Is It Time to Be Concerned About the Cowboys’ Defense?

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Football players from the Cowboys and Jets during a game, with a focus on a Cowboy wearing jersey number 97.
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa celebrates after a sack against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

We witnessed the season’s best Thursday night football game a few days ago.

The Cowboys won the game over Seattle 41-35, which kept Dallas on the heels of the Eagles for the NFC East.

With no punts from either team, opponents with a winning record are now averaging over 35 points against the Cowboys this season.

Next four games

The next four games for the Cowboys are against teams with winning records.

The Bills are .500, but they have an offense on the same level as the others.

The defense looks lost in coverage when they don’t get pressure, and one thing they need help with is when teams run motion.

My lawd…Cowboys defense is barbecue chicken tonight!

Seattle’s playoff hopes hung on this game, so they played more aggressively, but they did whatever they wanted to on offense.

The Cowboys are going to see the best of the best when it comes to the postseason.

If they give up 35 points a game to teams that will play in January, that is a reason to be concerned.

Right now, Dak Prescott is playing the best football of his career, and probably better than anyone in football since the loss to the 49ers.

After Dak Prescott threw his third TD pass to put Cowboys up 38-35 in the fourth quarter, he challenged Micah Parsons and the defense, saying “turn me tf up” and win the game, Parsons said: “I'm like, 'Damn, that shit made me blush a little bit. That's my quarterback right…

Yet, this offense was not made to carry them, and it has at times.

We have to keep it fair and give them credit for getting the stops when they needed them.

Late in the fourth quarter, they stopped the Seahawks offense on three straight drives that turned them over on downs, allowing the offense to score a touchdown and a field goal to end the game.

Time will tell

As noted, we will find out what this team is made of over these next four games, two at home and two on the road.

They had a good start by beating Seattle on Thursday, but if they can go 3-1 over these next four games against the Eagles, Bills, Dolphins, and Lions, folks will start thinking they have a real chance to win it all.

I have yet to give up on the defense, but to say they are elite still will not work.

They are struggling with teams that have winning records and those that can push the ball down the field.

They still have a penalty problem that will cost them in the big games.

The toughness and confidence are something I still see from them even when struggling, which is a good thing.

DaRon Bland was getting lit up all game and could still come away with an interception.

Jourdan Lewis made a big play late.

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The lights weren't too bright for the Cowboys defense during that final drive⭐(via @subway) pic.twitter.com/uqp80DbO4C

DeMarcus Lawerence and Micah Parsons made the two biggest plays of the night when they needed them.

I trust Dan Quinn to put them in the right spots to be better, but you can’t give up 35 points to playoff teams and force no punts if you want to win a Super Bowl.

We are lucky that Prescott is playing the best ball of his life, or this game and others may get ugly in a hurry.

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Shane Taylor is a sports journalist with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and seven years of professional media experience. He has written 766 articles for InsideTheStar.com, reaching over 928,000 readers. Prior to Inside The Star, Shane worked as a Sports Reporter for Journal Star and a Regional News Reporter for Shaw Media. He currently works in the TRIO Upward Bound department at a junior college.

84 Comments

  1. Mark Reis
    Not as long as they are playing the cupcakes !
  2. Robert Levitt
    What was it like 4 games in less than two weeks. I’m sure they were pretty tired. And sorry Lockett and megatron are beasts. All corners struggle against them. I’m sure the D will be just fine going forward.
  3. Andre Brittentine
    Defensive tackles stay n gaps, rb got come 2 Line of scrimmage LB will clean I up
  4. Walter Rodriguez
    Yes. The pass rush has disappeared and the secondary is getting torched for it.
  5. Elmer M Baker Jr.
    Come Dallas beat those eagles this weekend ok guys
  6. Joe Fitzpatrick
    The defense has slipped a little!
  7. Christopher Bailey
    They're fine, every defense has rough games, sometimes it's about consistency
  8. Daryl Daniels
    Defense has always been a concern even when we win. Started off the season on both sides of the ball with stellar potential. Then the injury bug hit but we still had plenty of depth. What we really have is stellar performers at key positions and then we expect too much out of one individual while on the other side they're not making plays. Some of these players have practiced against the likes of Pollard, Rico, even Zeke, yet we still can't stop the run. Quinns a good coach but it's our good players saving him.
  9. Grant Pryor
    Just the run.
  10. Leonard Colbert
    I think that they will turn it around as the season goes along they are built for this
  11. John Smith
    Playing 3 games in 11 days will take its toll especially on the defense … let’s see what happens after the mini break
  12. EthanC
    What nonsense. Truly. The D has been flat out balling all season and gave the offense the support it needed to find itself in MM's play-calling. They compensated for Gallup being nothing, for Cooks not being utilized, for TP gaining less than 4 ypc, for Dak to gain confidence in the new system. And you are going to write how this D cannot give up 35 points in the playoffs when they have been balling most of the season? I suggest a little bit of reality or at least objectivity in your "writing"!
  13. Brian Walker
    My concerns began during the 49rs game
  14. Allan 'Colton' Pearson Jr
    They're really a good defense...need consistancy
  15. Eddie Walker
    The defense needs to Wake up and come out playing I give them credit they did step up when needed but they got to come out swinging to hell win games
  16. Jane Roe-Balster
    I think the defense was tired they had four games with little rest, so their get a ten days rest they should be ready to go, Let's go Cowboys.
  17. Glenn Guillory
    Only when they play against very good offenses.
  18. Doug Mackenzie
    YES against any team with a functional QB
  19. Bobby Bakirtzis
    No one bad game no worries for now
  20. Kirk Kuykendall
    Yeah ... the #1 Defense Is in trouble ~~~ lmao
    1. Robert Hartle
      Kirk Kuykendall right...

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