Two Huge Reasons we Lost

[RonnieT24]

And with the game on the line, the Eagles lined up and ground us into the turf in the 4th Q.

Anyone who watched that game and concludes, hey, we have a good run D is just watching games with blinders on.

I don't think anybody going to claim we have a "good run D." But were it not for gifted 13 points by the Dallas offense Philly may well have been playing from behind in the 4th quarter and bit able to run it at all. They started 3 straight drives in Dallas territory because of two INTs and the failed 4th down play. Thankfully the defense held them to FGs on two of those or it would have been 28-0 at half . Even if the Cowboys punt on those three drives you can probably take at least 6 points away from the Eagles in that first half and go into the half down 14-0.. and up 17-14 after the big 3rd quarter.. Get a FG on any one of them and it's 14-3 at half.. 20-14 at the beginning of the 4th. A totally different game at that point.

I think it's fair to say that the defense got worn down by the offense continually putting them in bad spots that first half and it caught up to them in the 4th quarter because the Eagles stuck with the run even though it wasn't really killin it... Kind of like what some of us say the Cowboys should be doing to their opponents.. But you know.. "yards are yards.."

 

[USArmyVet]

I don't think anybody going to claim we have a "good run D." But were it not for gifted 13 points by the Dallas offense Philly may well have been playing from behind in the 4th quarter and bit able to run it at all. They started 3 straight drives in Dallas territory because of two INTs and the failed 4th down play. Thankfully the defense held them to FGs on two of those or it would have been 28-0 at half . Even if the Cowboys punt on those three drives you can probably take at least 6 points away from the Eagles in that first half and go into the half down 14-0.. and up 17-14 after the big 3rd quarter.. Get a FG on any one of them and it's 14-3 at half.. 20-14 at the beginning of the 4th. A totally different game at that point.

I think it's fair to say that the defense got worn down by the offense continually putting them in bad spots that first half and it caught up to them in the 4th quarter because the Eagles stuck with the run even though it wasn't really killin it... Kind of like what some of us say the Cowboys should be doing to their opponents.. But you know.. "yards are yards.."

So what about the 4th down play with the score 0-0 and Philly getting a gift of a stupid defensive encroachment call which gave them a 1st and goal and an additional 4 points? Interestingly enough Dallas was down 20-17 in the 4th quarter before the long, rush heavy Philly drive which resulted in the TD that sealed the game. If not for that bonehead defensive penalty Dallas actually would have had a 17-16 lead under hypothetical terms so both the under performing defense was as guilty for the loss as the under performing offense.

 

[Brooksey]

As for the rushing stats, keep in mind that on the long 4th quarter drive that Dallas couldn't stop and sealed the game, Philly threw 3 times for 29 yards and rushed 10 times for 45 yards and obtained their 3 converted 3rd downs by way of rushing the ball.....so tell me again how not stopping the Philly rush didn't impact the game.

I never said Philly running the ball didn't impact the game, I said we held them pretty good (3.5 ypc) for being on the road against one of the best O-lines and being on the field all game
What don't you get? I agree we can get better, we couldn't stop' em down 20-17 but what led to all that? Can someone have another point of view or is it just yours?

I said the turnovers by the QB was a much bigger problem.

 

[Sydla]

I never said Philly running the ball didn't impact the game, I said we held them pretty good (3.5 ypc) for being on the road against one of the best O-lines and being on the field all game
What don't you get? I agree we can get better, we couldn't stop' em down 20-17 but what led to all that? Can someone have another point of view or is it just yours?

I said the turnovers by the QB was a much bigger problem.

The point being made is that with the game on the line, the run D couldn't stop them. We had the momentum and Philly clearly wanted to bleed clock and yet we couldnt stop them knowing they were just lining up and trying to pound us.

This is the danger of looking at overall stats and not seeing how the game played out. A good run D doesn't let that last scoring drive happen.

 

[DuceizBak]

The Eagles run didn't even kill us. The first half drive where the Eagles held the ball skewed the stats.

They rushed for 136 yards an averaged 3.5 yards a pop. Mind you, anything under 4.5 would be considered average.

That last drive was horrendous. I truly believe that had the d got the stop we go down the field and score and win the game sine they'd probably try and pass.

 

[mattjames2010]

The Eagles run didn't even kill us. The first half drive where the Eagles held the ball skewed the stats.

They rushed for 136 yards an averaged 3.5 yards a pop. Mind you, anything under 4.5 would be considered average.

