FRISCO, Texas (AP) – Dak Prescott’s haphazard offense is as good a reason as any for Dallas to lose back-to-back games for the first time in two years. For one of the NFL’s top scoring units, finding consistency will be a priority for the playoff-bound Cowboys (10-5) in their final two games of the regular season, starting Saturday night at home against NFC North champion Detroit (11). -4).
The offense was really good in the first two quarters of a 22-20 loss at Miami, but didn’t reach the halfway mark until the Dolphins led by two points (16-7) midway through the third quarter. . With three punts, three punts and just one first down, it looked like a week earlier in Buffalo, when the Cowboys barely had 100 yards of total offense in a 31-10 loss before a pointless fourth-quarter touchdown.
“We know who we are and we know when we’re going,” Prescott said. “You saw it on the first two drives and you saw it there at the end of the game. It’s just consistency on offense.” Doing it against the lions is not the final answer. The Cowboys have been one of the league’s best offenses at home all season, riding a 15-game winning streak and outscoring opponents by nearly 25 points per game. The key will be Washington’s numbers a week before the playoff finale, unless NFC East leader Philadelphia (11-4) loses at least once in the last two weeks. Not only do the Cowboys have a guaranteed losing regular season record away from AT&T Stadium (3-5 after the game), but their offensive production isn’t even close. The losses to the Bills and Dolphins were the first back-to-back losses since the first of three straight playoff seasons in November 2021.
Two years ago, Dallas responded with a 5-1 record to win the division. “There’s still all the faith in the world in this football team and on the road,” right tackle Zack Martin said. “We just have to play more games.” WHAT’S WRONG Once Dallas’ offense gets going, it’s hard to stop. The Cowboys lead the league with 44 turnovers in at least 10 games. Their 17-play drive to take the lead in the fourth quarter was their longest TD streak of the season. A 15-play drive on the first possession ended with a fumble at the Miami 2-yard line. WHO NEEDS HELP While Prescott credited the defense with keeping Dallas in the game, holding the NFL’s No. 1 offense to nearly 10 points below average, the unit couldn’t get a decisive stop after the touchdown throw.
Brandin is cooking. The Dolphins made the final run with 3:27 left, shortly after Jason Sandersand#039; the decisive goal of the game. STORE WR CeeDee Lamb was so good early against the Dolphins that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio did everything he could to take Lamb out of the game. But that didn’t come until after Lamb extended his touchdown streak to seven games, becoming the third Dallas receiver to do so, joining Dez Bryant (2012) and Terrell Owens (2007).
Lamb finished with 93 of his 118 yards in the first quarter for his seventh 100-yard performance of the season. Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin holds the club’s single-season record for 100-yard games with 11. IN STOCK The Cowboys are struggling to create explosive plays for Tony Pollard in his first and possibly only season as the starting quarterback. He averaged 3.2 yards per carry against the Dolphins, and his season average is in danger of falling below 4 yards per carry. Seedling#039; never been so low. Pollard, in his fifth season under the $10.1 million franchise tag, averaged at least 5 yards per carry in three of his first four years. He had 12 total TDs last season but only five this season.
YOU ARE SOUL The Cowboys are counting on the return of eight-time Pro Bowl LT Tyron Smith after he missed the Miami game with a back injury. It was his fourth missed match of the season. Key NUMBER 13 – Micah Parsons had a half-sack against the Dolphins to join Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White as the only players with at least 13 sacks in the first three seasons since sacks became official in 1982. NEXT STEPS Although the Lions are coming off their first division title since 1993, they are still in the mix for first place in the NFC. San Francisco and Philadelphia have the same record. The best bet for the Cowboys to overtake the Eagles in the NFC East is to win both of their remaining games in hopes that the New York Giants can upset Philadelphia in the regular season finale.
