Tag: Robert Quinn

Cowboys with plenty free agency questions to be answered before draft

While many conversations of late have been about the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys cannot look ahead just yet with the in house issues that remain at the top of the docket. When Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News asked about …

While many conversations of late have been about the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys cannot look ahead just yet with the in house issues that remain at the top of the docket.

When Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News asked about some of these issues to Senior Vice President of Player Personnel, Will McClay, he said “It’s going to be a tough deal” when it comes to paying everyone of the 30 pending free agents the club has.

“It’s the NFL. You’ve got your quarterback you’ve got to pay. You have a receiver. You have good players. When you have good players, you have to figure out how to pay them or how to survive. So, that’s what we do in the front office is try to figure how to work those contracts and get the best possible team with those guys. We’ve got to go through that whole process.” McClay continued.

Free agency, in recent years, has never been a time for the Cowboys to make big splashes. This is due to the fact that the Cowboys have drafted extremely well and have built their core from within. They’ve built their entire starting offensive line in the draft. They have drafted their starting quarterback (Dak Prescott), running back (Ezekiel Elliott), and No. 2 wide receiver (Michael Gallup) just over the last 4 years alone.  The Cowboys have also worked in some valuable trades in acquiring starting wide receiver Amari Cooper, and starting defensive end Robert Quinn.

Stephen Jones labeled Prescott and Cooper deals as No.s 1 and 2 on the priority list.

Coming in at a possible No. 3 on this list would be cornerback Byron Jones, who also is in need of a new deal.

Jon Machota of The Athletic also spoke to Will McClay about a possible new deal for Jones. “He’s a starting caliber NFL corner. He’s a really good player. We have to figure out his financial value and if it fits for us.” McClay said.

While Prescott, Cooper, and Jones seem to be at the top priorities, unfortunately this list is quite long for the 2020 Cowboys.

According to Over The Cap, the Cowboys have just over $81 million in cap space.

This seems like such a high number right? Well, not so much when you have three possible players who can potentially take up most of it. This is why the Cowboys have to be very careful when deciding just how much to pay these top three. Can they? Yes. The numbers don’t lie. There is indeed money available. Will they? That remains to be the question mark.

Robert Quinn, Randall Cobb, Jason Witten, Sean Lee, Michael Bennett, Jeff Heath, Tavon Austin, Antwaun Woods are just eight noteworthy players of the 30 pending unrestricted and restricted free agents.

“Every year is a challenge,” Will McClay said. “That’s the way the NFL is made with the salary cap… We go through and find out what’s valuable for us, who will fit within our parameters. We want to try to fill the holes in free agency and draft free.”

Within the next few months, a lot of these questions should be answered.

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Stock Up, Stock Down: Which Cowboys investments paid off?

Here are some of the highlights and the low points in the 2019 season for the Dallas Cowboys.

Now that Mike McCarthy is settling in at his new job as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and and is rounding out his staff, it’s time to finally take a look back at their season.

It won’t be remembered as a fun year in the team’s history, but it was filled with many ups and downs. Fans were heavily invested in the season, and may feel like they didn’t get a proper return on their investment. Which shares of the team were profitable and which succumbed to market pressure?

Stock Up:  QB Dak Prescott

(Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

It was the best season in Prescott’s career, as he set new highs in every major passing category. The 30 touchdown tosses and almost to 5,000 yards passing were good enough to place him inside the top four in the NFL for both categories.

Prescott’s willingness to throw deep and into the middle of the field were also major areas of improvement. He was a legitimate MVP candidate in the middle of the year until the late season swoon from the team.

Stock Down:  Prescott’s clutch gene

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, Prescott’s most valuable trait in his first three seasons, the ability to play his best in key moments, was nowhere to be found in 2019. Prescott led the league in fourth quarter/OT comeback wins during his first three seasons but came up empty this season. The stats are nice, but Prescott’s zero come from behind wins was a major disappointment.

