Cowboys fall to Falcons, 27-21, drop to 3-5 as season is slipping away K.D. Drummond It’s tough for a fanbase to maintain hope for a season when their team isn’t winning. As long as there are games remaining on a schedule, anything is possible, but when a club continues to suffer major injuries to augment their self-inflicted wounds, sooner or later people stop believing. And that’s for the ones who believed in the first place. The Dallas Cowboys lost quarterback Dak Prescott to a hamstring injury in the third quarter of their game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9. He wasn’t the only one who was knocked out of the contest, either. Wideout CeeDee Lamb had several instances where he was in clear shoulder pain. In the end, it may not have mattered whether they were healthy for the full contest, as the Atlanta Falcons defense was able to corral the Dallas offense while their own O was efficient throughout a 27-13 win. The defeat drops the Cowboys to 3-5 on the season, with back-to-back home dates against the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans next up on the slate. In this contest, Prescott had been playing well, completing 75% of his throws without turning the ball over. Rush acquitted himself well in relief, adding 115 passing yards and a late score to Jalen Tolbert to give Dallas a last-second chance until the on-side kick failed. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Is Trevon Diggs playing today? Injury news update for Cowboys CB
Is Trevon Diggs playing today? Injury news update for Cowboys CB K.D. Drummond Update: Trevon Diggs will in fact play on Sunday, he was not one of the inactives. Trevon Diggs has had a trying week. Following last week’s frustrating loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the All-Pro cornerback came out the locker room to confront a media member of a tweet made during the contest. It was a bad look that eventually Diggs made amends for, but that wasn’t the end of Diggs’ time as the center of attention. Diggs also added himself to a ridiculously long list of injured Cowboys when he missed practice on Wednesday with what ended up being identified as a calf tear. Then Diggs missed Thursday, and then Friday. Duggs was given the game designation of questionable for Dallas’ Week 9 roadtrip to take on the Atlanta Falcons. The Cowboys are now sitting under ,500, at 3-4 on the 2024 season, losers of two games in a row. The team came out of their bye week flat, and needed a fell-short fourth-quarter rally to make their game against the 49ers a respectable effort. Now, that same group is traveling to Atlanta in to take on the Falcons and Kirk Cousins. Already missing all of their top edge rushers, the Cowboys have played all season without Diggs’ counterpart DaRon Bland and the last several weeks without his backup rookie Caelen Carson. With Bland out, stopping Cousins and the Falcons aerial attack without Diggs is probably too big of an ask. Expecting a player who missed all three practices to play at all, much less at a high level, is asking for a lot. Week 9 inactives will be announced approximately an hour and a half before kickoff. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys Headlines: What now for Zeke? Who’s to blame for Dak’s rough year?
Cowboys 54-Man Roster Moves: Ezekiel Elliott left behind in Dallas for Week 9 Falcons match :: Cowboys Wire Link Elliott won’t make the trip to Atlanta for “disciplinary reasons,” per a Saturday development. Running back Dalvin Cook gets his second straight gameday elevation instead. Cornerback Josh Butler also gets the Sunday call-up to aid a secondary reeling with injuries. Caelen Carson is back, but DaRon Bland remains sidelined, and Trevon Diggs is questionable after not practicing all week. Report: Ezekiel Elliott’s reaction to being inactive led Cowboys to leave him in Dallas :: Cowboys Wire Link Elliott was apparently informed of the team’s decision to make him inactive for Week 9. It was only afterward, reports David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, that “a mutual decision was then made” that the running back would not travel with the team to Atlanta. Whatever Elliott’s reaction was to the news, it got him grounded in Dallas and will no doubt be a talking point moving forward next week. Will the Cowboys keep Ezekiel Elliott? :: ProFootballTalk Link Mike Florio believes the end may be coming imminently for Elliott and the Cowboys. He’s already very unlikely to hit financial incentives for scrimmage yards, number of touchdowns, snap percentage, and a playoff berth, and Sunday’s removal from the active roster will cost him over $22,000 in lost wages. Technically, he could be traded before Tuesday… or even released, at this point. Without formula for success, Cowboys’ run game is on pace for historically poor output :: Dallas Morning News Link At their current pace, the Cowboys could finish with the second- or third-fewest rushing yards in franchise history. The club’s inaugural 1960 squad currently holds the record for fewest rushes, yards, and yards per carry. Considering that