Though New England (1-3) has fallen on hard times, the mind of Belichick can never be fully denied or forgotten. That includes his efforts on special teams, and he introduced a new gambit during the team's Week 2 divisional tilt against Miami: already well-known for employing the multi-faceted talents of Matthew Slater, Belichick introduced a new specialist hero to the fold when he had safety Brenden Schooler take a running start to block a field goal. The gambit helped New England stay within striking distance of the Dolphins, who won each of their first three games before falling to Buffalo on Sunday.

Golston, however, remarked that Fassel took note of the potential sacrifice that comes with Schooler's edge prowess.

“They were sending everybody,’’ Golston said. “If you’re going to send everybody, you’ve got to be held accountable at some point. That’s all that was.’’

Only time will tell if the Cowboys' newfound double-gainer catches on throughout the rest of the league. Golston's newly-formed route, however, definitely should.

“Get open," Golston said when asked to name the route he ran to two-point glory.

The next chance to open Fassel's bag of tricks lands next Sunday night, when the Cowboys face a crucial NFC matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in prime time (7:20 p.m. CT, NBC).