It shouldn’t all fall at Prescott’s feet, the coaches and the receiver drops had something to do with his failures in this department. However, if you praise Prescott for the comebacks for the first few seasons under similar circumstances, you have to admit his failures late in games this year.

Continue for a looking at rising and falling stars and the best and worst games of 2019…

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7-11: Cowboys need to choose quality over convenience with these free agents

A look at 2020 free agency for the Cowboys with an eye on players they should allow to walk away from the organization.

Earlier, we looked at several of the Dallas Cowboys pending free agents who should be donning the star once again in 2020. With five surefire names along with four other possibilities that depend on the preferences of new head coach Mike McCarthy, that leaves more than a handful of other names to make decisions on.

With 24 unrestricted free agents, scheme fit is going to be paramount in that thought process. However, regardless of how that goes, the Cowboys are almost certainly going to be better off if they let these five players walk away.

Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Some of the departures may happen organically as a pair of legends in TE Jason Witten and LB Sean Lee could opt for retirement.  The sheer volume of players out of contract makes a number of defections a virtual certainty.  Among those left should command varying degrees of interest, with several of the team’s blue chip free agents looking for a pay day that may not gel with the Cowboys’ course of action.

CB Byron Jones

Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Jones will be at the top of the free agency shopping list for most teams looking for help on the perimeter.  His kind of athleticism and consistency in coverage could very easily demand peak market value for his position.  Given the cost to retain two other top layer free agents in Prescott and Cooper, there may not be room to comfortably slide Jones into the group.  The Cowboys should entertain re-signing him but will likely push themselves away from the table when the numbers get huge.

DE Robert Quinn

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Quinn was a superb acquisition that provided excellent bang for the buck last season.  His value to a team looking to add a quality situational rusher will be higher than Dallas would see for a soon-to-be 30 year old.

DT Maliek Collins

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

In the case of Collins, he will market himself as a player capable of being a disruptive force in the middle and should get a deal relatively early in the period.  He has been a good soldier as a Cowboy.  The issue is that in all honestly he fits the fool’s gold that is often mined as cash-flush teams break the bank on potential and minimize the lack of top shelf productivity.

SS Jeff Heath

Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The much-maligned yet productive safety could be hotly debated when the decision makers sit down to hash out their offseason plan.  His value to the new coaching staff  may not result in priority status and he is still a cut above a special teams maven.  If the former members of the defensive staff surface elsewhere, he could easily follow.

OG Xavier Su’a-Filo

(AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

Although Su’a-Filo came through in the pinch when needed over the past two seasons, his time may be up.  The combination of his fibula fracture, zone scheme fit and the availability of 2019 draft pick Connor McGovern should have him on another team’s roster as a modestly priced reserve.

Other possibilities: WR Tavon Austin, DT Christian Covington, FS Darian Thompson, SS Kavon Frazier

You can chat with or follow C.C. on Twitter @boozeman811.

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5 & 4 Possibles: Cowboys have FAs in spades, who they should book in 2020

An examination of the 2020 free agency period for the Dallas Cowboys with five to keep, five to go and five to pursue.

The tidal wave of change brought in by the hiring of head coach Mike McCarthy has engulfed the Dallas Cowboys franchise and once the waters recede and the situation calms, the team and the organization will likely have a very different look.  The effect is already evident on the coaching staff, where it appears only a select few, including OC Kellen Moore, have survived the sweeping alterations.

Soon, the roster will undergo the same transformation once the 2020 league year starts as the front office will look towards getting the team’s top free agents inked to new deals.  This activity will make for some tough decisions for both Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones, despite the club’s expected cap space of close to $90 million dollars.

The Cowboys have an incredible 24 unrestricted free agents and another five either restricted or exclusive rights players to mull over.  They will not keep all and may not even keep many as the new staff may have its own outlook on the talent and where they want to start remodeling to flesh out their version of the team.