team went winless on the season, it’s a damning indictment on just how atrocious the 2024 ground game has been. Dak Prescott honest about concerning lack of QB runs: ‘It’s bad’ :: The Mothership Link The Cowboys have been provably better when Prescott uses his legs as well as his arm. But it’s just not happening this season. He maintains that there is no problem with his surgically-repaired ankle and that he’s fully capable of still tucking and running. “When you’re weighing that risk — it’s when I’ve got the ball in my hands, it’s not just about that play,” he explained. “It’s about the team, the game, the momentum of it.” This major flaw in Cowboys passing game giving Prescott predictable results :: Cowboys Wire Link Dak Prescott is on pace for a career-high in interceptions. That’s directly related to the tight windows he’s throwing into. And that’s a result of everyone around him: receivers struggling to separate, coaches and their poor play design, the O-line’s porous blocking, a terrible run game not keeping defenses honest, a defense that’s allowing games to get out of hand. Dexter Lawrence headlines top five DTs! Plus, Dak Prescott’s struggles and Diontae Johnson’s trade :: NFL.com Link Bucky Brooks says Prescott does deserve flak for some errant tosses and poor decisions, but the fact that he has no serious supporting cast beyond CeeDee Lamb cannot be ignored. Despite deficiencies up and down the offensive roster, most of the blame should land right in the lap of Jerry Jones, for failing to build a roster that properly supports the highly accomplished (and highly paid) passer in his prime. Dallas won division titles in 2016, 2018, and 2021 with top-10 rushing attacks; why abandon that approach now and expect success? NFL TV coverage maps, announcers for Week 9: Can you watch Cowboys-Falcons? :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys aren’t in a national TV window and won’t get Fox’s A-team; Adam Amin and Greg Olsen will be on the call from Atlanta. Most of the country will get to watch the game, though, except for the Northeast, portions of Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and most of Nevada. Getting to face Kirk Cousins among things Cowboys should love about Week 9 :: Cowboys Wire Link Cousins has a propensity for turning the ball over, and it only seems to happen at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That’s worth keeping an eye on this Sunday. And the Falcons have the worst pass rush in the league, so Prescott may be able to stay upright and have time in the pocket. That’s also good news. And Atlanta isn’t great at home- just like the Cowboys- so the visitors may have the upper hand here. Fighting Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson two of many key matchups for Cowboys vs Falcons :: Cowboys Wire Link Robinson is having a strong season, but he doesn’t face many eight-man fronts. If Mike Zimmer’s crew can load the box, they may be able to contain the run game led by a young player not used to those mismatched numbers. But Atlanta’s dangerous tight end poses a problem if the Cowboys leave him alone to work the middle of the field they they did for George Kittle. Dallas Cowboys 2025 7-round NFL mock draft: Defensive line upgrades are priority :: The 33rd Team Link With the projected 13th overall pick in the 2025 draft, the Cowboys select Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton. Ollie Gordon II, the talented running back out of Oklahoma State, joins in the second round. Dallas goes linemen- defensive and then offensive- with their third- and fourth-round picks, Walter Nolen of Ole Miss and Jack Nelson of Wisconsin. Of the four talented playmakers who become fifth-round selections, the most notable might be Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel. The team goes defense with its final two picks in this mock exercise. Dallas Cowboys announce their nomination for NFL Salute to Service award :: WFAA Link Longtime guard Zack Martin has been named the team’s nominee for the NFL Salute to Service Award. Each year, the award recognizes NFL players, coaches, staff. and alumni who make exceptional efforts to honor and support military and veteran communities. Martin has worked closely with the National Medal
Getting to face Kirk Cousins among things Cowboys should love about Week 9
Home woes Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Ironically, the Cowboys will be playing a team that’s been bad at home this season, just like them. The Falcons are just 2-3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as opposed to being 3-0 on the road. It was a rough start to the home slate for the Falcons, losing their first two games and scoring a measly 13.5 points a game in defeat. They managed to turn things around to win the next two but got stymied again in their last game in Atlanta, scoring just 14 points in a losing effort. At home this season, the Falcons are scoring 20.6 ppg, a number that jumps to just over 30 points on the road. The Falcons also give up more points a game at home than they do on the road, giving the Cowboys a