So that you’re telling me there’s an opportunity?
Two consecutive blowout losses dropped the Cowboys to 3-5-1 earlier than they went into their bye week. They now have a 7% probability of reaching the postseason, per the projection mannequin from The Athletic’s Austin Mock.
That didn’t cease Jerry and Stephen Jones from making a number of offers on the commerce deadline, although. Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson was had for almost free, whereas Jets stud Quinnen Williams got here at a reasonably hefty worth. Between these two and impending returns of DeMarvion Overshown and rookie Shavon Revel, the Cowboys are feeling assured {that a} defensive turnaround can even flip round their season.
Ought to they really feel assured, although? Our personal David Howman and Tom Ryle have their very own ideas.
David: The bye week acted as a handy reset for the Cowboys. Their defensive deficiencies have lastly taken their toll, with consecutive losses for the primary time all 12 months threatening to torpedo the locker room. Getting Williams and Wilson, each staff captains at their earlier stops, is big.
The rubber meets the street this week, although. The Cowboys go on the street to face a very unhealthy Raiders staff, and it is a should win sport. Utilizing the projection instrument from The Athletic, the Cowboys’ odds to make the playoffs improve to 10% with a win. Nonetheless, a loss drops them to three%.
The Raiders have misplaced three straight and don’t have a lot offensive firepower exterior of Brock Bowers proper now. It’s an enormous purpose why the Cowboys are 3.5-point favorites regardless of being on the street.
A win right here not solely improves their odds however creates a little bit of hope within the locker room that, sure, they will do that. And, to cite an excellent man, hope could be a harmful factor.
Tom: Harmful, certainly. Nothing is not possible at this level. However there’s little to make us suppose it’s something however almost so.
I can actually see the worth of the brand new additions, particularly Williams. It sadly has a sense of too little, too late. Had they made that sort of addition earlier than the season began, it might have modified your complete trajectory. In fact, Williams wasn’t accessible till the Jets began their fireplace sale after issues went so badly south. Nonetheless, this might have made far more sense in the event that they had been 5-3-1 as a substitute of their present report.
But, even a key addition or two may not have finished a lot to alter issues. There may be the actual concern I’ve. There is no such thing as a actual signal that Matt Eberflus might have finished far more as a result of his relentlessly cussed strategy. I worry that the brand new expertise might be extra useful subsequent season – with an anticipated new defensive coordinator.
David: Have we been watching the identical staff these days? Matt Eberflus was completely cussed in his scheme early on, however he’s objectively modified issues prior to now month.
For September, Dallas used press protection on 6.5% of all dropbacks and blitzed on 20.7% of dropbacks, each rating very near the underside. Since Week 5, although, Eberflus has used press protection at a 13.2% charge and is blitzing 33.7% of the time. These are each dramatic will increase and significant deviations from what Eberflus has at all times run as a coordinator.
The issue is Eberflus has largely lacked expertise. The linebacker corps has been uncovered quite a few occasions, and the secondary has been so banged up that undrafted rookie Alijah Clark has been getting significant reps along with begins from Reddy Steward and Trikweze Bridges, neither of whom had been even on the roster for a single preseason sport.
With Wilson now in tow, plus DeMarvion Overshown, the linebacker rotation has virtually been rebuilt. Shavon Revel is barely a rookie, and hasn’t even performed a down but, however his uncooked expertise is (respectfully) greater than Steward and Bridges mixed. And, in fact, Williams is a game-wrecker on the defensive position. I feel it’s completely cheap to anticipate this protection to enhance to “common,” which is all Dallas actually wants given the best way this offense is taking part in.
Tom: I nonetheless need to see issues come collectively. I do agree the expertise degree is enhancing. And perhaps Eberflus is getting higher, however letting it take this lengthy isn’t nice.
I don’t see this staff having any actual probability of success even when they will claw their means into the playoffs. In the event that they do handle to make the postseason, that might seemingly say as a lot in regards to the struggles of the remainder of the NFC.
Possibly a greater draft place is extra precious in the long term. Possibly the Cowboys will shock me. I’m simply not anticipating that very last thing to occur.
David: The Grinch has come early this 12 months, I see.
Draft place is one thing I’m solely involved about in November if the quarterback is out, however so long as Dak Prescott is on that discipline, the Cowboys have an opportunity of profitable any sport they play. Once more, the protection representing one thing approaching competent can be an enormous assist, however Prescott – and the offense as an entire, actually – is what retains this season viable.
Having mentioned that, a loss to the lowly Raiders would change my pondering. If they will’t do it towards that staff, they certainly received’t be capable of get it in gear for the gauntlet of groups they’re about to face. However I really feel assured going into Monday night time.