Here are 5 suggestions for the team to keep.

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Some of the keepers are very easy to identify.

QB Dak Prescott and WR Amari Cooper are not going anywhere.  Despite the anxiety that was created by the fact McCarthy had yet to speak to Prescott after a week on the job, he will be a Cowboy one way or another.  Whether it is a blockbuster long-term deal or franchise tag, he will be leading the team into the season.  Cooper is slightly less of a sure bet, but it is still very likely he gets a deal of some kind as well.  The cost to acquire him for less than two seasons of production is simply too much to bear, especially given how weak the 2019 draft class was without a first round pick.

That leaves three more.

WR Randall Cobb

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Cobb’s history and relationship with McCarthy will likely be a deciding factor.  At a fairly modest price tag of $5-7 million and some juice still left in his legs, he could come back on a short term deal fitting a player of his age.  His familiarity with the offensive design will be invaluable as the staff installs their scheme that will feel very different to many, including the quarterback.

OT Cameron Fleming

(AP Photo/Roger Steinman)

Capable swing tackles are a valuable commodity in this league for all teams, but more especially the Cowboys.  With Tyron Smith sitting out three games per season over the past four campaigns, a veteran who can step in and not be a huge liability is priceless.  Dallas has an option on his contract they can exercise and they would be wise to do so.

CB Anthony Brown

(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

Bringing back Brown may not be the most glamorous commitment but it may be the most practical given the decisions that will have to be made.  Brown will be rebounding from a triceps injury and should be relatively easy to sign back to return and provide a veteran buffer as the Cowboys go after youth at the position in April.

Other possibilities: DT Kerry Hyder, K Kai Forbath, LB Joe Thomas, CB C.J. Goodwin

You can chat with or follow C.C. on Twitter @boozeman811.

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Zack Martin, lone Cowboys player named to either AP All-Pro team

Right Guard Zack Martin was the only Cowboys player to be selected onto 2019’s All-Pro team.

For the fourth time in six seasons, Cowboys guard Zack Martin earned first team All-Pro honors. He was the only Dallas player among this year’s selections

Martin nearly played every offensive snap for the Cowboys in 2019, continuing his elite level of play. A Pro Bowler each year he’s been in the league, Martin is an instrumental part this Dallas roster, and represents an overwhelmingly successful first-round draft pick from 2014. This fourth All-Pro selection pads his resume, and also marks the first time in Martin’s career he’s earned the award in back-to-back seasons.

The sole All-Pro selection is the fewest the Cowboys have had since 2013, when Tyron Smith was their lone representative. The teams are assembled by a panel of 50 national media members who vote on the best player at each position in a given season. Other Dallas players to receive votes this year include Smith (one), La’el Collins (one), and Travis Frederick (two). Jaylon Smith (one) was the only defensive player for the Cowboys to earn a vote,

Possible snubs include DE Robert Quinn, who earned 11.5 sacks in 14 games, and New York Jet K Brett Maher. Although Maher’s tenure in Dallas came to an unceremonious end, he is the only kicker in NFL history with more than two 62+ yard field goals in his career, and set the Cowboys franchise record for longest field goal made this season. An All-Pro vote would’ve just added to the legend.

How are former Dolphins defenders faring elsewhere in 2019?

How are former Miami Dolphins defenders faring elsewhere in 2019?

The Miami Dolphins shipped out numerous players over the course of the past year, so much so that the roster that Miami entered the 2019 season with was two-thirds new players. That turnover, in many instances, was necessary in order for a successful rebuild, even if that meant a downgrade for 2019 on the field.

But how are these former Dolphins defenders faring in life with a new team in 2019? Many are finding more team success, but are those wins coming at the hands of their own performances?

