Every week the game plan for opposing offenses is to attack the Cowboys’ run defense, and we saw it happen again yesterday. Coming into the game, the Packers were running into an eight-man box 5.3 times per game, averaging 4.1 YPA. Against the Cowboys, they ran into an eight-man box 18 times, averaging 5.3 YPA.
A.J. Dillon and Aaron Jones beat up the Dallas defense. Between the two, they had 203 yards, 138 from Jones, and 65 from Dillion. They knew the run was coming and still couldn’t stop it.
We can point to this and that, but Dallas should have attempted the field goal in overtime because, either way, the Packers would have started with the ball at the same spot. Yes, I understand it was cold and into the wind, but Brett Maher has been great this year and has a huge leg. Give him a chance!
The no-call on CeeDee Lamb is something I don’t even want to get into because I HATE blaming games on one call here or there. The Cowboys Shouldn’t have needed that call to win this game.
Look, guys, this has to be FIXED.
The offense had their chances to win the game, but they scored 28 points and had a 14-point fourth-quarter lead. We have to look at both sides here. The defense can’t keep letting this happen. The Cowboys last four games in terms of rushing yards allowed: 206, 240, 117, and 136, and with Dalvin Cook and the 8-1 Vikings up next, I expect everything to stay the same.
Dallas has allowed 143.1 rushing yards per game this year, which is the fourth-worst mark in the NFL.
Cowboys LB Micah Parsons on poor run defense: "We've just got to be accountable. …It's going to keep happening until we stop it. Period. …Until we put this flame out of this running the ball stuff, we're never going to be as good as we need to be. Period."
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) November 14, 2022
I am still trying to figure out what else they can do to slow the run down; the most significant plays I see are runs to the outside, and the guys seem lost.
Every team the Cowboys might play in the playoffs has a dominant run game. The Eagles and Jalen Hurts, Giants and Saquon Barkley, the 49ers now have Christian McCaffery, the Bucs have Leonard Fournette who always beats them up, and we can’t leave out the Seahawks’ Kenneth Walker.
With as much praise we gave this defense for doing what they did early to help save the season, they are now getting worn down, week after week, by the ground game. We can only talk so much, and I keep telling myself that I trust Dan Quinn to figure out a system that works, but clearly, they can’t figure it out. Moving forward, I understand the frustration; I get it. I am staying positive because this team wasn’t even supposed to be 6-3 after the way the season started.
They are still the sixth seed, only one game back of the Giants because they already beat them once, and they play next Thursday again on Thanksgiving at home. It would be great to see a team not rush for over 100 yards on this defense. I trust the pass rush more when they don’t have to look for the running back.
The run defense has been terrible for years. Watkins Jersey was not even dirty after the game. Basham is useless. Either of them should have been cut not Hill.
Parsons was mediocre in this game. They need to try to put Clark and Cox at LB to infuse new blood. Parsons is getting beat up and needs some rest. He can’t do everything.
The DEs othe than Lawerence disappeared against the run, again.
No way they go anywhere in playoffs. Probably get 49ers on the road in round 1 (IMO). Can’t stop McCafferty. So it’s 1 and out likely for Jerry as GM where without Jimmy’s players he’s won 3 lousy Wild Card games in 26 years
Totally agree with you Doc! Vander Esch is an empty shirt and is basically in the way! His ass should’ve been cut instead of Hill. Kelvin Joseph is a liability for the team PERIOD!!! He’s dumb and can’t play anywhere on the defense. That’s the one thing I loved about Jimmy Johnson, he didn’t tolerate dumb asses on his watch! McCarthy himself is a fat dumb ass, so it’s impossible for him to recognize one when he sees him.
Maybe next year spend a number one draft pick on the interior line. Too late for this year.
Someone to be the actual Head Coach of the Cowboys is what’s needed here! There’s some rather easy personnel decisions to be made also. Players and Coaches need to be reevaluated. You could start with DUMB ASS KELLEN MOORE!!!
Run defense has been somewhat of a sore spot for quite a while. Some fans here have been wanting them to draft a stud DT, or two, for years. While they have drafted a few DTs in the last four years, Gallimore, Osa, Hill, Ridgeway (who’s gone), Bohanna, they haven’t been stemming the run flow very well. Also, I think the good number of TOs they have gotten recently have also masked some of the deficiencies on this team.
And speaking of that 6-3 record and why they’re still in the hunt, it’s mainly because of CR who delivered at 4-1 WITH the same defense, etc. In my longstanding opinion, FO has hitched their wagon to an inconsistent, overrated QB. Now I see even former Cowboy HOF WR Michael Irvin has chimed in on DP. It’s getting to be a growing list. But this is what they have now. However, looking forward they should be thinking about what they can do at this position to get better.
Shane, I’m with you, I also “hate blaming games on one call”. That’s why I don’t blame the MM call not going for the FG as the reason for this loss.