The Dallas Cowboys were embarrassed 31-10 by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in a pathetic performance. The Cowboys could not find footing on offense or defense against Buffalo’s stingy defense. Quarterback Dak Prescott was sacked three times and threw an interception, putting a stain on his MVP campaign. Here are the tough questions that the Cowboys must answer, and how they can rebound from their most pathetic performance of 2023.
Buffalo Stampedes Dallas 31-10: The Tough Questions That Dallas Must Answer Sooner than Later
Most Valuable…Pseudo?
The NFL is a human league, everyone is going to have a bad game. It’s too early to start running for the exits, but QB Dak Prescott’s MVP climb took a major shot on Sunday. Prescott remained in for the entirety of the game, completing 21 passes for a season-low 134 yards. His five-game streak without an interception was snapped, and he was sacked three times. Compare it to any other Quarterback who played on Sunday, and Dak looked rather underwhelming. Not an ideal situation, considering 49ers Brock Purdy’s big day.
Prescott had trouble finding any rhythm until garbage time. The offense came out looking lackadaisical, unable to find the end zone for 57 minutes. If Prescott doesn’t bounce back big time against Miami next week, his MVP window might be closed.
Can Dak bounce back? Most NFL fans who watch even some football would say yes. Prescott’s ugly 31-10 performance put a major stain on his MVP campaign. He will face the 9th-ranked Miami defense on Christmas Eve. An efficient, multiple-touchdown game with no turnovers would likely rekindle his MVP campaign. It’s possible, as Dak has played very well against Dallas’ toughest cornerback matchups. Christmas Eve may just be Dak’s present to Dallas.
Who’s Injury Cost Dallas the Most?
The Dallas Cowboys entered Sunday missing multiple players, and they will wake up on Monday missing even more. The Bills knocked out Cowboys LG Zack Martin early, and it was downhill from there. While Dak Prescott’s biggest bodyguard went down, the MVP-caliber QB hung in there. If you rewatch the game and account for Buffalo’s points, it’s clear who the biggest injury was Johnathan Hankins.
Without Hankins, Dallas’ run defense looked abysmal, allowing both RB James Cook and running back Latavius Murray to score. Cook averaged 7.2 yards per carry, finishing with 179 rushing yards and 221 yards from scrimmage, both career records. Dallas’ defense can not continue to allow average running backs to gash them. Dallas has less than a week to prepare for track stars in the likes of Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. Hankins and the Cowboys’ space eaters must step up and remain healthy to defeat running back rooms much faster than the Bills’.
Cracks Under the Structure Widening?
The Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line is the team’s most important group by far. It was all smiles back when Dallas extended right tackle Terrence Steele and picked up guard T.J. Bass as a free agent. Dallas’ offseason shopping spree was great, but they forgot to pick up more offensive line depth. The bills found a hole that the Cowboys wouldn’t discover for 15 weeks. Lucky for Dallas, Zack Martin dodged a major bullet. His knee was deemed stable in the medical tent, and he was likely taken out of the game for safety.
“We went to the tent, it stiffened up and wasn’t firing for me,” said Martin. “I’m hoping this week, treat it, and get it ready to go on Sunday. I feel good about that,”
Martin will likely play against the Dolphins on Christmas Eve. The Cowboys’ offensive line is going to need to stiffen up. Miami’s Bradley Chubb currently boasts a top-five pass rush win ranking. Steele and the front 7 must remain physical and pull it together. The cracks under the surface must be addressed sooner rather than later. Dallas’ rock will likely return on Christmas Eve, as Martin’s knee is intact. They can not let Miami put the pressure on Prescott if the Cowboys want to win.
Main Photo: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