chance at the upset. McCarthy’s team has played better on the road as well, especially defensively, where they’re giving up over 20 points less a game than when they’re at AT&T Stadium. The Falcons have a losing record at home, while the Cowboys are 3-1 on the road, the hope is that trend continues. No pass rush Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images The Falcons have the worst pass rush in the NFL. That’s not hyperbole, their defense has just six sacks on the season, which is three fewer than the next worse team, it’s that bad. It didn’t start out that way, but with just one sack in the last four games, the Falcons’ defense is struggling to get to the quarterback. Their pass rush was one of their weaknesses heading into the season, which is why the Falcons traded for veteran edge rusher Matthew Judon. However, Judon hasn’t produced enough, and the team has used versatile defensive lineman Grady Jarrett more at defensive end to add some punch to the pass rush. Combined the duo has just three sacks on the season and their 1.5 apiece leads the defense. No other Falcon defender has more than one sack. The Cowboys’ offensive line has been an issue this season, but they’ve also gone up against some of the best pass rushers in the league. That won’t be the case against the Falcons, and if the unit can keep QB Dak Prescott clean, they’ll have an opportunity to put up points. Prescott and the offense will love not having to face an elite pass rush in Week 9. Kirk Cousins and turnovers Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports Along the same lines as playing at home, veteran QB Kirk Cousins has played better on the road than he has in front of the home crowd. Cousins does have a propensity for giving the ball away and he’s tied for the third most interceptions on the season. All seven of Cousins’ picks in 2024 have been thrown at home, including two each in losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks, respectively. It doesn’t all fall on Cousins, but nine of the 10 Falcons turnovers this season have come at home, and eight occurred in their three losses. When Atlanta protects the ball, they win games, when they’re reckless with it, they lose. The Cowboys haven’t done a great job at creating turnovers this season, forcing just five through seven games. That could all change by putting a little pressure on Cousins. One of the biggest factors on who wins and losses in the NFL often comes down to turnovers, and the Falcons have a problem not giving it away at home. The Cowboys have to love their chances to force some turnovers, it’s their best path to claim a win in Week 9. Related Links
This major flaw in Cowboys passing game giving Prescott predictable results
This major flaw in Cowboys passing game giving Prescott predictable results reidhanson The Cowboys’ passing offense is off to their worst start in the Dak Prescott era. Shoddy protection, ineffective route concepts being poorly run, and curious decision-making have all contributed to Dallas’ No. 23 ranking in EPA per pass in 2024. After throwing just nine interceptions in all of 2023, Prescott already has eight picks through the season’s first seven games. He’s on track to set a career high in interceptions thrown and it’s not hard to see why. Nearly every facet of the game has been working against him and with the Cowboys often playing catch-up behind their historically terrible defense, Prescott is often caught forcing bad passes into ugly situations. Not only does Prescott rate at the top of the league in turnover-worthy pass rate in 2024, but he also rates at the top in tight-window throws. It doesn’t take Angela Lansbury to connect those dots. Too old of a reference? Columbo? Matlock? Mystery Incorporated? Inspector Poirot? Moving in the wrong direction… it’s clear Prescott’s turnover issue is directly related to the tight windows in which he’s throwing. Prescott didn’t suddenly forget how to calculate risk or forget how to throw; he’s simply dealing with the situation he’s been given. With receivers struggling to separate and an internal clock that punishes patience, Prescott is feeling the pressure to deliver more tight window throws than he’d otherwise like to. There is no question many of these passes are poor decisions, but given the Cowboys’ 30th ranked defense, Prescott probably feels it’s the only way for team to stay in the hunt. This is a situation in which everyone gets blame. The coaching staff for the poor play design. WRs for failing to get separation. The offensive line for not providing trustworthy pass protection. The running game for not keeping defenses honest. The defense for being universally terrible. And, of course, for Prescott forcing dangerous passes. Don’t let anyone simplify the issue by placing blame at the feet of just one or two entities in Dallas. This takes a team effort and given all the factors working against the passing attack, the Cowboys are getting a very predictable result. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
NFL TV coverage maps, announcers for Week 9: Can you watch Cowboys-Falcons?
