Another loss brings out more evidence that this Cowboys team is not ready to take the next step

The Dallas Cowboys misplaced to the Miami Dolphins. So what. The Dolphins are a tricky group and it’s arduous to exit on the highway and beat good groups, plus the Cowboys took them right down to the wire. Moreover, the loss wasn’t a detriment to their division probabilities as they nonetheless want the Philadelphia Eagles to lose one other recreation regardless. So, why does this loss nonetheless really feel so dangerous?

One motive is that that they had an actual alternative to win this recreation. With a fumble that erased a sure-fire landing and the protection not having the ability to protect the lead on the finish, the sport was there for the taking, however the Cowboys have been unable to shut the deal.

And this isn’t the primary time this season issues like this have occurred. The group performs effectively however then suffers self-inflicted wounds that derail their probabilities to win the sport. All of us keep in mind what occurred in Philadelphia in Week 9. That they had the ball deep in Eagles territory late within the recreation with a golden alternative to win the sport after which the underside fell out. Take into consideration this, what number of occasions have we seen the Cowboys offense have the ball 1st-and-goal deep into their opponent’s territory solely to return away with completely nothing? The reply: a ridiculously great amount of occasions. A lot Actually that we’ll take a deep dive take a look at this actual concern on this week’s installment of After Additional Evaluation so keep tuned for that.

It’s disturbing to consider what number of occasions this group shoots itself within the foot. And it’s not simply repeatedly falling in need of the aim line. Additionally they wrestle immensely with penalties. The Cowboys have dedicated 108 penalties on the 12 months, second-most within the league, only in the near past eclipsed by the New York Jets. Some will say the Cowboys aren’t catching breaks within the penalty division, and there is likely to be some fact to that, however we are able to’t look previous what number of unforced errors they’re making. Between offsides and unlawful formations, this group simply doesn’t appear to know the place they’re purported to be at occasions. And repeatedly being tagged with private foul penalties has change into absurdly annoying.

While you take a look at the Buffalo recreation, there have been a number of errors in that recreation which have been big. Between a questionable roughing the passer penalty to a roughing the punter penalty to a compelled fumble that wasn’t challenged, the group simply appears to get unfortunate. However good groups make their very own luck and dangerous groups are all the time left pondering what went mistaken.

The distressing factor is that such a stuff by no means ends with this soccer group. All of us are ready for the universe to steadiness itself and for the Cowboys to be on the best finish of issues, however the Cowboys proceed to place themselves into precarious conditions.

There isn’t a excuse for the Cowboys to maintain committing so many pre-snap penalties. There are additionally many occasions when the Cowboys over-complicate issues. When the Eagles get right down to the one-foot line, they QB-sneak it and waltz into the tip zone. Straightforward peasy, lemon squeezy. When the Cowboys are in the identical state of affairs, they hand it off to the fullback and fumble, or run-play motion and take a sack. That’s to not say these performs can’t work, however why doesn’t Mike McCarthy simply hold issues easy?

After which there are different occasions when McCarthy turns into probably the most conservative coach within the league. All of us keep in mind the tip of the primary half of the Los Angeles Chargers recreation after they had sufficient time to take a few pictures on the finish zone from the 14-yard line, solely to see them wind the clock down and accept a subject aim. The Cowboys ended up in a dogfight in that recreation the place thankfully they pulled it off by three factors. And there have been many occasions when McCarthy performs scared and doesn’t enable his group to take pictures. This was once more evident on Sunday in opposition to the Dolphins.

The irritating a part of that is that it is a actually good group that simply performs actually dangerous at occasions. They’ve had the top-scoring offense within the league, however additionally they may be an offense that struggles to maneuver the ball and shrivels up. They’ve had one of many prime defenses within the league at occasions, however then immediately can’t cease the run to save lots of their life. It’s arduous remembering a Cowboys group that’s had such a variety of performances inside a season.

The Cowboys have the expertise. They’re ok to go deep, however far too usually they will’t get out of their very own manner. And this “woe is me” perspective that all the time leaves us dissatisfied in January is turning into exhausting. There isn’t a scarcity of confidence as McCarthy and his troops inform us on a regular basis that they imagine on this group, however time and again, we’re sitting right here speaking about how sure errors altered the sport script past restoration after which repeatedly complaining in regards to the officiating.

As a substitute of confidence, let’s get slightly extra willpower. Can we see a group that has one thing to show? How a couple of group that makes a extra concerted effort to restrict these mindless penalties? Or a group that takes every drive significantly and doesn’t have this cavalier perspective of “we’ll get them subsequent time.”

The tradition of this group will not be the place it must be for them to achieve success. Successful is an perspective that this group doesn’t appear to own. They should maintain themselves accountable, repair recurring errors, and play every drive prefer it’s their final. As a result of in the event that they don’t, and that is the demeanor of this soccer group come playoff group, that final drive is nearer than we expect.