ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys (3-3) were playing the Detroit Lions (4-1) at home in Week 6 at AT&T Stadium, but what happened on the field and in the stands was friendly. It wasn’t something. It was truly hostile.
Detroit defeated Dallas 47-9, their worst losing record at home since owner and general manager Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989. It also tied for the worst home and away losing record under Jones’ ownership and a 45-7 road record. A loss against the Green Bay Packers in Week 9 of the 2010 season, and a 44-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17 of the 2008 season.
“It’s disappointing for the fans,” Jones said after the game. “It’s unfortunate for all the guys who are or were a part of the Cowboys. … We don’t like where we are right now. We have a lot of work to do. We need a lot of improvement before we can do it. ” Sit here with a smile on your face. ”
Dallas lost 48-32 in the NFC Wild Card round last season, lost 44-19 to the Saints in Week 2, lost 28-25 to the Ravens in Week 3, and lost 4-4 in Week 6. They have given up 167 points in the losing streak. The Lions lost 47-9. According to CBS Sports Research, this is the third-highest total in four home games, including the postseason, in NFL history. Only the 1948 New York Giants (177 games) and the 1972-1973 Houston Oilers (176 games) had worse four-game home games than the 2023-2024 Dallas Cowboys. On Sunday, a chorus of boos echoed throughout AT&T Stadium throughout the game: “Let’s go Lions” and “Jared Goff!”
That’s no surprise considering Detroit scored on its first nine drives of the game, not including a kneel at the end of the first half. Chants from the away team’s fans continued throughout this historic four-game losing streak, including the Packers’ “Go Pac Go,” the Saints’ “Who Dat,” and the Ravens’ “Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh.” There is. to the beat of “Seven Nation Army” after the touchdown. Not a very pleasant environment for the host Cowboys.
Asked again about the woes at home, Jones said: “It’s very, very (sad).” “We all know we should feel better at home. … That’s one of the first things we think about. … In the proverbial dire situation we’re in right now… I am very aware of that.”
Defensive issues are near the top of the list of problems for Dallas this time around. According to CBS Sports Research, the Cowboys are also the first team in NFL history to allow at least 12 yards per pass attempt to opposing quarterbacks in four consecutive home games, including the postseason. Here’s a list of quarterbacks who have taken turns crushing Dallas’ defense at AT&T Stadium in the Cowboys’ last four home games.
Cowboys’ last 4 home games
* Packers playoff single game record
** The Cowboys become the first team in NFL history to allow at least 12 passing yards/attempt in four consecutive home games, including the playoffs.
So how can such a porous defense be fixed? Jones is a team player with two of Dallas’ top three corners (2023 All-Pro selection Darron Brand and Kaelen) and top edge rusher (All-Pro selection Daron Brand and Kaelen) He pointed out that it would be healthier to play without three-time selection Micah Parsons, four-time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence and Marshawn Kneeland. Carson) and top inside linebacker (Eric Kendricks). Cornerback Jordan Lewis refused to use the injury as an excuse after the game, pointing out that he was shorthanded in Week 5’s 20-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Every time you get hit, it creates a question mark. When you get hit like this, it creates more question marks,” Jones said. … “We just got a bunch of guys, a lot more than I wanted or thought we had. I thought we were compromised defensively, but coming here and playing defensive backs… I thought we could really make up for some of the compromises we made on the field.”Our offense once again said a lot more than just disappointing about this one. ”
Offense Disconnect
Jones was clearly alluding to 2023 All-Pro quarterback Dak Prescott, the highest-paid player on the Cowboys’ 2023 second team, and 2023 All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, a defensive weakness. We talked about making up for it with offense. Jones signed Prescott to a four-year, $240 million extension before the start of Week 1, and re-signed Lamb to a four-year, $136 million contract in late August. Non-rookie contract.
