I’ve figured out what is wrong with the Dallas Cowboys in 2023.
They suffer from split personalities. How else do you explain the Jekyll and Hyde way this season has played out?
At home the Cowboys are 7-0 and have outscored their opponents 279-108.
On the road? They are a poor 3-5 and have been outscored by six points, 172-178.
Three of those losses – Arizona, San Francisco, and Buffalo – they were never in the game.
The two close losses to the Eagles and yesterday against Miami the Cowboys were their own worst enemy.
Tony Pollard doesn’t lower his shoulder and drive into the endzone. He gets brought down with a one-armed tackle instead.
On the next play, Dak Prescott and Hunter Luepke bungled a handoff. Prescott was credited with the fumble but both were at fault on the play.
Luepke powered into the endzone. The football flopped to the ground and the Dolphins recovered.
What should have been seven, or at least three, points did not go up on the board in a 22-20 loss.
Defense Folds In The End
The Cowboys’ defense did a relatively good job containing the Dolphins’ offense.
They held Miami to five field goals and one lone touchdown after a dubious roughing the passer call on Micah Parsons.
Parsons was held throughout the game without drawing a flag we note without further comment.
But after Prescott had hit Brandin Cooks for the go ahead touchdown with a little over three minutes remaining, the defense couldn’t come up with a stop.
Miami stayed ahead of the chains the entire drive before hitting the game winner as time expired.
There Is Good News
Unlike the three blowout losses where it appeared the entire team had called in sick, at least Dallas showed some life.
The Cowboys need to cut down on the critical mistakes on the road and consistently move the ball every drive.
The defense hasn’t forced a turnover since their win over the Eagles at home in Week 14. Their last road turnover was back against Carolina back in Week 11.
Dan Quinn’s unit needs to turn that back around in Dallas’ favor over the next few weeks.
If they can, they should be able to handle the Lions at home next week and the lowly Commanders in D.C. and put pressure on Philadelphia.
A loss to the Giants tonight, the Cardinals next week or against the Giants to end the season – along with Dallas winning out – and the Cowboys win the NFC East and the No. 2 seed.
So, yes, today my friends, we are all Big Blue fans.
Two losses by the 49ers in their last three games with Dallas winning out and the No. 1 seed belongs to the Cowboys.
So, the moral of the story is, yesterday’s loss wasn’t the end of the world. In the words of Douglas Adams: “Don’t panic” and don’t forget your towel.
(And there’s your obligatory sci-fi reference of the week from a sports writer who doubles as a sci-fi author at night.)
By The Numbers
The Cowboys fell to 7-8 overall against the Dolphins – 8-8 if you include the Cowboys’ Super Bowl VI win – all time. They are 3-3 in games played in Miami.
Dallas is now 0-2 against the Dolphins in Week 16 contests and 3-3 against the AFC East overall in Week 16 games.
The Cowboys are now 24-22 overall in Week 16 games and 9-12 on the road.
They host the Lions next week and are 0-2 against Detroit in Week 17 matchups, losing at Detroit in 2001 and again at Texas Stadium in 2006.
Dallas is 13-21 all-time in Week 17 games but they are 7-5 when playing those games at home. The Cowboys won their Week 17 game last year at Tennessee.
If the Cowboys can win their remaining two games, they will finish at 12-5 for the third straight year.
Pluck That Peacock, Roger
Just when you thought Roger Goodell couldn’t sink any lower on NFL fans’ ‘Most Hated’ list, the Commissioner said: “Hold My Beer!”
The NFL decided to have Saturday’s Bills at Chargers game exclusively shown on NBC’s Peacock streaming service. It did not go over well.
The NFL has already shoved Thursday Night games exclusively on Amazon Prime – another subscription service – along with a Black Friday game.
That on top of Apple TV getting Sunday Ticket, another subscription to pay for on top of regular cable, and fans have had it.
Many voiced their displeasure on social media. Some discovered long ago that you could watch the Thursday games for free via Twitch.
Some brave soul on Saturday discovered an online streaming service that streamed the Bills-Chargers online for free. He freely shared his knowledge.
Many took advantage of the early gift. As did I.
Take that, Roger!
Seriously though, the NFL is doing its best to kill the golden goose. Forcing your fan base to juggle multiple subscriptions to watch a game is not sustainable.
And when fans realize that one of the upcoming playoff games will also be exclusive to Peacock, I wouldn’t want to be Roger Goodell.
And if that playoff game involves the Cowboys?
Whew, lad…
Along with some hideous drive ending play calling by Mike McCarthy !
James McKeeand defensive play calling by Quinn playing man against fastest team dumb
Doug Mackenzie exactly
Nothing! The game was fixed. Even with the fumble, they would have won, if those holding penalties are called against Miami. Y’all don’t see that?????
The sad thing is they have everything they need to do it but sometimes they just don’t. A stupid penalty here, a dumb play call there. Plus they team misses the level of play from a Vander esch, a diggs, and yes a Zeke. But some of it is the oline. You keep spouting how great they are yet they can only hold a block so long. And one or two cannot hold a block at all. That means your receivers need to run faster or shorter routes or you need more blockers or more roll outs and qb runs. Of course a running game would not hurt. Also the turnover machine on defense has disappeared. Quin has changed up some schemes or moved some people around or the rotation is weaker. Anyway. You played pretty well considering the opponent but just not confident enough in yourselves. and don’t think just cause you play at home next week detroit won’t be a handful. Jimmy will be there for the ring ceremony ask him what it takes to be a champion. Motivation desire confidence physicality surety of assignments and discipline. Be champions not wannabe’s.
Get rid of Dak. He couldn’t lead a team out of a wet paper sack.
Totally agree Richard with these pay “subscriptions” looking to bleed fans, especially in this high inflation time thanks to certain people in control of the Country. The NFL doesn’t make enough already? Goodell makes $45 MILLION a year, and some of these overrated players the same. It’s out of control and some people are pushing back by just dropping out. People are getting turned off.
Back to the game. Although as you mentioned they showed some fight, obviously it was not enough. I don’t think it’s a home/away thing, I think it’s a good team/bad team thing. QB1 has an obvious track record of bullying weak teams and shrinks against the better/playoff type teams in his career. The sport MSM is just labeling this deficiency under a different name. Years ago, it was called not being “clutch”. Today the sport MSM will use every possible excuse to avoid the obvious and to keep the hype alive for the ratings, money, ETC.
Castoff (for almost nothing) ex Cowboy WR Amari Cooper had 265 rec yards and 2 TDs with Joe Flacco (no disrespect) at QB. The same Cooper that some fans said, and the Dallas FO apparently thought wasn’t good enough. That’s more rec yards than the entire game for DP.
Luis Alvarez stfuuuuuuu!!!! You have no freaking clue about football if your putting this on dak! We got alot of problems and dak is at the bottom of the list i can assure u that.
It’s a really good possibility that the Lions are going to hurt our feelings
Roger Goodell. All I gotta say
Luis Alvarez True…Dak is done