ARLINGTON, Texas – For the second straight game, the Cowboys were right there at halftime and into the third, only to have the bottom drop out in the second half.
Against the Eagles, I think it was a product of one much better team just leaning on the other and eventually busting free for a blowout.
This time, the Cowboys did it to themselves.
Sure, the Texans are the better team – as much as I hate to admit right now. But they're a better team because, not only do they have better players, they don't beat themselves, at least not like the Cowboys do.
Hey, when you're not very good at the big things in football – like running the ball and stopping the run – you certainly can't struggle with the small things.
You've got to catch a simple pass to the flat on second down before the half. You can't throw the ball behind an open receiver breaking free for a would-be first down or more. You can't fumble a routine shotgun snap when you're offense is driving.
And man, you certainly can't miss a 40-yard field goal before the half when you're fighting for your life. Now, maybe Brandon Aubrey gets a pass because he's been so great, but still, you have to make those kicks.
But it's not just the players. When you're not a very good team, and very shorthanded with injuries, and struggling to even stay in these games, you have to keep it as close as possible for as long as possible.
I couldn't disagree more with the decision Mike McCarthy made in the third quarter to go for a touchdown, down by 10 with a fourth-and-2 from the 8-yard line. Granted, you just took points off the board after Aubrey's 64-yard field goal would have cut the lead to 20-13.
Now, some football purists might argue that you should never take points away from the scoreboard. But I didn't hate that decision – only because you're desperate for a touchdown, down by 10. But I think the reason you do it is because now you're even closer for a field goal if you don't make the touchdown. So you've got new life, a new set of downs. Go drive for a touchdown, knowing you still have a field goal in your back pocket.
But McCarthy chose to give up that free pass and go for a touchdown on fourth-and-2. I hated that call because it's really hard for any team to get two yards down near the goal line. If it wasn't, more teams would just go for 2 points after a touchdown.
After the game, McCarthy obviously defended the call, stating they liked the play call and had confidence Cooper Rush could get the ball into the end zone.
But that's really not his game and never has been. He's a quick-throwing, read-and-react quarterback, and those plays typically don't work down near the goal line. It's usually the mobile quarterbacks who can improvise and throw on the run, which is what he tried to do but overthrew his receiver.
I mean, if there ever was a time to get Trey Lance in the game, it would've been right there on fourth down to give the defense a look it hasn't seen.
But personally, I'm going for the field goal because you have to keep these games as close as you can for as long as you can.
And sure, you can sit there and say, "The Cowboys lost by 24 points, why does it matter?" And you might be right. The Texans might have eventually pulled away regardless of if the Cowboys had scored zero, three or seven points right there. But to me, the very reason you pulled points off the board was to try for a touchdown with the thought you could get closer for another field goal if it didn't work out.
To me, that was the game right there. You had already missed a field goal that seemed automatic and then you lost out on three more points.
The Cowboys were down 20-10 and still got the ball back. I said out loud in the press box that it should be 20-16 right now.
Moments later, Rush fumbled, Tyler Guyton fumbled it again, and the Texans were running into the end zone for a defensive touchdown. Houston 27, Cowboys 10 and that was ballgame.
It doesn't seem the Cowboys have the same feelings about their own team. Like, they feel the talent level is much closer than it is. Sometimes coaches tend to trust their own scheme and their own players, thinking it's going to just work out like it does in practice.
Well, too bad the guys in practice are pretty banged up, too. The offense isn't giving the defense the best looks during the week and vice versa.
Now, maybe the Cowboys are getting some help next week. Sounds like the defense could get two or three key players, including DaRon Bland, and maybe Brandin Cooks returns on offense. But until all of that happens, the Cowboys must call this game play-to-play, knowing there is no room for error.
However, the problem is there are too many errors to go around. And that's why these close games for three quarters are turning into blowouts by the end.
