Mailbag: Has red-zone offense improved?

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

Is it my imagination or has the red-zone offense been better here recently? Any reason for that? What can they still do better? – Bill Grady/San Diego, CA

Patrik: It has indeed improved, and I attribute that to two things: a willingness to stick to the run a bit more often than in weeks prior, and execution by players.

If you recall, the biggest issue for the Cowboys in the red zone was the latter, as memories of dropped passes and a fumble by CeeDee Lamb come to mind, but you're not seeing as many of those types of errors in late November and into December.

As long as that trend continues, and Rico Dowdle is fed the ball continually to push the issue on the ground, the Cowboys should continue to enjoy an improved red zone experience; but that also means Cooper Rush has to, once and for all, avoid disastrous plays like the fumbled play-action against the Panthers — simply another example of why Dallas once struggled so mightily in the red zone: self-inflicted wounds.

Tommy: Yes, it has been better – especially statistically.

For the season, the Cowboys have scored touchdowns on 47.5% of their redzone trips, good for 28th in the league. Over the last three games however, that number is up to 58.3%, which is 14th in the NFL amongst the rest of the field in that time span. I think the biggest reason for that is that the Cowboys have finally established a run game that defenses have to focus attention to.

Rico Dowdle has only scored one rushing touchdown this season, but the threat of him being able to break open an explosive play has lead defenses to leave one or two extra defenders in the box, opening things up for Dallas' receivers to get their touchdowns as showcased against the Panthers. Aside from the obvious of scoring at a higher clip, the Cowboys can do better by continuing to lean on that run game and get Dowdle into the endzone a few more times too.