Had the Cowboys gone on to complete what was, at one point early in the third quarter Sunday, looking like the feel-good win of the season, maybe this bye week schedule would be different.
If they believe their team has earned it, some coaches over the years have decided to grant an entire week off, or at least gone without practices. But if things aren't going as well as planned, a coach's instinct is to have the players on the field, working out the kinks.
Even as banged-up as the Cowboys are through four weeks, Jason Garrett clearly sees the need for more work, and after a day off on Monday, he will have the team back at Valley Ranch for practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, though anyone with an injury will likely get plenty of rest.
"One of the things we have to do with our team is get healed up a little bit," Garrett said. "It's a good time for a bye for our team. We've been banged up for the last three weeks with different guys, so hopefully it will give guys a chance to take a breath and heal up a little bit this week. It will give some other guys a chance to get some reps.
"At the same time we'll look at some things that we want to look at, both offensively and defensively as we go forward to see if it fits, and then also just sharpen up the things that we have been working on."
Rules of the new CBA mandate at least four consecutive days off for the players during the bye, which must include Saturday and Sunday, so Garrett is giving them Thursday-Sunday.
The team will get an extra day of work on the back end of the bye, though, with a full practice scheduled for Monday.
Players will have their usual day off next Tuesday, then resume preparations for New England on Wednesday-Friday.
"We're not going to get into a heavy New England preparation right now, over the next couple days," Garrett said. "We'll do that as coaches, but we'll wait on that until early next week."
