Blogging The Boys
Will the real Dallas Cowboys please stand up? After yet another loss, this time a 44-24 drubbing on the road to the Broncos, it’s becoming exceedingly more difficult to pin down this team. There’s a few reasons for that, but the biggest factor that sticks out is the home/away splits.
When playing in Dallas, the Cowboys are 2-0-1 and their offense has scored at least 40 points each time. On the road, though, they’re 1-4 and the offense is averaging just 24 points a game. The lone win came over the Jets, who just won their first game of the season this weekend.
The good news is the next game is at home, and playing host to a Cardinals team that’s lost five straight. But the Cowboys will need to figure out how to perform on the road if they want to reach the playoffs, a goal that may or may not even be feasible right now. Our own Tom Ryle and David Howman have plenty of thoughts on the inconsistencies of this season thus far.
Tom: It’s hard to figure out why they seem to play so much better at home. It’s not like AT&T Stadium is a notoriously hostile environment. Given how lost they look on both sides of the ball on the road, it may be as much mental as anything else. I’ve no idea how they could address that.
Chances of making the playoffs are shrinking rapidly, and effectively may be gone. Once again there are glaring needs all over the roster. It feels defeatist to already be thinking of organic tanking with half the season ahead. It doesn’t seem unreasonable, however.
We’re just along for the ride. It doesn’t feel like there is any reason to look for hope this year, does it?
David: Actually, I feel like there’s plenty of reason for hope.
First things first, the Broncos game. That’s probably the best defense they’ll face all year, and it’s top three at worst. Playing poorly against such an elite defense while on the road in a notoriously difficult place to play isn’t going to change my mind about how good this offense is. As for the defense, there’s also the factor of playing in Denver, but being without so many bodies in the secondary also had a huge impact. I think the defense will look more like it did a week ago going forward, especially once DeMarvion Overshown and Shavon Revel get on the field.
Looking ahead, the schedule aligns nicely. Next week is at home against a Cardinals team on the verge of imploding. They’ve lost five straight and fined their own head coach after he struck his own player on the sideline. Then it’s off to the bye before a road trip in Sin City against a Raiders team that’s been much worse than anyone expected.
That gives the Cowboys a legitimate shot to be 5-4-1 by the time they host the Eagles, a team whom they nearly beat in Philly...
