Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys just don’t have it in them to win two in a row. For the third time this season, they have followed up a good win with a disappointing loss, this time losing to the Broncos 44-24. Any time this team provides us with an ounce of goodness, they turn around and remind everyone that they just don’t have what it takes to make a strong push this season.
This game had a few things to get excited about as they fell behind early and never could put a dent in the lead. Here are 10 thoughts on this latest Mile High letdown.
The game couldn’t have started any better when the Cowboys’ defense got off the field after just three plays. Denver’s first two offensive plays yielded seven and then 11 yards, but when Bo Nix tried to hit receiver Patrick Bryant II on a slant, the ball was thrown behind him and landed in the arms of Cowboys’ cornerback Trikweze Bridges. Just like that, the Cowboys had the ball near midfield and were ready to strike first blood.
The Cowboys quickly drove down the field on their first offensive possession and were set up nicely to get into the end zone first when Dak Prescott connected with CeeDee Lamb on a nice 29-yard gain that set the Cowboys up first-and-goal at the three-yard line. After a two-yard run put them out the one, they oddly went away from the run and tried to pass it in. Then, a false start from Brock Hoffman backed them up five yards, and after another failed passing attempt, the Cowboys were forced to settle for a chip-shot Brandon Aubrey field goal. In a game where the margin of error was small, the team couldn’t capitalize on a great opportunity.
It was frustrating that a false-start penalty helped stall out a chance to punch it in at the goal line, but that frustration grew even further when another opportunity was squandered on the Broncos’ next possession. The Cowboys appeared to have forced the Broncos into a three-and-out after a Bo Nix pass to Courtland Sutton fell incomplete; however, James Houston was flagged for lining up offsides. The Broncos’ drive stayed alive, and they took full advantage, scoring a 40-yard touchdown three plays later. Instead of getting off the field, the defense faltered, and the Cowboys quickly found themselves trailing 7-3.
The Broncos’ rushing attack finished with 179 yards on the ground at a tune of 6.4 yards per carry. J.K. Dobbins handled most of the workload, rushing for 111 yards at a rate of 7.4 yards per carry. His sidekick, R.J. Harvey, added another 46 yards at 6.4 yards per carry himself, with most of them coming on a 40-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The defense constantly allowed the Broncos to run through gaping holes with no glimpse of...
