Cowboys News: Miscommunication fuels botched plays, McCarthy matches Garrett
There is admittedly a ton of blame to go around following the Cowboys’ clunker in Week 15. Yes, point a big accusatory finger at the run defense. But the 31-10 loss was a total team failure. Just look at how easy Josh Allen says he had it. And check out how a coaches’ miscommunication may have led to that disastrous roughing the punter penalty. And don’t forget the fumble that Dallas never challenged. And then there’s the Cowboys’ obvious shortcomings whenever they take the field in someone else’s stadium. We’ll look at all of it in this edition of News and Notes.
But there’s also an encouraging update on Zack Martin’s leg injury, as well as a drop in the power rankings that may not be as bad as expected. Dak Prescott’s MVP campaign took a nasty hit, Jayron Kearse defends his penalized hit, and a former Cowboys defender gets a harsh punishment from the league for his particularly vicious hit. All that, plus a mock draft brings secondary help, and if you thought Mike McCarthy was a huge upgrade over Jason Garrett, you might be shocked by what the numbers say at this point in the current regime.
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Run defense struggles highlighted in loss :: The Mothership
Every unit had a poor showing Sunday, but none got lit up like the Cowboys’ run defense, allowing 266 yards on the ground. That’s the team’s most in over a decade. The absence of Johnathan Hankins was noticeable, to be sure, but this was a failed effort by the entire group. “Hank’s important, but I think it was everyone all across the board,” Micah Parsons said. The Cowboys will look to regroup from their worst run defense performance under Dan Quinn when they travel to Miami next week to face the two-headed rushing attack of Raheem Mostert and Devon Achane.
Why Josh Allen, Bills were comfortable avoiding passes in smashmouth win vs. Cowboys :: Dallas Morning News
Josh Allen tried just 15 passes on Sunday. It marked just the 13th time in franchise history a Dallas opponent attempted 15 or fewer throws and the first instance since a 27-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 3, 2000. The Cowboys are 3-10 all-time in those games.
Micah Parsons on Cowboys' 'mind-boggling' road struggles: 'Honestly, it's unacceptable at this point' :: NFL.com
The Cowboys players themselves have no answers for why they’ve been such a different team away from AT&T Stadium. “There’s no excuse for it,” Parsons said. “I don’t understand why we’re not playing well and why we’re not coming together on the road. We’ve something we need to look at and get better at, because we’re back on the road next week.”
McCarthy gives obvious assessment of Cowboys run defense :: Jon Machota
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy when asked about the play of Dallas’ defensive line in Buffalo: “We’re not passing out any game balls.”
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 18, 2023
Cowboys' Zack Martin updates injury, optimistic about playing vs Miami :: Cowboys Wire
The perennial All-Pro was knocked out of Sunday’s game with a quad injury, but after the game he called it “a fluke thing” and told reporters that he “feels good” about being ready to go by Week 15’s kickoff in Miami.
Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys extension could be riding on him getting over the Jason Garrett playoff hump :: Yahoo Sports
In his final 64 regular-season games, Jason Garrett finished 40-24, won the NFC East twice, went 1-2 in the playoffs, and was ultimately fired because he could never break through to a Super Bowl despite talented rosters. Mike McCarthy has now coached 64 regular-season games in Dallas. He has a 40-24 regular-season record, he’s currently in contention to win his second NFC East title, and he’s gone 1-2 in the playoffs, and has the 2023 postseason still awaiting his talented roster. Right now, the two coaches are that Spider-man meme.
McCarthy explains not challenging apparent missed fumble vs Bills :: Todd Archer
Why didn't the Cowboys challenge Stefon Diggs' second quarter fumble? "I grabbed my flag. Then they went with the hurry up so there was communication with our guys up top, but we didn’t get a review (in time)."
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) December 18, 2023
NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Cowboys, Steelers plummet, 49ers and Ravens tussle for No. 1 :: Cowboys Wire
The only real question was how far the Cowboys would fall after their uninspired showing in Orchard Park. Five spots is the answer; Dallas now sits at No. 7 heading into Week 15. Their next opponent, Miami, is pegged just ahead of them at No. 6.
Bills QB's quote shows just how easy he had it on 94-yard passing night :: Mike Leslie
Josh Allen with the quote of the night: "I feel like the kid who didn't do anything in the class project and still got an A."
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) December 18, 2023
Cowboys-Bills postgame coverage, analysis :: Cowboys Wire
Instant Analysis: Lack of discipline, awareness lead Cowboys to embarrassing loss to Bills
Good, Bad, Ugly: Cowboys offense no-shows, tackling disappears in 31-10 flop
Even in blowout loss, CeeDee Lamb stands out as Cowboys’ best weapon
Studs and Duds: Cowboys demoralized by Bills 31-10 in frustrating performance
Twitter reacts to Cowboys’ lackluster road performance in 31-10 loss to Bills
Apparent miscommunication between coaches on Sam Williams penalty :: Clarence Hill Jr.
Cowboys special teams coach John Fassel got chewed out by coach Mike McCarthy for the blocked punt call that resulted in the roughing penalty on Sam Williams. It was a one-man block call. The Cowboys had a return on. Fassel didn't let McCarthy know he was making the call. He was…
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) December 18, 2023
NFL MVP Odds: 49ers Brock Purdy sitting pretty as Dak and Cowboys stumble :: USA Today
The Cowboys’ awful day didn’t do Prescott any favors in his chase of the league’s MVP award. Failing to win your own division is often a death sentence in the MVP race, and Dallas’s 1-3 record against teams with a winning record doesn’t bode well. Prescott now has the second-best odds for the honor behind Brock Purdy, with Lamar Jackson coming on fast.
Kearse takes to social media to plead case on roughing call :: Jayron Kearse
Didn’t lower head/shoulder, didn’t make contact with crown of my helmet. What am I supposed to do @NFLOfficiating pic.twitter.com/qFQp4Vvebt
— JK (@Jayronkearse8) December 18, 2023
Rob Gronkowski calls Dallas Cowboys ‘mentally weak’ after blowout loss to Buffalo Bills : Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The legendary tight end-turned-commentator had thoughts after watching the Cowboys get trounced in Buffalo. “When you’re a team and you can’t go on the road and win a big game in a hostile environment with weather that isn’t on, you know, on your side, isn’t in your favor, it means you’re not mentally tough. And the Dallas Cowboys are not a mentally tough football team,” Gronkowski said. “It has been shown this year twice now, because they got absolutely blown out versus a good team in San Francisco when they went on the road.”
Steelers' Damontae Kazee suspended rest of season for hit :: ESPN
The ex-Cowboys safety was flagged and ejected Thursday night for a vicious hit on Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Now the league has suspended him without pay for the final three games of the Steelers’ season as well. The league’s memo to Kazee highlighted his “unobstructed path” to Pittman and noted that “illegal contact could have been avoided.”
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Jayden Daniels reinvigorates Raiders, Bill Belichick adds a new quarterback :: CBS Sports
Given the defense’s atrocious showing on Sunday, getting a little defensive help sounds about right. This mock has Dallas using the 30th overall pick to select Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin. The 6-foot-2-inch safety is a smart player that would supplement the team’s already-rangy secondary.
