The Cowboys first game after the bye week will be against the Las Vegas Raiders. A loss would be the Cowboys’ third straight, and back-to-back in the spotlight of Monday Night Football. A win and the Cowboys can hold on to their dwindling playoff push hopes.
To conclude a self scouting exercise we’ve been doing here through the bye week, it’s time to look at the two losses that sent the Cowboys into the bye as a reeling team, at the Denver Broncos and home against the Arizona Cardinals. We also have yet to scout that clunky tie in another primetime game against the Packers in week four, which is where we begin:
Week 4 vs. Green Bay Packers
Dallas Cowboys 40 Green Bay Packers 40 (OT)
- Cowboys improve/fall to 1-2-1
Here is how we initially thought a 2-1 Packers team could win this game outright in Arlington.
The Cowboys expect to have both DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs back together as their tandem at cornerback in this matchup. The time is now to use a defense getting closer to full strength, also expecting Jadeveon Clowney to make his team debut against the Packers, to actually play to the strengths of their personnel and give the Cowboys offense a chance to stay balanced in this game.
If they’re unable to, there may not be anything left to save on this 2025 season even if Prescott stays healthy and the offense continues to play relatively well, which is a worst-case scenario for the start of Schottenheimer’s tenure.
The Packers scored on every one of their second half possessions in this game, and then answered a Brandon Aubrey field goal in overtime with one of their own to end the game in a confounding tie. With all three of Jordan Love’s touchdown passes going to top receiver Romeo Doubs, a similar type of shifty route runner and speedster to other receivers that have given Matt Eberflus’ defense consistent trouble, the Cowboys have made strides since this point to at least take away the first option for opposing offenses.
The overall effort hasn’t been enough to win with any regularity, but with some loaded offenses waiting on their upcoming schedule, the Cowboys will either make strides here to have any chance of competing or quickly be looking towards the 2026 draft. Quarterbacks and play-callers that go against the Cowboys need to fear something in this Dallas defense to not dominate games, with the Cowboys hoping they have many of those “somethings” all getting in the mix at the Raiders.
Week 8 at Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos 44 Dallas Cowboys 24
- Cowboys fall to 3-4-1
First, here is how we thought the Broncos would extend their winning streak against the Cowboys.
Dak Prescott having nowhere to throw and looking nowhere close to the QB he’s proven capable of again this season against the Broncos is unfortunately what his record against this team would suggest. His two previous losses to the Broncos, one on the road and one at home, were both decisive and very bad days at the office for the offense as a whole.
The offense the Cowboys are taking to Denver this time is simply too talented to suffer a similar fate, so long as Prescott plays the point guard position well and facilitates the ball.
There’s no getting around the fact the majority of this self scouting with an eye towards where the Cowboys need to get better has been about the defense, because the defense has mostly been that bad. That doesn’t mean we haven’t found areas where the offense was a letdown too, much like Brian Schottenheimer most certainly will as he looks to improve that side of the ball after a bye. The loss at the Broncos was unfortunately one of those runaway games where the defense was so porous that the offense was only ever on the field in survival mode, and the game quickly got away in a tough road environment.
The biggest problem for the Cowboys defense in this game was setting the edge. The Broncos had two running backs average over six yards a carry, and also got Bo Nix in a rhythm by turning easy throws to the outside into big gains.
It remains true that the best things to come from the Cowboys trading for Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson, as well as getting DeMarvion Overshown back, are likely coming beyond this 2025 season that can’t get off the ground. If things click sooner than expected and Dallas can at least starting setting the edge, defending the run better, and tackling in space, the Cowboys can at least get through the rest of the season with the expectation to compete and see where the rest of the cards settle.
Even if 2025 is a lost year when it comes to returning to the playoffs, nothing is lost or unimportant when trying to set a new culture, which the Cowboys are working hard to do – but never got a chance to show in week eight.
Week 9 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals 27 Dallas Cowboys 17
- Cowboys fall to 3-5-1
Here is how we thought the Cardinals could come in and get a primetime road win:
McBride is a potential problem in every facet of this game plan. The idea of him running routes against either Kenneth Murray or any other Dallas linebacker is terrifying. The poor all-around tackling the Cowboys showed against the Broncos plays into McBride’s ability to be more of a receiver than a tight end after the catch. The instant chemistry he’s apparently found with Brissett, and the Cardinals having an extra week to study how they’ll unleash him against this suspect Cowboys defense, are also concerns.
It wasn’t exactly Trey McBride that wrecked this game for the Cowboys with his five catches and a touchdown, but the effect of him drawing attention from the Dallas defense allowed Marvin Harrison Jr. to shine and also be a game-wrecker. Harrison Jr. caught seven of his ten targets for 96 yards and a highlight reel touchdown in man coverage against DaRon Bland.
The Cowboys not having an obvious answer to matchup with McBride at either safety or linebacker made lining up against the Cardinals offense difficult. Jacoby Brissett was able to continue playing with the poise and command of the offense that’s led to him remaining the starter in Arizona.
Dallas apparently views getting Malik Hooker back at safety as having a “quarterback” in coverage that can help them get lined up better in these ways, and adding more pressure on opposing quarterbacks is a necessary step to help the pass defense too. Hooker has not gone without his struggles within Eberflus’ scheme as well, but getting into the time of year where any team playing at close to full strength can be considered an advantage against injury attrition, the Cowboys will at least have options available up and down the depth chart to find the right defenders moving forward.
As for our scouting note about the offense needing to get the ball to both Lamb and Pickens against the Cardinals, the pair did have a combined 13 receptions on 21 targets, but it took until the fourth quarter to score an offensive touchdown with Ryan Flournoy. The Cowboys went 1-3 in the red zone a week after going 2-4 at the Broncos. Dallas cannot play complementary football without finishing drives with the ball in their hands, regardless of how much a luxury having Aubrey at kicker is.
Anything can happen in a night game in Las Vegas, but the Cowboys drawing an opponent that lost while only allowing one offensive touchdown last time out off the bye has to be a gift they capitalize on. The Cowboys will be rewarded for scoring points off the bye, and if it results in a win, they can get back on the hard-bucking horse of trying to win back to back games in their all-important rematch with the Eagles at home in week 12.
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