The Dallas Cowboys, currently facing a challenging season, recently grappled with the shortcomings of their offense, particularly during critical goal-to-go situations. Quarterback Dak Prescott expressed frustration over the team’s inability to convert these opportunities into touchdowns, stating, “Anytime we get in the red zone, knowing the players, the plays, what we’re capable of and we don’t score, yeah, the game’s different.”
In those most recent games, the Cowboys have dropped 40, 37 and 27 points, putting one of the top offenses in the country on display. Prescott and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer could only call on the spirits of drives that should have finished in touchdowns, but instead ended in field goals. Prescott has been nothing short of phenomenal over this run. Even in those close call games, Thorne has thrown for 817 yards and completed 72% of his passes in those three games combined. He has accumulated 11 total touchdowns without any interceptions during this span, marking a rare occurrence in NFL history.
Although his numbers are gaudy, Prescott forced critical mistakes that ultimately cost the Cowboys a chance to win. For example, in the fourth quarter of that same game, on first-and-goal at the 8-yard line, he lost a snap. More than anything, this blunder underscored the team’s inability to execute in the biggest moments. The fumble clearly affected Prescott and the Cowboys. They lost the chance to deliver scoring blows when it was needed most.
Dak Prescott’s unprecedented record raises questions about the team’s overall performance. He is the first QB since 1950 to throw for 11 or more TDs without a turnover over a three-start stretch. Unsurprisingly, he had not put together a winning record in the process. This statistic highlights the paradox of the Cowboys’ situation: even with a highly productive offense, they continue to fall short in securing wins.
The Cowboys’ running attack has crossed the 100 yard mark just twice all season and they’re averaging just 31 yards on 19 carries against their New England opponents. This average yardage output equates to a paltry 1.6 yards per carry. It represents the team’s minimum average in a game for the last 12 years. The absence of a consistent run game has only added to the weight on Prescott’s shoulders to succeed in the passing attack.
Perhaps the biggest positive has been Prescott’s chemistry with his receivers. Such is the targeting success he’s had with George Pickens. His last two games, he exploded for 134 yards against the Green Bay Packers and 168 yards versus the Carolina Panthers. Adding to that was Ryan Flournoy who had a huge day with 114 yards rushing performances versus the New York Jets. Second, Jake Ferguson has emerged as a safety valve Brandon Cooks can’t seem to be. He has caught a touchdown pass in all three games, most recently with a ridiculous 19-yarder vs Carolina.
“That locker room is hurting. I’m hurting. Why? Because we let an opportunity slip to win another championship opportunity, and it’s frustrating as hell,” he admitted.
Schottenheimer emphasized the impressive positive culture of the team. He emphatically insisted that they don’t try to point fingers in times of trouble. “You don’t point fingers. You look at the film. We’re going to see it. It’s going to jump off the film at us,” he stated confidently.
Juanyeh Thomas weighed in on the team’s mindset, asserting confidence in their offensive capabilities: “We’ve got the best offense in the league. Literally. They’re going to score. We got to get a stop. That’s on us. Not on them. That’s on us.”
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