FRISCO, Texas – The Cowboys may not have a game this week, but that doesn't mean they can't find a way to win during the bye in terms of correcting what has troubled them through six games. This week's edition of "Here We Goooo" examines three areas the Cowboys drastically need to improve in heading into the final 11 games of the year.
Scoring in the Red Zone
When teams cross the 20-yard line in opposing territory, confidence should be high that you can get into the endzone, and at worst come away with three points. The Cowboys have not been able to get touchdowns on their trips in the redzone, with just a 37.5% touchdown scoring percentage, good for 3rd worst in the NFL. Dak Prescott has completed just nine of his 23 passing attempts for 80 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions (tied for the most in the league). CeeDee Lamb has only hauled in two catches on six targets for 11 yards and has yet to score from short distance.
And the run game isn't setting them up for success either, as the Cowboys have run the ball nine times for nine yards and a touchdown, keeping them in difficult situations on second and third downs. Nothing is going right for Dallas when they get deep into their opponent's territory, and while Brandon Aubrey has done his job to get points on the board, the offense needs to try and get him on the field for extra points, not field goals.
Stop The Run
As the Cowboys have learned on the offensive side of the ball, when you're not able to establish a run game it gets much more difficult to operate your offense. Opposing teams have been able to run all over the Cowboys, which has led to offensive explosions like what the Lions were able to do last Sunday. Opponents run the ball on the Cowboys defense 50.53% of the time averaging 143.2 yards per game on the ground, the 6th most rushing yards allowed per game in the league.
What's more troubling for the Dallas defense is that 629 of the 859 rushing yards they've allowed this season has come after contact and are allowing 1.7 rushing touchdowns per game, the second worst average in the league. The Dallas defense has been playing from behind with guys like Eric Kendricks, DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons all missing time, and needs this bye week to get them healthier and hopefully back on the field soon.
Play Complimentary Football
Playing complimentary football at any level will at the very least keep you in games, and more often than not help you win them. When your defense is setting your offense for success and vice versa, it gives you more opportunities to capitalize on good field position or a deflated opposing unit.
The Cowboys haven't found a way to do that since the first half of the Cleveland game to open the season, as they're -6 in turnover margin. The Cowboys defense is allowing 5.7 yards per play and 3.2 touchdowns per game, both amongst the worst in the NFL. Offensively things aren't much better, with 11 turnovers through six games keeping the defense on the field longer than they should be. With the two out of sync, the mountain gets harder to climb for the Cowboys.
