ARLINGTON, Texas – Coming off a bye week with two weeks of preparation, the Dallas Cowboys fell to the Tennessee Titans in an embarrassing loss 28-14. The Cowboys’ offense was able to capitalize on a forced fumble by DeMarcus Lawrence early in the game with a four-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to Amari Cooper in his debut start as a Cowboy.
Dallas made it into the red zone three times in the first quarter and only came away with seven points, after a missed 38-yard field goal attempt and an interception in the end zone. The game was over before it had hardly begun. With opportunities set up by the defense with two turnovers, the offense has to be able to take advantage of those situations. Instead of 14 points, the Cowboys had to settle for 7, and the aggravation showed on the faces of the players on the defensive side of the football throughout the football game.
Following the game Dak Prescott stated, “ That is the difference right there- 14 points…our margin of error is small. We have to buckle down. “
A team that is 3-5 headed into a tough schedule with the Eagles and Falcons on the road; there is no more room for mistakes. The offensive errors have to be ironed out now. At home, with a new receiver in Amari Cooper and offensive line coach in Marc Colombo, the team still played their same conservative football and could not get the run or pass going.
Accountability needs to begin now. Prescott does well in a hurried up offense, quickly releasing the football to an option receiver or with his legs on runs. The first drive down the field was successful using Prescott in that way, but during the rest of the game they tried to fit him in as a pocket passer which backfired due to poor protection by the offensive line. He was sacked five times and due to pressure handed off the ball to Ezekiel Elliott. Prescott finished 21 of 31 for 243 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
The Titan’s new defensive coordinator came prepared and adjusted to attack the Cowboys’ bread and butter-the ground game. The Cowboys’ have got to do a better job at in-game adjustments, and be more aggressive on first and second downs.
