Is the offensive performance being overstated?

[Nova]

The first drive comes down to a deeper pass to Dez instead of getting two yards. I hate second guessing, but one might make the point Dallas traded TOP and seven points for three points here.

Butler came on the field as he was told, then came off as indicated by the sidelines and then was sent back on. Garrett stated this in a presser yesterday. That was a huge penalty because of the 15 yards plus what we lost in the Zeke run. That stalled that drive.

Free's holding stopped another drive in the first half.

Both of those drives resulted in no points yet both looked promising.

I felt they would score and get on track during each until the penalties.

Not sure I believe this lies at Dak's feet. I do think Linehan called the pass to Dez, and hindsight looks like they should have just moved the chains and not tried something there. I might have preferred a play action on a first down if they truly were trying to set a tone with the Green Bay defense.

But then I sit and watch the game in an easy chair. So what do I know?

I really didn't understand a deep pass to Dez.

This wasn't a defense we needed to stretch.

In fact it was the opposite. We needed to extend drives and limit their possessions. Even if we complete that to Dez, I don't think it's the best play, because I don't think there's really much the packers could do to slow our rushing attack.

 

[fifaguy]

GB got it done on both sides of ball in the final crunch time - holding us to a FG and than driving for the winning FG. Both our offense and defense came up short in comparison. Out O was great for most of the 4th quarter but that stall on the final drive was the beginning of the end.

 

[Venger]

The Cowboys scored of 13 points -- through the first 48 minutes of the game...
I just feel like too much of this loss is being hung on the defense and the we aren't being honest enough about the offensive performance.

Welcome to the club of those who don't see the Emperor's new clothes... we're a small club but we know dang well the difference between clothed and naked. And this loss lands on both sides of the ball. Playoff football is played for 60 minutes, at least by teams that want to play next week...

 

[AdamJT13]

The Cowboys scored of 13 points -- through the first 48 minutes of the game.

I get that the defense didn't play well AND I get the offense did a nice job of furiously coming back...

I just feel like too much of this loss is being hung on the defense and the we aren't being honest enough about the offensive performance.

I think it' great the Dak and the offense mounted a great comeback against depleted Packers defense missing CB1, CB3, CB5 and SS1..... but the offense is absolutely guilty of laying a gigantic egg of only 13 points in those first 48 minutes.

I think in some ways we are drinking the kool-aid by simply saying the offense was fine in this game.

The offense scored 13 points in the first half. Is that "laying a giant egg"? It might be a little less than we hoped or needed, but 13 points in a half isn't terrible.

We scored a touchdown on our second possession of the second half (and our third). The second possession just happened to end with a little less than 12 minutes remaining, which is obviously why you chose 48 minutes as your cutoff point.

So, essentially, the majority of the criticism is based on not scoring on the first possession of the second half -- which was a very good drive until the interception in the red zone. No doubt, that one play was critical and might have cost us the game. So were the third-down failures in the first half and settling for two field goals. But let's not pretend that the offense just muddled around and never got going until the final 12 minutes of the game.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I really didn't understand a deep pass to Dez.

This wasn't a defense we needed to stretch.

In fact it was the opposite. We needed to extend drives and limit their possessions. Even if we complete that to Dez, I don't think it's the best play, because I don't think there's really much the packers could do to slow our rushing attack.

Do you recall the third down pass into double coverage on the first drive. They tested a weak defensive backfield. Seems everyone of the ex players on any channel going stated this for the entire week leading up to the game.

Also, if you complete this mid range to long passes, it backs the safeties up for the running game.

 

[bark]

The offense scored 13 points in the first half. Is that "laying a giant egg"? It might be a little less than we hoped or needed, but 13 points in a half isn't terrible.

 

[tyke1doe]

I really didn't understand a deep pass to Dez.

This wasn't a defense we needed to stretch.

In fact it was the opposite. We needed to extend drives and limit their possessions. Even if we complete that to Dez, I don't think it's the best play, because I don't think there's really much the packers could do to slow our rushing attack.

I thought it was strange trying to go for the jugular there too.

 

[T-RO]

This thread has the lowest cumulative IQ of anything I've seen lately.

Facts:
-The Cowboys offense scored on all but three possessions.

-The Cowboys did so without benefit of any big plays in ST or field-flipping turnovers from the defense

-If Butler doesn't drop a pass and get called for a dubious penalty the offense threatens to post 40 points and 500 yards of offense

-As it is the Cowboys score 31, rack up 25 first downs and 420 yards

The worst grade you can give the offense is an A-.