Boos rained down on the Cowboys after familiar woes continued to haunt America’s Team during the 38-10 loss against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night. The first game without Dak Prescott was one to forget as the Cowboys posted one of the worst losses at AT&T Stadium. The Dallas Cowboys have hit farther than rock bottom in Week 6, and here are the three biggest takeaways from the horrific loss.
Offensive-Line Struggles Continue:
The already makeshift offensive-line just lost another starter. RG Zack Martin left early in the first half after taking an accidental knee to the head by Ezekiel Elliott. Martin was the only veteran left on the offensive line, and he would not return to the game with a concussion. Andy Dalton was under fire the whole night, and there were several plays where the young O-line missed crucial blocks. The line severely lacks experience. Connor Willaims, the third-year guard, is the most experienced lineman the Cowboys have, and he has shown his struggles in the past. With many rookies starting, the lack of maturity shows immensely, and it’s safe to say Andy Dalton is going to be pretty sore for the next couple of days.
Fumbles Galore:
Turnovers have been a huge issue even with Dak Prescott under center. The game shifted in favor of the Cardinals as soon as Ezekiel Elliott fumbled early in the first quarter. The star running back has already fumbled five times this season, and for the first time in his career, Elliott fumbled twice in one game. It really does feel like the Ohio State product is clearly in his head when it comes to protecting the ball. HC Mike McCarthy had no choice but to bench Zeke after his second fumble. This did not last long, though, as Elliott’s pass protection was severely missed on the next drive. Many expected Elliott to carry the offensive load once Prescott went down, but the Cardinals exposed this game plan with the two back-to-back turnovers. While the offensive line did not help, Zeke’s struggles continued to heavily impact the team. Although backup RB Tony Pollard did spark some light in the running game, if this team is going to win, Ezekiel Elliott needs to stop easily handing the ball over to the opposing team
The Return of Leighton Vander Esch:
LB Leighton Vander Esch made his return just four weeks after breaking his collarbone against the LA Rams in Week 1. His presence in the starting lineup was heavily felt early, as the defense had a couple of good stops in the first quarter. While his snaps were limited, many were very concerned that the Wolf Hunter was rushed into the starting line up. If there were any positives that came out of the 28 point loss, the fact that Vander Esch did not reinjure himself is a huge plus. While the defense continues to allow more than 30 PPG, maybe Vander Esch’’s leadership and presence can bring some energy to the heavily depleted core
Even with the Cowboys falling to 2-4, Dallas is still in first place in the division. As bad as this loss was, the rest of the NFC East has continued to play even worse. The NFC East only has a combined five wins through Week 6, and the possibility of a 4-12 team winning the division is becoming more probable as the season progresses. The Cowboys may catch a break next week as they head to face the Washington Football Team, where QB problems seem to be the main narrative of their season. Either way, after tonight’s loss, how could the season possibly get worse?
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