DE Cameron Wake, Tennessee Titans

Wake exploded in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns for 2.5 sacks, putting him over the edge of 100 career sacks in the NFL. In the time since, Wake hasn’t gotten back to the quarterback. Currently on injured reserve with a knee injury, Wake’s impact on the Titans was diminished by youthful pass rushers like Harold Landry. Wake undoubtedly provides a valuable leadership role in the Titans locker room and his mentorship has helped Landry double his rookie sack total with three games left to play.

DE Robert Quinn, Dallas Cowboys

The Dolphins paid down the 2019 salary of Robert Quinn to make him a tradable asset this spring. Miami ate a seven figure roster bonus after the first few days of the start of the league calendar in order to ship him to Dallas for a late round draft pick, and Quinn has obliged by rolling up 9.5 sacks thus far on the season.

It isn’t all good news for the Cowboys, as the team is currently mired in a meltdown that will likely see head coach Jason Garrett lose his job at the end of the year. Quinn has thrived across from star pass rusher Demarcus Lawrence and looks to be more explosive than he was in his one year in Miami. At 29-years old, Quinn may have captured his second wind — but his cost was going to be hard to justify for the Dolphins this season.

LB Kiko Alonso, New Orleans Saints

The Dolphins swapped Alonso for Vince Biegel at the beginning of the season and it could be argued that the Dolphins won out on this deal as the first year comes to a close. Alonso has played sparingly in New Orleans, starting three games this season and logging 31 total tackles through Week 14.

Biegel? He’s been a steady presence for the Dolphins on the edge against both the run and the pass, leading the team in QB hits with 11.

Alonso missed Week 14 with a thigh injury but is expected to be ready to contribute as the Saints make a postseason push into January.

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Bennett’s fiery tirade to Cowboys warns of ‘the enemy against greatness’

Being with the Cowboys for just a month didn’t stop DE Michael Bennett from laying into his teammates after their Thanksgiving day loss.

It’s often said that a football team, over time, inevitably takes on the personality of its head coach. Save for a few notable exceptions, most members of the Dallas Cowboys sound in media interviews a lot like coach Jason Garrett. They’re measured in their responses. They don’t reveal a lot of meaty information. They don’t engage in speculation or hyperbole or a lot of self-congratulations. Win or lose, up or down, they sound pretty much the same. They’re often uninteresting, even flat-out boring.

So it went over like a miniature firestorm when it hit social media in the moments following the Cowboys’ limp performance against Buffalo- in their home stadium, in front of a nationwide audience, on their traditional holiday- that somebody behind the closed doors of the team’s locker room was going off. Very loudly and rather emphatically.

It was reported shortly thereafter that defensive end Michael Bennett, with the club for only a month, was the one who lit up his new teammates.

Afterward, many of them were asked about the moment, which had been audible throughout many of the tunnels underneath AT&T Stadium.

“That’s passion,” receiver Randall Cobb told media members. “That’s passion. We love this game; we want to win ball games. We’re not coming out here to lose ball games. Unfortunately, it goes that way sometimes. That’s just passion. I think it was a great message, and I think it was well-received.”

“Emotional locker room,” quarterback Dak Prescott said in his postgame press conference. “Just an exchange of words about us sticking together. Anything and everything outside of that locker room doesn’t matter. Simple as that.”

As for the specifics of what Bennett told the team, his fellow players felt it wasn’t for them to say.

“We’re not going to get into that,” Cobb stated. “What happens in this locker room stays in this locker room.”

But Bennett himself revealed some of the themes of his impassioned speech and why he felt it was necessary for him to speak up, even as a newcomer among a collection of high-profile superstars.

“Because it’s important that we understand that it’s a small window that we have,” Bennett said, as per Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News. “We’ve got all the great players. The only thing we’ve got to do is execute in adversity. The enemy against greatness is the unwillingness to change. We’ve got to be able to change some of the things that we’ve been doing to demand more from ourselves and become the people we want to be.

“Every opportunity is in front of us, but it’s just on us to capitalize. To win, you’ve got to sacrifice a lot. It’s going to hurt. It’s painful. You play through injury, but you do it because you have to. To win that championship, to win that [Vince] Lombardi [Trophy], there’s no feeling like that. And that takes a lot.”

