The Dallas Cowboys’ offense is a darling of the analytical community. They are a top team in several advanced statistical categories from numerous outlets. Yet, with their season on the line, facing a familiar opponent who they ran roughshod over earlier in the season, couldn’t manage to reach the end zone a single time. The wideouts dropped passes, the quarterback overshot wide open receivers, the coaching staff made questionable decisions and the running backs faltered.
In the end, the wounded, limping and on life-support Philadelphia Eagles emerged as the better team, clearly, and virtually locked up the NFC East for 2019. Dallas fell, 17-9 in a game that likely marked the end of the Jason Garrett era.
Both teams entered the contest with 7-7 records. The Eagles were missing their top three receivers and had a banged up secondary, with their top two corners – who weren’t very good – leaving the game as well. It didn’t matter. The Cowboys, with Dak Prescott struggling in his accuracy and having his targets drop six passes when they were remotely catchable, was not able to catch fire.
The game plan hardly called for Dallas to attack the Eagles weakness, another example of poor game planning that has befuddled those who watch this team week in, week out.
It was a miserable performance all around for the Cowboys, from offense to defense to the punt game, mixing a concoction that was no easier to swallow this week than the previous times Dallas served a similar glass to a national television audience in previous games this season.
Now 7-8, Dallas needs the Eagles to lose to the New York Giants next week while the Cowboys look to sweep the Washington Redskins in Week 17. Both now have to happen for the Cowboys to serve as what will likely be sacrificial lambs to the second-place NFC West finisher.
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