DALLAS — Jerry Jones’ team has become predictable, and not in the way the fans at AT&T Stadium can stomach. The Dallas Cowboys returned home to play an important game against the Detroit Lions in Week 6, and just like in the previous three home games, the Cowboys were embarrassed in defeat. Just like in those previous contests, the team got down quickly, and the avalanche couldn’t be stopped.
If you’re keeping score, the Cowboys are now 3-3 on the year and 0-3 at home. So much for that home-field advantage for Jones from the sellout crowds that he and his son Stephen Jones boasted about.
The three losses come on the heels of winning 16 straight regular-season games at home and the streak includes a bonus loss from when Dallas was blown out at home in the wild-card round last January. After dominating teams on their home turf, Dallas is now getting dominated at AT&T Stadium.
It’s been harped on ad nauseam, but how the Cowboys got to this point can be traced back to the lackluster offseason and the same issues for the team rearing their ugly heads. Yet there were also some new developments in the latest blowout loss.
Unable to flip the script
The script was the same as it’s been in the first two losses this season, the Cowboys got behind early, and they didn't have a way to fight back when things went poorly. That tends to happen when your defense can’t get a stop.
The offense had their share of issues – we’ll get to those – but Mike Zimmer’s group didn’t force a punt, gave up 492 yards of offense, and allowed 47 points, while the Lions scored on each of their first nine possessions (not counting a kneel before the half). That’s awful, even for a shorthanded unit.
No D in Dallas
After winning a couple of close games over the last few weeks, it now seems like that success was more of a symptom of the level of opponent, not the level of play from the Cowboys.
The defense got run through once again, giving up 184 yards on the ground to go along with two touchdowns to the talented running back tandem of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Detroit became the latest team to physically dominate the Cowboys in the trenches. It’s a defense that has now surrendered almost 650 yards on the ground in just three games at home this season.
No one with a star on their helmet had much interest in tackling, and it was tough to watch. Things didn’t get much better when the Lions wanted to pass, either. Quarterback Jared Goff was near perfect and had time to sit in the pocket and find wide-open receivers. Goff threw for 315 yards and three scores in what resembled a 7-7 drill from training camp.
The Lions had four passing plays of over 30 yards, two of which went for touchdowns. Wide receiver Jameson Williams beat cornerback Trevon Diggs for a deep touchdown and the Lions used a trick play to get Sam LaPorta his first touchdown of the season by running a fake reverse and Goff hitting the young tight end for the 52-yard score.
Dallas had no answers for the running game or for the passing attack for the Lions, who toyed with Zimmer’s defense.
Where’s the Dak attack?
The offense’s part in the catastrophe was led by an unusual source, QB Dak Prescott. It was one of the veteran quarterback’s worst games in recent memory, as Prescott went just 17-33 for 178 yards and had two terrible-looking interceptions. The biggest mistake from Prescott came at the wrong time, costing the Cowboys early momentum, which is critical to their success in games.
Dallas actually led 3-0 in this game, believe it or not, as they turned to Brandon Aubrey for a field goal on their opening drive. However, the Lions scored a touchdown on their first series before the Cowboys marched right down the field, poised to take the lead back. However, with a chance to put their foot down and show that they would make it a game, Prescott tossed a soft ball in an area of the field where he needed to put some heat on his throw. The result was an interception in the end zone and the Cowboys came away without points.
That’s three red zone turnovers, and four overall, for Prescott over the last two weeks. The signal caller also got away with a few other dangerous throws that could’ve been picked off. These types of games cannot happen from Prescott, who the Cowboys count on to carry the offense.
A good team in that situation, answers points with points, but Dallas has made it clear that they’re not a good team right now, especially in their own building.
Toothless on offense
While Prescott struggled, Mike McCarthy’s offense couldn’t run the ball either. Just a week after Rico Dowdle looked like he had grabbed control of the RB room as the unquestioned starter, Ezekiel Elliott out-paced Dowdle until the game was out of hand. It’s something that didn’t make sense, especially after such an effective game from Dowdle the week prior.
But that’s what bad teams do. The mistakes are compounded by inexplicable decisions.
It’s now three home games where the Cowboys have looked disinterested once the scoreboard wasn’t on their side only to get dismantled. Remember when the Cowboys used to win games at home like this? Get an early lead, build upon it, force their opponent into turnovers, before making them surrender with a lopsided final score.
Now the roles are reversed and it’s hard to watch. On both sides of the ball, the Cowboys are boring; there’s no excitement, no energy and no glimmer of hope. Even the home crowd started chanting Goff’s name on Sunday as the Lions were the only team to provide any entertainment.
Count it as another embarrassing performance from the Cowboys, who had already lost the game before halftime and were forced to go through the motions for an entire second half. Week 6 already looked like a challenge coming in, but Dallas wasn’t competitive and was let down by the players that they thought could be counted on.
Mercifully, the Cowboys have their bye this week, but they can’t fix everything that ails a team that can’t get out of their own way. Perhaps Jones can petition the league to play more games on the road, at least that way the team will show up ready to play.
Do you think the Cowboys will recover from their embarrassing Week 6 loss? Share your thoughts with Ben on X (formerly Twitter) @BenGrimaldi.
