The answer is yes. This team, for the fourth week in a row, has played poorly. Even in the game the Cowboys won, the Falcons clearly outplayed Dallas. The Cowboys have all the talent in the world and even with the number one ranked offense in the NFL, they still find themselves 1-3.
The last time the Cowboys started a season 1-3 was back in 2010. Wade Phillps was the HC and only a few games away from being fired. While there are obviously different circumstances regarding that era, the Cowboy defense in 2020 is just flat out terrible. For the fourth week in a row, the defense has been a serious liability. Dallas has given up an astonishing 138 points in 4 weeks. The expansion year in 1960 was the last time the Cowboys did this.
Sure, injuries could be the blame, but the talent is just not performing. DE Demarcus Lawerence does not have the same impact that he once had, and LB Jaylon Smith looks helpless trying to read the offense. It is clear that the defense needs to simplify their play. While CB Trevon Diggs is the bright light shining in the darkness, he is still a rookie overall. The veterans need to step up, and DC Mike Nolan must get his defense to focus on the fundamentals and turn its season around.
While the Cowboys defense has been dreadful in general, the offense has definitely placed the defense in tough situations. The two costly turnovers that Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot committed proved to be the reason why the Browns took the momentum and ran away with the game early in the second quarter in Week 4. The Cowboys have given the ball away eight times in 3.5 games. Although Dak Prescott is off to a historic season with 1,690 yards thrown in just four games, the offense has given up the ball just as fast as they can put up points. If fans are wondering why the Cowboys are constantly playing from behind, well, the reason is turnovers.
Even though the team’s play has been horrendous, Dallas somehow could find themselves in first place in the division next week. With the NFC East now a combined 3-12-1 to start the season, the Cowboys are catching a break in the schedule. The next four opponents the Cowboys will face have a combined record of 4-11-1. If the defense wants to rewrite their season, they will have the chance to do that next week against the NY Giants. The Giants offense is averaging 11.7 ppg, and the absence of Saquon Barkley favors Dallas. If the Cowboys continue their struggles next week, a season that feels bad thus far will become even worse.
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