National Broadcast Games for Week 9 Thursday Night: Houston @ NY Jets (Amazon) Sunday Night: Indianapolis @ Minnesota (NBC) Monday Night: Tampa Bay @ Kansas City (ESPN/ABC) FOX Early Games RED: Dallas @ Atlanta | Adam Amin, Greg Olsen BLUE: Washington @ NY Giants | Chris Myers, Mark Sanchez GREEN: New England @ Tennessee | Jason Benetti, Mark Schlereth YELLOW: Las Vegas @ Cincinnati | Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston FOX Late Game Window RED: Detroit @ Green Bay | Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady BLUE: LA Rams @ Seattle | Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma CBS Game Map – Early and Late Windows combined RED: Denver @ Baltimore | Jim Nantz, Tony Romo GREEN: Miami @ Buffalo | Kevin Harlan, Trent Green ORANGE: LA Chargers @ Cleveland | Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta CYAN: New Orleans @ Carolina | Tom McCarthy, Jay Feely BLUE: Chicago @ Arizona (LATE) | Ian Eagle, Charles Davis YELLOW: Jacksonville @ Philadelphia (LATE) | Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Jason McCourty Related Links
Cowboys Headlines: Did Dak, Lamb finally click vs 49ers? Week 9 injury updates; Kurt Warner IDs Dallas’ offensive problems
Updates: Carson cleared to return; Micah, Bland out :: The Mothership Link Parsons will miss yet another game after not practicing all week with a high-ankle sprain. Bland was returned to the 53-man roster this week but will have to wait a while longer to make his season debut. Carson, however, has been medically cleared to take the field after sitting out four games with a shoulder injury suffered against Baltimore. Cowboys: CB Trevon Diggs has calf muscle tear; will be gametime decision vs Atlanta :: Cowboys Wire Link Jerry Jones revealed Friday that his star cornerback has been dealing with a tear in his calf muscle, leading to a week of DNPs for the two-time Pro Bowler. Diggs himself thought it was just tightness early in the week; Mike McCarthy says he’s shown improvement but will need to be able to perform some “specific drills” on Saturday if he’s going to play Week 9 versus Atlanta. Zack Martin, Eric Kendricks among questionable Cowboys :: Ed Werder Falcons injury report: Chris Lindstrom questionable vs. Dallas Cowboys :: Atlanta Falcons Link Two of Atlanta’s starting offensive linemen- guard Chris Lindstrom and center Drew Dalman- are officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game as they return from injury; both were full participants on Friday. Rookie linebacker JD Bertrand and first-year defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro are out; linebacker Troy Andersen is also questionable. Jerry Jones on Cowboys’ 3-4 start: ‘Rougher go than I anticipated’ :: ESPN Link The owner admitted Friday that he may have been looking through rose-colored glasses ahead of the 2024 season. “I did not anticipate the challenges that we’re having with this team,” he said, even going so far as to call this Sunday’s Week 9 game a must-win scenario for the 3-4 Cowboys. “A lot of season left, but the first start to be able to say that confidently is getting back even.” Dak Prescott’s contributions won’t save Cowboys’ running game. So what is the solution? :: The Athletic Link Prescott says he can still be an effective ball carrier, but Joe Flacco and Andy Dalton presently have more rushing yards. The Cowboys’ run game as a whole is minus-130 in yards over expected, more than twice as bad as the second-worst team in the league. Rico Dowdle, of all people, seems to be the team’s best hope at getting something going on the ground. 4 things wrong with the Cowboys offense :: NFL.com Link Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner says there are multiple culprits as to why the Cowboys are struggling offensively. For starters, the O-line is missing basic assignments up front and allowing pressure to get to Dak Prescott. Some of Prescott’s receiving targets aren’t helping him, either, with poorly-executed routes, and the tape shows flaws in many of Mike McCarthy’s critical play designs. Prescott has to shoulder his share of the blame, too, though, for frequently making bad decisions in the passing game. Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott find ‘rhythm’ during WR’s breakout game vs. 49ers :: CBS Sports Link Prescott says there was a moment when Lamb told him during the San Francisco game, “Yeah, we’re back,” and then went on to catch two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Now that they’ve apparently found it, the two hope to keep the connection going against a star-studded Falcons secondary. “We play confident and fast; we can score with anybody, and I feel like that’s been our thing,” Lamb said. “We get to the red zone and don’t put up enough points, so just finishing our drives and ending the drives with seven, not so much three.” All 32 NFL teams (including the Cowboys) ranked by FPI ratings :: Cowboys Wire Link ESPN’s Football Power Index is declaring the Lions the top-performing team in the league, with the Cowboys sitting at a lowly 23rd. The FPI rating uses predicted offensive, defensive, and special teams efficiency, as measured by expected points added per play; Dallas is a full point below average. This weekend’s opponent, the Falcons, are six-tenths of a point above average, signaling a possibly close game on Sunday. Cowboys-Falcons expert predictions: Could road trip to Atlanta be what Dallas needs? :: Dallas Morning News Link Given that all three of this season’s wins come as the visiting team, maybe a visit to Atlanta to face Kirk Cousins- who has historically struggled against the Cowboys- is exactly what they need. Three of the DMN‘s six columnists and beat writers have Dallas topping the Falcons in their own building. Falcons offer Cowboys interesting example in soft rebuild that seems to be working :: Cowboys Wire Link Atlanta managed to do what the Cowboys’ front office hinted at: attacking the offseason with both the present and the future in mind. Look no further than them signing Kirk Cousins and then drafting Michael Penix Jr. less than six weeks later. Once criticized heavily, it suddenly doesn’t look so crazy. The Cowboys aren’t in the same situation at QB, but that big-picture strategy has proved (thus far) that it’s possible to reload for the long-term while still very much competing in the here and now. Stephen Jones offers Cowboys trade deadline update, shows change of tune :: SI.com Link Might the Cowboys make a move before Tuesday’s trade deadline after all? “We’ll do business as usual. We’ve got a lot of good players that are going to be coming back over the next 3 or 4 weeks,” Stephen Jones said. “If the right deal pops itself up, then we’ll certainly look at that.” That may not be much, but it cracks the door open at least a tiny bit for Cowboys fans who are hoping the team can still salvage the season with a veteran acquisition. Way-Too-Early Cowboys 2025 Mock Draft 3.0: 4-round mock brings WR, RB, DT, OT :: Cowboys Wire Link Most Cowboys fans have accepted that the 2024 campaign is now about the 2025 draft slot. This projection assumes a 13th overall pick for Dallas and a whole
3 reasons for Cowboys fans to hate the Week 9 matchup with the falcons
The Falcons don’t have a top-10 rushing attack, but they do have one of the best one-two punches in the league. Led by former Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson, the offenses runs for over 120 yards a game. Robinson is tops on the Falcons in rushing yards with 546, which is good for ninth in the league, and averages 4.7 yards per carry. The second-year RB is also third on the team in receptions with 31, so he’s a dual-threat player out of the backfield. Tyler Allgeier is the backup in name only, but he’s capable of doing damage, and he gets plenty of opportunities to run the ball as RB1B. With 5.2 ypc, two rushing scores and 23 first-down runs (compared to Robinson’s 27), despite almost half the carries proves there’s little drop off drop from Robinson to Allgeier when the latter enters. The Robinson-Allgeier combination is second in the league for any backfield tandem, with 898 yards on the ground. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery with the Detroit Lions are the only duo rushing for more yards, and that one-two punch ran all over the Cowboys. It’s an elite duo the Cowboys must hate to see, and they’ll be difficult to slow down in Week 9.