Bennett, an 11-year veteran who’s spent time on four different teams before being traded to Dallas from New England after just six games, won a Super Bowl ring with Seattle following the 2013 season. His perspective as a champion makes him the rarest of commodities on the current Cowboys roster.

“The champions are the people that get remembered,” Bennett said when asked about his speech, according to Gehlken. “They don’t remember who got the biggest contract. A whole bunch of great players got great contracts, but they don’t get remembered as champions. Champions are the ones who get the gold plates and the jackets and they understand what it takes to win. That’s just a certain mind-set. That’s just a certain ability to play tough in adverse moments.”

Bennett’s words seemed to hit home for his new teammates in Dallas after their Thursday night debacle.

“It’s all about the men in this room,” edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence offered. “Looking each other in the eye, looking each other in the mirror and really making that turn about what they really want in this life and what they want out of this career and out of this game.”

Even immediately after a demoralizing loss that has fans calling for their coach’s head, Bennett’s address created a sense of optimism heading into the final quarter of the schedule.

“No one’s down on themselves,” defensive lineman Robert Quinn said in his postgame comments. “Guys know what’s at stake. But we’ve got to look ourselves in the mirror come tomorrow- or tonight, actually, I should say- and see what we can do better… We got four games left, we still got a shot. No need to hang your head. So let’s get it fixed.”

“No belief has been lost,” Prescott echoed. “No confidence has been lost. This is simply execution. This is on players. That’s kind of what that conversation was. Credit the leaders, credit Michael Bennett, those guys that started that. It was a great conversation, lot of great words passed. But it’s all about us executing and just getting the job done. Starts throughout the week about us just doing things better.”

Owner Jerry Jones had been the vocal one in the media all week, after calls for Garrett’s job increased to deafening levels following the squad’s Week 12 loss to the Patriots. But Jones, much like the head coach he’s defended for a decade, has opted for a calm and measured approach in dealing with both his coach and his players.

“If I had thought that calling somebody out or going in there and giving them a Knute Rockne talk would have made any difference as to how we execute or how we do,” Jones told reporters, “then I’d bottle that and sell it to a lot of different places. That’s not the way this thing works.”

Sometimes, though, it is the way this thing works. Sometimes a team needs a fiery Knute Rockne speech. Sometimes a dressing-down at maximum volume is exactly what the situation calls for. But Jones is right: coming from the billionaire owner, it falls flat. Coming from a head coach who is practically expected to lose his job, it feel’s disingenuous. Coming from a player who’s never held a Lombardi Trophy, it’s just talk. Maybe Michael Bennett was the only guy in that room who could provide that spark. Maybe that’s part of the reason the Cowboys went out and got him mid-season.

The last four games of 2019 will reveal whether Bennett’s spark actually lit a fire under this Cowboys team.

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Stock Report: Cowboys’ identity now invested in blue-chip passing game

Stock Report: After another ridiculously good outing, the Cowboys’ identity now invested in blue-chip passing game.

Dak Prescott’s dominating performance helped the Dallas Cowboys roar past an early deficit to defeat the Detroit Lions, 35-27. The Week 11 victory moved the Cowboys to a 6-4 record and they now lead the NFC East by a game over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Lions wouldn’t go down easy, despite key injuries. No Cowboy was more important than Prescott as he moved the chains with both his legs and arms. Prescott threw for 444 yards and 3 touchdowns spreading the wealth among different pass-catchers. 7 different receivers caught multiple passes from Prescott.

Unexpected Cowboys stepped up and showed out while a pivotal player’s stock is down. Here’s the stock report.

