BALTIMORE — The Dallas Cowboys fell to 3-9 after a demoralizing night for the defense against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. The Cowboys lost 34-17 and the notion that the Cowboys are still in the race due to the lackluster NFC East, was thrown out the window. Dallas has lost six of their previous seven games and even though the team is technically two games away from first place, it seems the underperforming Cowboys reached a point of no return on Tuesday night.
With 2:08 left in the game, J.K. Dobbins ran into the end zone on a five-yard touchdown run and teammate Orlando Brown raced over and emphatically yelled into the camera “Easy Money.” That it was for the Ravens all evening. They imposed their will on the ground.
The Cowboys knew that Baltimore would run the football with their ground and pound approach. Frankly, even if the Ravens were not a run-first philosophy team, they would have made themselves one against the worst ranked Cowboys’ run defense. Dallas gave up 294 yards on the ground and the squad will definitely keep their ranking after the atrocious performance. This game marked the fourth time the Cowboys have given up over 200 rushing yards this season.
The Cowboys had a 12-day rest period prior to the meeting to regroup but the layoff did not make matters any better. The Ravens came out firing on all cylinders and had four, 30-yard plays in the first half including three explosive runs to Gus Edwards (36), Lamar Jackson (37), and J.K. Dobbins (30).
Baltimore gashed the Cowboys’ defense and the same recurring issues emerged for the embattled unit. Dallas had no containment on the perimeter and Lamar Jackson took full advantage of the wide-open lanes on the edge and finished with 94 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Gus Edwards accumulated 101 yards and by the end of the night, the Ravens were openly mocking the Cowboys with laughter.
The unsettling fact of the matter is, the same recurring issues persist each week for the Cowboys’ defense: missed assignments, a lack of gap discipline, poor angles, and not setting edges.
Opponents are continuing to use the same game plan against the Cowboys because it works week in and week out. Regardless of who is running with the ball or if it is up the middle or to the outside, Dallas cannot stop it.
If not now, when? When will things change? The Cowboys’ defense continues to be a laughingstock in the NFL but yet, there are no clear adjustments being made. Sure, the new 3-4 modified scheme under Mike Nolan was “simplified” to try and benefit the players in their adjustment from Rod Marinelli’s traditional, get up and attack style base 4-3. However, with no offseason and a brand new coaching staff amidst the chaos of a season during a global pandemic, not sure if that was the time to introduce players to a hybrid system and try to marry the two together with players fitting into the old 4-3 ways.
Atop the myriad of struggles, it seems playing nickel might not be conducive to stopping opponent’s run personnel. The Cowboys could load the box more to try and stop the run or hey, maybe add an extra linebacker to help in a more traditional 4-3 instead of having Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, and a DB when rushers break to the second level. Clearly, that is not working.
Something has got to change or another embarrassing performance will ensue on Sunday against the Bengals.
Offensively, the Cowboys continued to struggle in the red zone (2-of-4). The injury-ravaged offensive line performed well and Andy Dalton was only sacked one time throughout the ballgame, but Dalton Schultz’s 15-yard reception was the highlight for the majority of the matchup. Michael Gallup’s 28-yard catch, Schultz’s 19-yarder, and Noah Brown’s 19-yard reception all occurred in the fourth quarter. Dalton was intercepted in the second quarter, which the Ravens’ cashed in for a touchdown on the next play. Not exactly an explosive game by any means for an offense that could not find its momentum.
To put the nail in the coffin, the Cowboys have a serious debacle at kicker. Greg Zuerlein was 1-4 on kicks. He made a 31-yarder in the first quarter then proceeded to miss a 40-yarder in the second quarter, a 53-yarder in the third, and a 52-yarder in the fourth. Safe to say, the nickname “Greg the Leg” is no longer accurate.
