FRISCO -- Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer experienced déjà vu in his first game as a NFL head coach and his first game as a play-caller in five years.

The Cowboys were moving the ball toward field goal position shortly before halftime of the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. They had the ball at the Eagles' 45-yard line with 15 seconds and no timeouts. Kicker Brandon Aubrey has proven he could make it from that distance, but it wouldn't hurt to get closer. The Cowboys decided to risk it and throw into the middle of the field where they wouldn't be able stop the clock.

Schottenheimer wouldn't disclose his exact play call, but he lined up receiver CeeDee Lamb next to tight end Jake Ferguson on the right side of the defense. Ferguson ran vertical and Lamb ran a slant underneath his route, giving him enough space in coverage for a quick 10-yard gain. The Cowboys quickly spiked the ball to preserve time, setting up an easier field goal for Aubrey, who made it.

The performance was precise -- almost as if Schottenheimer had done it before. In a way, he did.

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Before games, Schottenheimer likes to have a dress rehearsal of sorts. He and Tyler Boyles, the team's Chief of Staff, will meet before games and they'll pull out a play-by-play rundown from another game. From there, Boyles will take the rundown and give Schottenheimer a play situation: a down and distance and a spot from the field. Schottenheimer would then respond with a play call. And another. And another. From explosive plays to Lamb, to runs for Javonte Williams, and more, until one game after another has been called and simulated.

"Then after I'll make notes of the things that I liked that I did, or man, I wish I should've done this, or I wish I should've done that," Schottenheimer said. "We'll do two or three games and you kind of start to find your flow a little bit."

Schottenheimer started the rehearsals when he was the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks during the 2020 season. It's become a logical next step for him in his progression as a play-caller. On Mondays and Tuesdays, Schottenheimer and the offensive coaches will install first- and second-down plays for the week. Third down comes later.

Throughout the week there's a lot of time between installing plays and actually calling them. The rehearsal not only prepares him, but refreshes him.

So far it's been working. So far the Cowboys have been 11th in the NFL in Extra Points Added (EPA) per play. They're fifth in the NFL in points per game.

At the very least, Schottenheimer looks comfortable for someone who took a five-year hiatus from play-calling. His dress rehearsals with Boyles have helped that.

"It helps you work the kinks out," Schottenheimer said. "I don't think I'll ever not do it."

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Déjà vu for Brian Schottenheimer: How Cowboys HC prepares every week to call an NFL game