Stock Up: Michael Gallup

(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb played center stage against the Minnesota Vikings last week while Gallup’s strong contributions were comparitively overshadowed as he finished with 4 catches for 76 yards and one touchdown. On Sunday against the Lions, Cooper’s impact and snaps were limited due to a lingering knee injury. Cobb again played well and got open with ease, showing his ceiling with another 100-yard-plus performance, but he also dropped two crucial catches.

Quarterback Dak Prescott needed one of his pass-catchers to step up and Gallup, who has had his struggles with drops himself, played his most consistent game as a pro.

Gallop finished with nine catches for 148 yards. The second-year pro’s statistics were great, but more impressively, was how and when he caught the football. Gallop is normally a deep threat, who thrives on man coverage on play-action calls. This week, the speedster showed the route tree of a No. 1 receiver.

He caught passes underneath, in traffic, contested, and of course, deep. His most notable catch of the day was a 41-yard deep ball. Despite the defensive pass-interference, Gallup remained focused while initially juggling the catch, then hauling the pass in.

If Gallop can remain this consistent, the Cowboys’ receiver corp will be among the league’s best. And may be Prescott sneaks into the MVP conversation.

Stock Down: Ezekiel Elliott

(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

Elliott didn’t play great but he also didn’t play badly. He tallied 16 carries on the day for 48 yards, chipped in three receptions and scored two total touchdowns. His stock is down because, frankly, his value is down.

This doesn’t means he isn’t great (which he is) and doesn’t means the Cowboys don’t need him (because they do), but what he once meant to the Cowboys is diminishing as Prescott’s play and future earnings emerge.

Before the season, most pundits and even the Cowboys themselves believed their success was contingent on how Elliott played and is why the Cowboys’ signed Elliott to a long-term deal before signing their franchise QB. That belief should no longer exist. The team is best when Prescott is at his best and the Cowboys’ play calling should reflect it.

Prescott’s improvement as a pass-thrower has shifted the offensive identity from an Elliott-led offense to Prescott take-over offense. At times this year, it remained unclear what was Dallas’ offensive identity. A perfect example was the final three plays against the Vikings. Prescott dominated the game, but the play calls in the biggest moment suggest the coaching staff trusts Elliott over Prescott when they shouldn’t.

This isn’t a Prescott-versus-Elliott debate or a need to praise Prescott to tear down Elliott because they must work as a tandem. It’s just increasingly evident Elliott’s impact should be complementary to the passing game. Detroit focused on taking away the run and Dallas had a big, big answer for that.

The Cowboys now go as far as Prescott’s arms and legs can take them. The Cowboys must know this moving forward as their schedule toughens.

His elite running ability presents favorable coverages for the passing game, but rookie Tony Pollard has shown to be a more-than capable, and possibly preferred option on passing downs.

Stock Up: Robert Quinn

Quinn was a one-man wrecking crew against the Lions. Jeff Driskel stood no chance in the pocket as Quinn only tallied one sack, but was by far the Cowboys’ best defensive player. He hit the quarterback four times, secured two tackle for losses, and forced numerous errant throws by Driskel.

While DeMarcus Lawerence received the huge pay day during the off season, the sneaky acquisition was trading for Quinn from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick then signing him to a one-year, $8 million deal. Quinn will also earn an additional amount just under $900,000 per a clause when he hit seven sacks. Currently for the season, the veteran pass rusher has 8.5 sacks, already tying his high since his 2014 season in St. Louis.

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Heroes and Goats: Cowboys staff chewing cud while passing game grazes

The Dallas Cowboys were almost saved by a few heroes against the Minnesota Vikings, but there were too many bad performances to get the win.

The Dallas Cowboys bungled away another game where the team killed its chances of walking away victorious. This time, it was a 28-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings has put a playoff run in jeopardy with the tough, upcoming schedule.

Here are the heroes and goats from a disappointing Week 10 loss that dropped the club’s regular-season record to 5-4.

