The Cowboys wanted to win in Washington on Sunday. The NFC East-leading Eagles had not yet locked up the division and Dallas still had a shot at the crown if they could claim a “W” amidst a Philadelphia loss.
While they wanted to win their regular season finale, they were not singularly focused on the endeavor. The Cowboys had other goals in mind that made the game part regular season and part preseason.
The most obvious omissions were on offense when coordinator Kellen Moore avoided shifts, motion, play-action and just about any wrinkle that would give the play an advantage. It was a departure from the norm and understandably led to a paltry six-point effort.
Defensively, it wasn’t quite as obvious, but by Dan Quinn’s own admission, other goals are sometimes in mind for game planning.
As Cowboys DC Dan Quinn hinted weeks ago would be the case, he said that personnel usage and scheme in recent games was influenced by desire to learn more about players, what they can offer in postseason. DL Chauncey Golston has seized chance. “I feel like his arrow is going up.” pic.twitter.com/cxE0wd4Ueu
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 9, 2023
Quinn was testing players in different roles and different situations much like he would test in the preseason. Instead of making an all-out effort to stop the opponent at hand, it sounds as if he was testing players and ideas to build the best possible gameplan for the postseason.
It extends beyond Golston and the defensive line. The primary area of concern has been, and continues to be, the cornerback position. Ever since Anthony Brown was lost to a season-ending injury in Week 13, the Cowboys have been in disarray opposite Trevon Diggs. Quinn ended the season mixing and matching his way to solutions.
At face value, no one appeared to be the answer at cornerback. Both Nahshon Wright and Trayvon Mullens struggled. On one play alone, Wright allowed a reception short and then got beat deep with the run after the catch. Mullens was so averse to looking back for the ball he got darted on his nameplate deep down the sideline.
But much like preseason evaluation, coaches are less concerned with the end result and more focused on certain qualities and/or deficiencies to prepare them for when things count the most.
“I felt it was really important to go through different people, different combinations,” Quinn said. “So I feel very comfortable where we’re at , certainly not going to disclose that today.”
The Cowboys wanted to win on Sunday but they didn’t treat it as a must-win. Going forward, all games for Dallas are must-win which is why the Cowboys coaching staff was busy finding answers and are careful today they don’t tip their hand to Tampa.