The lack of reps due to Ram holdout and the rust it caused is obvious. Week 6 was the second consecutive game in which Prescott threw an end zone interception aimed at Lamb, and he did the same in Week 5’s win over the Steelers. Prescott threw for 178 yards on Sunday on 17-of-33 passes with two picks, while Lamb caught 7-of-14 targets for 89 yards. There was a play Sunday against the Lions where Lamb was running deep down the right sideline, and Prescott clearly thought his top target was running some kind of return route. The quarterback let it break, but Lamb’s back remained toward the quarterback and the football bounced harmlessly onto the turf. That play encapsulated the problem.
“It wasn’t just me and Sheedy,” Prescott said after the game. “Oh, sure, there’s one throw here, there’s a route, and he taught you. One wasn’t great protection. If I had an answer, I promise you, we would have been better, and like I said, same with the run game. This is a great time for us to understand how we can improve. But again, the people in that room, the trust I have in them. I’m talking about guys who believe in the guys in the locker room and fight a war every day. Please understand correctly. ”
Prescott revealed he plans to use a portion of the team’s Week 7 bye to make up for the time the Dallas duo lost this offseason.
“Yeah, we’re going to spend a few days communicating, getting the ball in the air,” Prescott said of his bye-week plan with Lamb. “I mean, honestly, it’s pretty simple. It’s communication, a little bit of effort, and understanding that these defenses are doing a good job. Let’s not discredit them. This is the NFL When we put up numbers together, you’re in the NFL.” It’s not like everybody’s going to come out and play one-on-one with CeeDee…We’re going to give it our due and give it our due. We have to keep pushing and maybe plan on some of these double teams. Things are getting better and I understand that once you start running, it’s difficult to stop.”
Jerry Jones Guilty
Had Jones proactively re-signed earlier in the offseason, the dynamic duo issue may have even been prevented from becoming an issue in 2024. Having a run game will also help Prescott and Lamb. The Cowboys’ 77.2 rushing yards per game in 2024 is the worst in the NFL. If he had re-signed with them in March before free agency started. He could have had the cap space to sign one of the league’s best rushers. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry was interested in Dallas because he trained there in the offseason and lived there. Doing so could also give Dallas enough cap space to re-sign Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore played a key role for the Cowboys last season when Trevon Diggs went down with a torn ACL. Now, he’s making a difference for the 5-0 Minnesota Vikings.
But when asked if the current squad has the talent to be one of the NFC’s top teams by the end of the year, Jones said yes, but couldn’t explain why he felt that way.
“I do it. I just do it,” Jones said.
The problem for Jones is his Cowboys’ history of not having what they need in 2024. Dallas is 0-3 at home, losing by 66 points (119-53). According to CBS Sports Research, no team in NFL history has allowed as many points (119) in their first three home games and made the playoffs. According to CBS Sports Research, no team in NFL history has advanced to the postseason by scoring as many points (66 points) in its first three home games.
Is Mike McCarthy in the hot seat?
Coincidentally, in Week 9 of the 2010 season, then-head coach Wade Phillips’ last game coaching the Cowboys before he was fired, coincidentally a 45-7 loss to McCarthy’s Green Bay Packers. At the time, Dallas seemed lost at sea as well. McCarthy is currently coaching in 2024, the final year of his original five-year contract. Despite the crushing loss, Jones said he has no plans to fire McCarthy during the season.
“I never thought about that,” Jones said. “I don’t think about that. Just to be clear, I don’t think about that. I don’t think about what-ifs on that matter. ‘Do you think I’m stupid? ’” Given the timing of me sitting here, I’m not going to make assumptions with you about when to consider a coaching change. ”
The Cowboys now have two weeks to right the ship before heading west to face their arch-rival San Francisco 49ers, who have sent the team to two of the past three postseasons. I hope Parsons and Brand come back.
“Well, it’s unfortunate because we were 3-and-3,” Jones said. “I’m not blaming it all. As someone who’s been on the side that’s lost three times, I don’t necessarily blame McCarthy completely. The players feel like they had something to do with it as part of the staff. I’m sure the owners will say that’s not all.”