Hero: Dak Prescott

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The only thing the QB didn’t do was put on a cape. Prescott tried to rescue the Cowboys on a night where the play calling put the offense in a bind for 60 minutes. Long second and third down conversions were easily picked up by Prescott, who threw the ball well all game. Prescott carved up the Vikings, throwing for 397 yards and three scores.

Goats: The rush defense

It was a sad performance from the run defense, who was gashed by RB’s Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison. The defense gave up 153 yards rushing and was bullied for most of the game. The most embarrassing part was the drive where the Vikings ran it 10 straight times, leading to the game-clinching score.

Hero: Amari Cooper

(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

Cooper continues to impress, despite his numerous ailments. The stud WR caught 11 passes for 147 yards and a score, and Cooper’s footwork along the sidelines was silly. Cooper played at a high level to help the Cowboys’ offense moving the chains and coming back from an early deficit.

Goat: Chidobe Awuzie

It hasn’t been a good stretch for the third-year CB and his shotty play against the Vikings continued. Awuzie remains lost in coverage and still has MAJOR issues with ball location. Awuzie’s poor play on the two-point conversion to Kyle Rudolph was a big part of stunting the comeback.

Hero: Randall Cobb

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

It was Cobb’s first 100 yard game for the Cowboys and he scored on a beautiful 22-yard strike from Prescott. Cobb made some big catches to keep drives alive after getting behind on the down and distances.

Goat: Sean Lee

As good as he played last week, Lee got smoked against the Vikings. Lee was beat twice for touchdowns and got washed out on too many screen plays.

Hero: Robert Quinn

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The veteran DE continued his stellar season with his seventh sack when he took down Vikings QB Kirk Cousins in the second quarter. It also netted Quinn a cool $800,000-plus bonus.

Goats: The coaching staff

We can sit here and talk about not being prepared to start the game, but that’s foolish. The coaches don’t drop passes or miss tackles. What we can blame them for is their decision making and stubbornness.

There is no reason to continue to bash your head into a brick wall; the running game wasn’t working, and the passing game was on fire. Yet here was Kellen Moore’s play calling on first down:

The Cowboys still had a chance to win the game late before two running calls essentially killed Dallas’ chances of winning the game. The play calling was a big issue in the loss.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi

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Cowboys’ 7 plays that changed the game in 28-24 loss to Vikings

A look back at the 7 biggest plays from the Cowboys’ 28-24 loss to the Vikings using EPA and WP metrics from nflscrapR.

The Dallas Cowboys might have suffered their worst loss of the season against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. The final score was 28-24, but the biggest takeaway from the game was the plethora of questionable play-calls and mismanaged opportunities. The Cowboys were clearly the better offensive team from a passing standpoint. However, the rushing attack they heavily relied on in the past was a non-factor against the Vikings, and ultimately, it might have been the driving force behind the daunting loss.

It was a game that featured plenty of explosive plays from both offenses. Here are the biggest plays that stood out in the game as measured by Expected Points Added (EPA) and Win Probability with data via nflscrapR. EPA measures the value of a given play based on down, distance to first downs, field position and time remaining in the game.

The Plays

No. 1: Kirk Cousins pass short right to Dalvin Cook for 27 yards

EPA: 2.1. DAL WP Shift: 42% -> 35%

The Vikings’ first big play of the game came on simple screen pass to Cook. He managed to turn the short pass into an explosive 27 yard catch and run. Cousins was not asked to throw deep against the Cowboys, his average pass on Sunday traveled seven yards through the air. Instead he relied on Cook to generate yards after the catch. Cook totaled 109 yards after the catch and his ability to break tackles and create extra yardage was crucial for the Vikings.

This play would end with a facemask penalty from cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. The resulting catch and 15-yard penalty gave the Vikings field position at the Cowboys’ 10-yard line. They would eventually end the drive with a score, putting them up 7-0 early.

