In what was supposed to be, in theory, one of the games of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs were the only team that showed up in Sunday’s 19-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
All signs pointed to this being a heavyweight bout, think Tyson v. Holyfield, a matchup pitting two Super Bowl contenders up against one another. Dallas, with their high array of weapons on offense including Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, taking on Kansas City’s arsenal of playmakers with Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce.
This was supposed to be the tale of the tape, and in the end, it was anything but. Here is what we learned from Dallas’ loss:
Injuries Mounted For Dallas
What was supposed to be a clash of Super Bowl teams saw one side come in wounded. First it was the injury to All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith, who has been battling an ankle injury since Week 8.
Perhaps the loss was not felt as great during Dallas’ win in Week 9 versus a hapless Atlanta Falcons team, but in the two losses since Tyron Smith’s injury to Denver and Kansas City, respectively, his presence has been sorely missed.
Along with Smith, Dallas received word that wide receiver Amari Cooper had tested positive for COVID-19 and would not play versus Kansas City as per the NFL’s Health and Safety Protocols. Cooper serves as the team’s number one outside receiver, often drawing double coverages from opposing defenses which allows the rest of the offense to then open up.
Already down Tyron Smith and Amari Cooper, Dallas then suffered another injury to an already bleeding offense when wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was quickly ruled out in the 2nd quarter with a concussion. Minus Smith, Cooper, and Lamb, Dak Prescott was under siege for most of the game. Kansas City rushed four throughout the game, and that proved to be enough with Kansas City nose tackle Chris Jones recording three and a half sacks on Prescott.
If the Cowboys are going to be serious threats to clinch a first round bye in the playoffs, win the NFC, or even win the Super Bowl, they need to get healthy on offense and fast.
Run Defense is a Major Problem
It first needs to be recognized what a difference new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has made to this football team. Quinn, formally the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons before being fired at the end of last season, has brought a new energy to a Cowboys defense that was historically bad in 2020.
This season, Dallas has found new life defensively. Trace this newfound life to the emergence of cornerback Trevon Diggs. Diggs leads the NFL in interceptions with eight, including two returned for touchdowns. He is one of the leading candidates for Defensive Player of the Year in the entire league, and his play is worthy of such an award.
However, Dallas has struggled stopping the run. According to Pro Football Reference, Dallas has conceded the sixth fewest yards to opposing running backs. Despite this, they also are bottom five across the NFL in rushing attempts against. The Cowboys defense has also allowed nine rushing touchdowns on the year, middle of the pack in terms of NFL standards set so far this year.
Dallas started the year on a very good run of form against rushes. According to ESPN, Dallas went five games before allowing a team total 100-yard rushing effort, which occurred in week 6 versus the Patriots. Since then, Dallas has allowed 83, 191, 103, and on Sunday 126 yards of rushing to opponents. In this stretch, Dallas has also conceded five rushing touchdowns.
The Dallas rushing defense must improve, otherwise their aspirations of winning their first Super Bowl in a quarter-century may be derailed.
Chances Still Remain for Dallas to Clinch the One Seed
Looking ahead, Dallas has a friendly road towards the playoffs. After taking on the Raiders on Thanksgiving, Dallas then embarks on a three-game road trip to New Orleans, Washington, and the Giants, before coming home to face Washington again, Arizona, and then one last trip to Philly to end the season.
On paper, it looks very nice for Dallas. Four division games are never an easy task, but of the remaining seven games, Dallas only takes on one team with a winning record and that is Arizona in Week 17, which could be a decider for who wins the one seed in the NFC.
If Dallas is to go on and win the one seed in the NFC, the minimum feel is that Dallas has to go 5-2 in this run to even have a chance, including beating the Cardinals in that Week 17 matchup. If Dallas can do that and clinch the one seed in the NFC, the Cowboys have to feel good about the road to the big one having to go through Arlington in the team’s quest for a sixth Super Bowl.
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