EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Dallas Cowboys fell to the New York Jets 24-22. The slow start woes continued for Dallas in their third-straight game.
The Cowboys had to settle for two field goals in the first half. Brett Maher kicked a 50-yard field goal to begin the second quarter after Dak Prescott’s incomplete short left pass to Michael Gallup. Later on in the quarter, Maher made a 62-yarder.
The main downfall for the team in the first half was penalties once again. The Cowboys had five penalties for 33 yards and were four-nine in third down efficiency. Dallas had four defensive penalties in one drive: pass interference on Chido Awuzie, encroachment on Antwaun Woods, horse collar on Maliek Collins, and pass interference on Byron Jones. The Jets capitalized on the drive with a Le’Veon Bell two-yard touchdown rush.
The Cowboys could not get the ground game rolling with 37 total rushing yards to conclude the second quarter. The Jets had Sam Darnold back in their offensive scheme and he made the difference. He was quick through progressions and his eyes were everywhere with Dallas’ defense not being able to predict where he was going to throw the football.
The Cowboys were without their two starting tackles and Prescott dealt with relentless pressure in the pocket. No.4 took a beating. Dallas lined up tight ends outside the tackles in the offensive line to add protection for Dak during the second half and it helped open up running lanes for Ezekiel Elliott. Zeke dominated the second half and finished with 105 yards and a touchdown. He made a big impact carrying the load moving chains and building the team’s offensive momentum.
The Cowboys started out with a successful drive in the second half, ending in a four-yard touchdown pass to Jason Witten. The play was negated by a bad pass interference call on Cedrick Wilson, who was jammed on the play by two defenders. Dallas was forced to settle for a Maher 32-yard field goal to make the score 21-9.
On the next drive, Jourdan Lewis intercepted a pass intended for Jamison Crowder, an explosive play by Lewis to put the Cowboys’ offense back on the field. Dallas could not capitalize on the interception with points after Maher missed the kick, but the following two drives resulted in touchdowns for the Cowboys:
Ezekiel Elliott on a five-yard TD rush. Score 21-16.
Dak Prescott rushed in the end zone on a four-yard rush to bring the team to a two-point differential, 24-22.
The Cowboys then missed the two-point conversion and onside kick to seal the loss. Overall, the team once again beat themselves with penalties (9-68) and the defense played without intensity, no hats on hats. They struggled to create pressure and to generate tight coverage in the secondary. The rush defense improved only allowing 56 rushing yards, but the Jets did not need to run the ball with the effectiveness of Darnold’s arm down the field.
Following the game, defensive backs’ coach Kris Richard remarked “Adversity does not build character, it reveals it…we will be back in battle no doubt about it.”
A message, we as the media, hears week in and week out. The key for this team now is to go out and execute on the field. They certainly have the talent and the tools to go to the next level; they just have to act on it.
An unfortunate game for the Cowboys on the injury front as well. Amari Cooper exited the game with a re-aggravated quad injury and Dorance Armstrong was ruled out with a neck injury. In addition, both cornerbacks Byron Jones and Anthony Brown dealt with hamstring tightness in the ballgame.
