Cowboys' two biggest problems made painfully evident in Week 3 loss
The Dallas Cowboys were punched in the mouth with adversity moments before the game even began. With three starting offensive linemen missing from the lineup, the offense got off to a 3-and-out start following a 54-yard field goal from the Arizona Cardinals, who created explosive plays in the scripted plays portion of the game, setting […]
The Dallas Cowboys were punched in the mouth with adversity moments before the game even began. With three starting offensive linemen missing from the lineup, the offense got off to a 3-and-out start following a 54-yard field goal from the Arizona Cardinals, who created explosive plays in the scripted plays portion of the game, setting up the stage for a 28-16 loss.
In the first half, it wasn't the offensive front that buried the Cowboys under an 11-point deficit. It was a defense incapable of stopping the run. Two quarters into the game, the defense allowed 182 rushing yards in 16 carries (a whopping 11.4 yards per carry!).
The Cowboys defense had played with early leads in the first couple of weeks of the regular season, allowing them to do what they do best: Rush the passer. In Arizona, that wasn't the case. They had to play the run and they failed miserably. If the Cowboys are to be the team they want to be, that will have to change moving forward. And it better happen quickly with the difficulty opponents increasing next week.
Run defense wasn't the only problem made evident on Sunday. For yet another week, the unit left too many points on the board. They finished the day 1-of-4 in the red zone. Pass protection didn't hold up, receivers barely gained separation, and the team consistently fell short when near the end zone. It was difficult to evaluate how relevant red zone struggles were in blowout wins but it's safe to say they are a legit concern three weeks into the season.
Other Notes
- Early in the second quarter, the Cowboys started a 13-play, 7-minute touchdown drive where head coach Mike McCarthy did a great job settling down the offense. He used an empty formation look, changed Dak Prescott's launch point by moving the pocket, play-action with pulling linemen, and used CeeDee Lamb out of the backfield. This drive is what the Cowboys wanted from him when they made him the play-caller but the unit needs much more consistency.
- Brandon Aubrey's 49-yard field goal to cut down the deficit to six was the perfect example of why the Cowboys trusted him for the job despite no NFL experience. Under the pressure of trailing, Aubrey delivered.
- Although the All-22 might reveal more about his game (good and bad), Michael Gallup had his best game of the year yet. He led the Cowboys with 92 receiving yards in six catches.
- Rico Dowdle had himself a day, with a jaw-dropping 9-yard gain where he made multiple defenders miss. He also caught a touchdown screen pass earlier in the game.
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Featured image via Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
