The Cowboys lost their first game of the season against the Arizona Cardinals on the road, 28-16, as the red zone struggles continued.
The Cowboys entered Sunday, obliterating the Giants 40-0 and blowing out the Jets 30-10 in their first two wins, and the defense seemed unstoppable, having recorded 10 sacks and seven takeaways.
However, that wasn’t the case against the Cardinals, as the defense struggled, allowing 222 yards on the ground and giving up two touchdowns.
Dallas only allowed 189 yards through the air but gave up big yardage plays to the Cardinals: 69, 45, 44, 26, 23, and 20 yards.
It didn’t help that Dallas was without three of their key offensive linemen: future Hall-of-Famer and tackle Tyron Smith, center Tyler Biadasz, and future Hall-of-Famer and guard Zack Martin.
The Cowboys were also without Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs, who led the league in interceptions (11) last season.
The effects of the loss of those four key players were felt as the Cowboys’ defense played their worst game yet.
By the numbers, the Cowboys’ offense moved the ball down the field with Dak Prescott completing 25 of 40 passes for 249 yards, a touchdown, and his first interception of the season.
Tony Pollard finished the game, rushing for 122 on 23 carries but did not manage to score a touchdown, which added to the red zone struggles.
“You look at this loss, we moved the ball up and down the field and just couldn’t score,” Prescott said to reporters after the game. “So that’s your reason for this loss.”
The Cowboys have offensive weapons like Brandon Cooks, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Tony Pollard but only managed to score one touchdown in five trips in the loss to the Cardinals.
Something is not clicking on offense.
“We’re not executing the way we’d like to,” said head coach Mike McCarthy speaking to reporters.
The Cowboys host Ezekiel Elliott and the New England Patriots on Sunday, Oct. 1. Kickoff starts at 3:25 p.m.
Joshua Carter