That last drive was horrendous. I truly believe that had the d got the stop we go down the field and score and win the game sine they'd probably try and pass.

The stat you are using is literally being debated right above you. The least you could have done is read that rather than repeating this.

 

[RonnieT24]

So what about the 4th down play with the score 0-0 and Philly getting a gift of a stupid defensive encroachment call which gave them a 1st and goal and an additional 4 points? Interestingly enough Dallas was down 20-17 in the 4th quarter before the long, rush heavy Philly drive which resulted in the TD that sealed the game. If not for that bonehead defensive penalty Dallas actually would have had a 17-16 lead under hypothetical terms so both the under performing defense was as guilty for the loss as the under performing offense.

It's fine if you want to feel that way .. but the fact remains the defense held the opposition to under 4 yards per carry (3.5) on the ground and just over 6 yards per attempt passing. And under 300 yards overall. The only reason those anemic numbers were sufficient to score was the short fields presented by the offense. They got three scores (13 points) while moving the ball a total of 75 yards. In one case the Eagles gained a whole ONE YARD before kicking the FG. What more would you have the defense do?

If anything the defense overperformed holding one of the top offenses in the league to FGs on two of those drives. As bad as we want to say the defense played.. they held the Eagles to one TD in the second half. If they don't do that, the game never gets close and the Cowboys never have any hope.. Just as without the three turnovers and the failed 4th down the Eagles probably score 10? fewer points..

There is no question that the defense wilted in the 4th quarter.. That's what happens when the offense continues to bang away at you on the ground.. It's why I and others SCREAM for the Cowboys to do it.. Unless we're down 2+ scores we should ALWAYS be hammering on the defense on the ground.. so that WE can chew the defense up and spit it out on a long time consuming drive using mostly runs in the 4th quarter.

 

[DuceizBak]

The stat you are using is literally being debated right above you. The least you could have done is read that rather than repeating this.

If your offense doesn't turn the ball over twice = likely win
if your defense doesn't let them drive the length of the field after pulling it within 3 = likely win.

Ultimate decider = three interceptions.

Good offenses will typically have a boat load of running yards against them because they are set up with pass rushers. The rushing numbers don't bother me at all. If our Offense (Cooper Rush or Dak Prescott) can score more consistently the run becomes less of a problem. Running by every metric is unsustainable and not a good indicator of success. It's why every year a team who is solely dependent on running the ball gets bounce and why their games are always close.

The 49ers had 170 rushing yards and we had over 14 penalty for over 100 yards and we still only lost by 6. Our offense has to do more. Running attacks more so than passing attacks are flukey more often than not.

 

[USArmyVet]

It's fine if you want to feel that way .. but the fact remains the defense held the opposition to under 4 yards per carry (3.5) on the ground and just over 6 yards per attempt passing. And under 300 yards overall. The only reason those anemic numbers were sufficient to score was the short fields presented by the offense. They got three scores (13 points) while moving the ball a total of 75 yards. In one case the Eagles gained a whole ONE YARD before kicking the FG. What more would you have the defense do?

If anything the defense overperformed holding one of the top offenses in the league to FGs on two of those drives. As bad as we want to say the defense played.. they held the Eagles to one TD in the second half. If they don't do that, the game never gets close and the Cowboys never have any hope.. Just as without the three turnovers and the failed 4th down the Eagles probably score 10? fewer points..

There is no question that the defense wilted in the 4th quarter.. That's what happens when the offense continues to bang away at you on the ground.. It's why I and others SCREAM for the Cowboys to do it.. Unless we're down 2+ scores we should ALWAYS be hammering on the defense on the ground.. so that WE can chew the defense up and spit it out on a long time consuming drive using mostly runs in the 4th quarter.

Much blame to go around last night between Rush and defense but I think we all can agree that the OC game plan and MM stupidity (along with penalties) added to a bad night.

 

[Toro9]

1. We still cannot stop the run.
2. Rush has no arm.

Not complicated, but we won't go anywhere until that is fixed.

You like Dak?

 

[Brooksey]

This is the danger of looking at overall stats and not seeing how the game played out. A good run D doesn't let that last scoring drive happen.

Context matters right?

That was a tired defense, they were on the field all day on the road against a very good offensive line. What don't you get?

 

[USArmyVet]

Context matters right?

That was a tired defense, they were on the field all day on the road against a very good offensive line. What don't you get?

