All of the sudden, the NFC East has turn into a division no one desires to win.
After ripping off three straight wins, the Cowboys have been positioning themselves for an opportunity to contend within the division, however they misplaced on Thursday Night time Soccer to the Lions in a sport stuffed with the form of errors and miscues that doomed this group earlier within the yr.
Then, on Monday night time, the Eagles refused to just accept the present their rival had given them. One other inept efficiency on offense led to a loss to the Chargers, the third loss in a row for Philly. That streak feels prone to snap this week with the Raiders coming to city, however it’s inexplicably left the door open for Dallas.
Take into account it cracked open, although, as a result of the Cowboys have loads of flaws they should repair nonetheless. Our personal Tom Ryle and David Howman debate whether or not that’s possible this late within the yr.
Tom: Let’s begin with the low hanging fruit. Too typically the protection has simply lain down and given up huge performs.
For a couple of video games it seemed higher, however in opposition to the Lions, they surrendered six performs of 20+ yards. One was a 35-yard run, however the remaining have been Jared Goff tearing it up by means of the air. The actual perpetrator gave the impression to be the shortage of a go rush with only one sack of Goff. It’s laborious to see how this may be fastened. They are able to beat a number of of the groups down the stretch. However one sport must be in opposition to Justin Herbert who simply delivered an unimaginable efficiency in opposition to the Eagles regardless of his injured hand. And the Eagles had tons of stress, solely dropping as a result of they only stored giving the ball away.
David: I’m not able to bail on this protection simply but.
The Lions are an excellent group, particularly on offense, and their line is the supply of their identification. The go rush being slowed by that unit doesn’t concern me, as a result of most groups battle in opposition to them. The Cowboys protection nonetheless ranks twentieth in EPA/play and sixteenth in success fee since including Quinnen Williams, amongst others. To cite my favourite haunting HBO docudrama, that’s not nice however it’s not horrible.
Justin Herbert is a greater quarterback than the one they only confronted, however his supporting forged is much less spectacular, particularly an injury-plagued offensive line. You’ll be able to see that in Herbert’s video games this season: he’s had some phenomenal ones but in addition has 5 video games with a sub-60% completion fee. That’s manner higher than J.J. McCarthy, the subsequent quarterback on the schedule, so I’m not completely discouraged concerning the protection’s probabilities of a rebound.
If I’m in search of a priority, although, I’ve two, the most important one being these sluggish begins on offense.
Tom: It’s like they want 1 / 4 or so to all get on the identical web page. I feel it’s partly the problems at offensive sort out. The inside of the road appears to be good, however issues simply don’t click on exterior. It results in extra stress on Dak and limits the working sport.
Extra importantly it offers the opponent an opportunity to get an early lead. That’s by no means good for anybody. With how tenuous the scenario for the Cowboys they should flip that script. It’s laborious to level to an apparent resolution, however perhaps it’s as a lot execution as something.
David: I feel you’re on to one thing with the tackles. Even earlier than Tyler Guyton was injured, the ends of this offensive line have been a difficulty. It takes a bit for Dak to settle in due to it, and finally he simply trusts his playmakers to make up for it. And, fortunately, he’s obtained the playmakers to just do that.
One other factor I’m simply as involved with is particular groups. The Cowboys are third within the league in particular groups penalties and penalty yardage. Opponents are additionally averaging the 31-yard line as their beginning subject place, one of many increased numbers within the league and definitely a contributing issue within the protection giving up so many factors.
Brandon Aubrey is clearly wonderful, and KaVontae Turpin is an electrical returner, however the remainder of this unit has been downright sloppy recently. Even Turpin has drawn a flag every of the final two weeks for, inexplicably, calling for a good catch after which working after catching the ball. It’s easy, inexcusable errors which might be costing this group, and the worst ones are approaching particular groups.
Tom: I’m glad you introduced up the particular groups. They’d a major position within the Detroit loss. Each the landing drives that sealed the win for the Lions began lower than 60 yards from the tip zone as a result of the protection was so inept. On common they solely had 59 yards to go your entire sport. That’s hardly a system for fulfillment for the Cowboys.
That’s one factor the coaches can work on. It would truly be solvable with teaching and a little bit of cussing. The remainder we must see.
Dallas is within the unlucky place of getting to depend on a ton of different issues to go good to make the playoffs. It’s a gap they’ve been digging all season. In fact we hope they climb out. Clearly, nevertheless, we should be ready for failure.
