The Dallas Cowboys lost in Kansas City one more chance to show that they are a real contender when it comes to facing opponents who are also competing to reach and transcend in the postseason.
It was the second loss in the last three games, although unlike the stumble against the Denver Broncos, this Sunday they were not defeated in all phases of the game. In fact, only in one.
The problem is that that area is the one that is supposed to load the team, the offense. That unit that arrived this week as the best in average yards generated per game, in points scored and that at times has seemed unstoppable.
“It’s definitely very frustrating, the way our defense played today,” Ezekiel Elliott said. “We have to go out there and make more plays, it’s that easy. We have to better protect our quarterback. We have to be better for our defense.”
The big positive point is that the defense was able to adjust throughout the game, after it initially looked like an offensive party from Pat Mahomes and company.
The Chiefs scored the only touchdown of the game in their first series, they continued in the next with a field goal and the other nine points were actually when the game was almost decided, against that offense the Cowboys simply could never find their rhythm and move the ball.
The Dallas defense recovered two balls while the game was still on the line: a fumble late in the first half, the product of the first of two sacks by rookie Micah Parsons, who seems to grow bigger each week.
And the second, at the beginning of the third quarter, was an interception by Jayron Kearse, who consolidates as one of the leaders of his team and perhaps the most consistent, besides Parsons.
But his offense only profited with three points from both deliveries that sparked his defense.
“It’s everyone’s fault. If we don’t allow 19 points, we don’t lose today,” Kearse said. “This sport is about scoring and not getting scored. They scored more than we did because the defense allowed them to score 19.”
The Cowboys offense came incomplete again. Just on Friday afternoon they found out that receiver Amari Cooper has Covid and will be out for two games. Left tackle Tyron Smith failed to recover from his ankle injury and was ruled out hours before the kickoff, to be replaced for the third time by Terence Steele.
As Jerry Jones reported on Friday, Connor McGovern was started at right guard, by Connor Williams, who was benched, as the league leader in penalties committed.
Too many moves on an offensive line that hasn’t even seen a game with its five projected starters at the opening of preseason camp. And if you add what seems to be a concussion for receiver CeeDee Lamb at the end of the first half to no longer return, the lack of offensive production of this to be justified.
Worse still, if you consider the execution errors along the same lines and among the receivers that were available like Cedrick Wilson and Noah Brown, who let go of catchable passes completely, and at times Dak Prescott with little precision, not counting the obvious annoyances. Ezekiel Elliott’s physics.
“Yeah, there were plays we left out there that we usually make,” Wilson said. “But I know we will do them, the season still has a lot to play for.”
The Cowboys have little time to mourn. It is unknown if Lamb, who during his time on the field at Arrow Head Stadium had double coverage and made it easier for other receivers to uncheck, will be available to receive the Raiders this Thursday, on Thanksgiving Day.
If he is officially placed on concussion protocol, it is almost a given that he will not be able to play.
They will also have to decide on Tyron Smith, whose odds are growing, considering that he was close to playing this Sunday.
“The beauty of this is that in four days we have another game,” Elliott said. “We are going back to Dallas. We will make corrections and be ready for Thanksgiving.”
But it is a fact that if the Cowboys are to beat the Raiders, they will have to execute better on offense, with those available, and hope their defense continues to do what it has done most of the time this season: Allow yards, but closing in the transcendent moments, such as third chance and red zone situations, in addition to delivering balls to his offense.
“This is a team that won’t give up and will continue to fight, I promise you,” said Prescott, who finished with 216 yards and no touchdown passes for the second time this season. “There are no worries or demotivation about what the future holds.”