From half time until the start of that drive the defense was only on the field about 4 minutes as the Dallas offense had gone on 2 TD drives for roughly 11:30 minutes.

 

[Brooksey]

From half time until the start of that drive the defense was only on the field about 4 minutes as the Dallas offense had gone on 2 TD drives for roughly 11:30 minutes.

I was talking about the whole game, try to follow along

 

[chicago JK]

I don't blame either of those, but I would like to see us a tad better on the run.

Rush is a care taker. He has been good because we haven't asked him to carry the load often and he hasn't made mistakes. He made mistakes last night.

Give the Eagles credit. They made a run in the second quarter and took advantage of some of our mistakes. Most games are typically determined off a few plays/mistakes. Dallas had the false start at the end of quarter 1 and then two picks in the second and a pick late. This offense isn't built right now to be able to play through those turnovers. Hopefully we see more points with Dak back.

 

[Kumbaya]

1. We still cannot stop the run.
2. Rush has no arm.

Not complicated, but we won't go anywhere until that is fixed.

Well to be fair to your defense, Barkley was held to 13 carries for 45 yards and then broke one for 36 yards to make it a respectful 14 for 81. And yes, Daniel Jones ran for 79 but again, to me, a qb taking off is a whole other topic.

 

[CouchCoach]

The Cowboys failed to match the intensity level of the Eagles and by the time they realized they'd been hit in the mouth, they were down by 17.

The Eagles had no intensity level to start the 2nd half and thought no way the backup overcomes a 17 point deficit and then they got hit in the mouth. Didn't help when they lost Lane Johnson

Came down to making the plays when they had to be made and I cannot say any Cowboys player did that but I saw the best effort from the two RB's. The Eagles made the plays when they needed to be made and committed the fewest mistakes.

One thing sorely lacking from the Cowboys sideline, leadership. They were down in the mouth and I would bet that was one of the reasons the Eagles came out flat in the 2nd half. They thought the fight had been taken out of them.

There are two kinds of teams when it comes to motivation. Those that make their own and those that need it made for them. Right now, the Cowboys are the latter. Give Rush credit, he kept coming at them and was the reason the team finally woke up in the 2nd half.

 

[USArmyVet]

I was talking about the whole game, try to follow along

Try to be more specific then seeing as how you referenced the 1st half and not the full game. Regardless, the Dallas defense was only on the field for just over 4 minutes from halftime until that long Philly drive so don't use that as an excuse as to why they couldn't stop the Eagles on that most important drive.

 

[USArmyVet]

The Cowboys failed to match the intensity level of the Eagles and by the time they realized they'd been hit in the mouth, they were down by 17.

The Eagles had no intensity level to start the 2nd half and thought no way the backup overcomes a 17 point deficit and then they got hit in the mouth. Didn't help when .they lost Lane Johnson

Came down to making the plays when they had to be made and I cannot say any Cowboys player did that but I saw the best effort from the two RB's. The Eagles made the plays when they needed to be made and committed the fewest mistakes.

One thing sorely lacking from the Cowboys sideline, leadership. They were down in the mouth and I would bet that was one of the reasons the Eagles came out flat in the 2nd half. They thought the fight had been taken out of them.

There are two kinds of teams when it comes to motivation. Those that make their own and those that need it made for them. Right now, the Cowboys are the latter. Give Rush credit, he kept coming at them and was the reason the team finally woke up in the 2nd half.

A very well said and unbiased post which encapsulates last night's game and the mentality of the two football teams at the moment. Dallas has always been that shiny new sports car type of franchise whereas the Eagles have been that beat up off road 4x4.....and football is an off-road type of game. Dallas needs to learn that as a franchise before they will see success. While the defense threw off road tires on the sports car the entire team needs to start taking on that mindset.

 

[Sydla]

Context matters right?

That was a tired defense, they were on the field all day on the road against a very good offensive line. What don't you get?

They had no trouble stopping them on other drives. And they came on the field after we had jsut scored on a time consuming drive ourselves giving them rest.

Our run D is suspect. It just is.

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

I suggested last week that we try to trade for a DT and I was ridiculed

The schemed to attack our bread and butter defensive scheme, the stunt. Not sure if a DT would have made a difference when he is following our scheme and looping around the DE. It’s more that we didn’t adjust in the middle of that last drive. It happens.

As usual when it comes to big games, the Boys fall short as a team. Coaching, QB play & Penalties is the norm, Day or no Dak!

But with that said, we have to believe we would have won if Dak played.