If you're keeping score, that makes 5 times in the last 9 games that Dallas has failed to score 10 points. A new definition of ugly in Cowboys history.
A lot of folks are blaming Garrett and Linehan. Those like me quickly blame Dak. Others think it's the receivers, Witten's age, the lack of protection, predictability, etc. The answer is all of the above, sort of.
The real culprit here is evaluation. That, and diagnosing what the offense needs.
This offense should work. I like the idea of being one of the lone power running teams in the NFL. That team that can take advantage of small linebackers and defenses built to stop the high-powered offenses of today.
You simply can't run this offense without a top-tier quarterback. The organization - Jerry, Stephen, Garrett, Linehan, and maybe McClay - somehow refuse to understand this. They think if they build a passing offense with what Dak wants, a la Mississippi State, and use it to complement this superstar running game, it'll all fall in place. Just like 2016 all over again.
But the NFL adjusted. Dak is what he is. A 4th-round pick with very limited arm talent. That'll never change, so for the rest of his time here, he'll see 8-man fronts selling out against that run game, daring him to beat them. He can't, and they know it.
Shame on the powers that be to not recognize this. If other teams can diagnose this, why can't Dallas? How many single-digit scores and sub-200-yard passing games of evidence do they need to see? It's painfully obvious, even to a couch coach like me. (Apologies to CouchCoach.)
Dak's eyes were silver dollars yesterday. As Teddy KGB would say, "check, check, check, check!" If it wasn't for some late game connections with Cole Beasley.....that 170 yards would have been under 100.
People say it's just one game, but it isn't. It's 9 games now. This season looks to be headed to 4 or 5 wins. Did you see Jacksonville's defense yesterday? They might hold Dallas to 1 yard.
Garrett's days have to be numbered now. So are Linehan's, and so are Dak's. The disgust on Jerry and Stephen's faces yesterday was telling, although they should be looking at themselves. They went all-in on this Dak experiment, too. Jerry didn't talk after the game yesterday, which I thought was scientifically impossible.
I'll ask you to turn your eyes northward. There's a young man named Lincoln Riley who is getting a LOT of NFL attention these days. Jerry will need to backup the Brinks truck, but I know he notices. Riley runs a power run game with a dynamic passing offense. Sound like something Zeke could do.
But even that will require the right QB.
This franchise is, once again, in football purgatory.