No. 2: Cousins pass short left to Cook for 30 yards

EPA: 2.1. DAL WP Shift: 21% -> 16%

Once again Cook showed why he is one of the best running backs in the NFL. He turned another short screen pass into a huge gain, this time for 30 yards. And much like his first big play this one also ended with a penalty for the Cowboys. A 14-yard roughing the passer call on DeMarcus Lawrence would result in a 44-yard gain for the Vikings.

The Vikings would end the drive with another touchdown. It was tight end Kyle Rudolph that would pick up his second score of the game with linebacker Sean Lee in coverage. The score was now 14-0, but the Cowboys have developed a reputation this season as a team that rallies later in games. This game was no different.

No. 3: Cousins sacked for a loss of 9 yards by Robert Quinn

EPA: -2.3. DAL WP Shift: 13% ->17%

To start the second quarter the Cowboys found themselves in a dire situation. The defense had struggled to contain Cook throughout the first quarter and they desperately needed a stop on third down. So it is no surprise that Quinn came up big for his team when it mattered most. The team needed momentum and Quinn was able to give it to them following this sack.

No. 4: Prescott pass deep right to Amari Cooper for 20 yards

EPA: 2.5. DAL WP Shift: 14% -> 19%

Due to some questionable play-calling on early downs the Cowboys faced plenty of third-and-long situations. Luckily for the Cowboys the combination of Prescott and Cooper has turned into on of the most dependable QB-WR tandems in the NFL. The duo consistently lifted the team in these tight situations, and on this play Cooper displayed his elite awareness skills with a toe drag catch.

No. 5: Prescott pass short left to Michael Gallup for 23 yards TOUCHDOWN

EPA: 2.9. DAL WP Shift: 19% -> 27%

The Cowboys’ offense finally got back on track in the second quarter. After an impressive 20-yard catch from Cooper, it was Gallup that would give the Cowboys their first score of the game. The Vikings were in zone coverage here, but it was a well designed offensive play that had linebacker Eric Kendricks covering Gallup down the middle of the field for the easy score.

No. 6: Prescott pass deep right to Randall Cobb for 22 yards TOUCHDOWN

EPA: 4.4. DAL WP Shift: 36% -> 49%

Late in the first half the Cowboy were presented with a scoring opportunity. From the 22-yard line the expected points from this part of the field was 2.6. Even so, the Cowboys were not looking to enter half-time with a field goal. The team would even the score at 14-14 on a free play as the defense was called for an offside penalty.

Prescott’s improvisation skills came in handy on the explosive pass play and Cobb showed great focus in making the catch. Cobb had his best game as a Cowboy as he accounted for 106 yards, six receptions and a touchdown.

No. 7: Prescott pass deep right to Cooper for 12 yards TOUCHDOWN

EPA: 2.4. DAL WP Shift: 44% -> 51%

The duo of Prescott and Cooper connected on plenty of immaculate catches on the night, but this one by far was the most impressive. This play was a pass with some jet-action from RB Tony Pollard. Prescott rolled out to his right as Cooper ran a comeback route. The ball placement essentially left Cooper in a spot that was impossible to defend. But the accuracy from Prescott was also uncanny.

Where do Cowboys go from here?

It was a tough loss for the Cowboys as Prescott put on another MVP-caliber performance. They lost to a good team, but it did not have to be that way. There were plenty of opportunities to seize the game, but it was the coaching staff that came up short with a game plan that featured plenty of runs on first-and-10. All night the Cowboys had struggled to establish the run. Passing on the other hand was a completely different story. Much like they have all season, the Cowboys have possessed on of the best passing offenses in the league through 10 weeks of football.

Right now the biggest question marks come from the Cowboys’ defensive side of the ball. What has been concerning is the team’s never ending battle  against the run despite being at full strength on the defensive front. Even the pass defense has suffered as of late, as Awuzie has failed to take a major leap in his game now in his third year in the league. Overall, the Cowboys do have the talent and the right personnel to compete for a Super Bowl, but reality has not lined up with the expectations for the 2019 season.

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