Cowboys: CB Trevon Diggs has calf muscle tear; will be gametime decision vs Atlanta
Cowboys: CB Trevon Diggs has calf muscle tear; will be gametime decision vs Atlanta Todd Brock With a road trip to Atlanta on the schedule for this weekend, the Cowboys shouldn’t expect much in the way of Southern hospitality from Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins. His loaded offense currently ranks in the top 10 leaguewide in points scored, total yards, yards-per-play, first downs, and passing yards. With DeMarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons, and DaRon Bland all set to sit out once again, this is not the week for the Dallas defense to have any more of its superstar players pop up on the questionable list. But that’s exactly where top cornerback Trevon Diggs is, with word coming from the top of the organization about the new injury that kept him out of practice earlier in the week and jeopardizes his status for Week 9. Diggs made news after the team’s loss to the 49ers by getting into a heated exchange with WFAA reporter Mike Leslie outside the visitors locker room. While the two did publicly make up, it put extra eyes on the two-time Pro Bowler this week. Those eyebrows were then raised when Diggs later appeared on the practice report as a non-participant Wednesday and Thursday with some sort of calf issue. “What none of us knew when that was going on was that he had a tear in his calf, and [it] was going to maybe limit him,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Friday on 105.3 The Fan. Diggs had told the media that he believed he was dealing merely with tightness in the muscle, stemming from “one of the plays I got hit or something” in Santa Clara last Sunday night. Jones wasn’t ready to say Diggs will join his other high-profile rehabbing teammates as an onlooker at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “I’m not so sure he’s out [for Sunday], but… that’s why he wasn’t at practice the other day.” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy offered some optimism for Diggs’s status, calling him a gametime decision. “There’s specific drills we’ll need him to do tomorrow,” the coach said Friday per ESPN’s Todd Archer, “but he was much better today than we could have anticipated. He’s doing everything he can to try to get ready for Sunday.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] On the bright side for Dallas, it looks as if rookie cornerback Caelen Carson will return to action. He practiced in full all week and carries no official designation for the Atlanta tilt after a shoulder injury that kept him shelved for four games. Amani Oruwariye was moved to IR earlier in the week with a back injury, leaving nickel starter Jourdan Lewis, special-teams ace C.J. Goodwin, the much-maligned Andrew Booth, and practice-squadder Josh Butler as the only other cornerbacks in the building. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
What is really going on with Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense?
What is really going on with Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense? Mike Crum Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott ended last season as a second-team All-Pro, and only behind Lamar Jackson in MVP voting. Another season in head coach Mike McCarthy’s system, a season of growth from young, playmaking pass catchers like CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, and Jake Ferguson, and another year of work with Brandin Cooks would supposedly set Prescott up for another MVP-level year. Seven games in, and the quarterback is having possibly the worst season of his career. Could it be a play-calling issue? Is it because of Lamb missing training camp? A weaker offensive line? Injuries to surrounding players? Or even just regression from the quarterback? The answer is yes; it’s a mix of all these factors. The offense doesn’t have the personnel they did last year. All-Pro Left tackle Tyron Smith is gone to the New York Jets, and rookie Tyler Guyton hasn’t approached that play in Year 1. All-Pro right guard Zack Martin hasn’t been the same level of player all are accustomed to, and that combination has led Prescott to be hit the most times in his career through seven games. WR Brandon Cooks has been injured, too, and these issues may have prompted McCarthy to be more conservative in his playing calling, leading to a less efficient passing attack. The team isn’t helping their QB by running the ball well, or creating easy throws. Dallas has the highest tight-window throw percentage in the NFL at 22.5%, and no other qualifying quarterback is even at 20%. His best option in the tight window is Tolbert, who has seven receptions on 12 targets for 127 and 1 TD. All other pass-catchers combined for 11 catches on 47 targets for 137 yards and two interceptions. Jake Ferguson is down nearly 20 percent in his targets, has more than two yards less per reception, is at the lowest success rate of his career & has scored zero touchdowns. The rushing attack is even worse. The team is last in the league in rushing yards per game at 74.1. They have the second-worst explosive run percentage at 6.6%, are last in total explosive runs with 10, and have no runs over 15 yards all season. The team has only averaged 3.5 yards per rush or lower in a single season, 1960, over 60 years ago. While these are valid reasons for a QB to play worse, Prescott still has to make quality decisions, and he hasn’t done that at a level the team is accustomed to. He has 16 turnover-worthy plays this season through seven games. His career high in a season was 21, so he is on pace to shatter that. Regardless of his surroundings, Prescott must improve his decision-making. If the team is going to play this poorly around him, there’s an urgent need for him to play even better than he ever has to elevate them. You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or YouTube on the Across the Cowboys Podcast Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
