Cowboys vs. Seahawks: What went right, what went wrong

The Dallas Cowboys lost their fifth consecutive game on Sunday as they fell to the Seattle Seahawks 13-12. In each of the Cowboys losses, with the exception of the New England Patriots Game, you could make the case that Dallas would have won those games with a healthy Tony Romo under center.

Instead of a 5-1 division leader however, we are left watching a 2-5 cellar dweller that is trying to find a way to stay alive in the playoff race.

The Cowboys got some help with the New York Giants losing earlier on Sunday and Dallas remains only 1 1/2 games off the division lead. So now is the time to look at what worked and what needs to be improved before the Sunday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles next week.

What Went Right

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For the first time since Week 2 in Philadelphia, the Cowboys defense was able to create a turnover. Late in the third quarter, with the Seahawks backed up in their own end, defensive end Greg Hardy was able to tip an intended screen pass into the air. Hardy came down with the ball and returned it to the Seattle 15-yard line. The Dallas offense was unable to turn the great field position into a touchdown however, and settled for one of Dan Bailey’s four field goals. Despite the offense’s inability to turn the short field into six points, the interception might be just what Dallas needs to spark a run of takeaways in the coming weeks.

The special teams played much better than they did in the Week 7 game against the New York Giants. Even though the Cowboys didn’t do anything spectacular on their own returns, the coverage team was able to contain dangerous rookie returner Tyler Lockett. The big special teams play came in the fourth quarter with Dallas clinging to a two point lead. Seattle place kicker Steven Hauschka lined up for what would have been a 47 yard, go-ahead field goal with just over nine minutes remaining in the game. Rookie defensive lineman David Irving, who was picked up off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs earlier in the season, reached up and blocked the kick to preserve the lead.

Back on the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys were able, for the most part, to get off the field on third down against Seattle. The Seahawks were able to convert on only five of their 12 third down attempts. The Dallas Defense has been the bright spot throughout this losing streak. They have been put in many bad situations over the last five games. In spite of short fields to defend, and an offense that has been unable to sustain drives and protect leads, the defense has done whatever it could to keep this Cowboys team competitive in Romo’s absence.

What Went Wrong

The first place to look when considering what needs to improve is quarterback Matt Cassel’s inability to move the ball through the air. Cassel was a miserable 13 for 25 passing with 97 yards and no touchdowns. The Cowboys interim starter at quarterback was able to pick up some unexpected rushing yards and he didn’t throw any interceptions, but his performance just wasn’t enough to beat the defending conference champions. Wide receiver Dez Bryant’s return did seem to open some things up for the offense early on, and perhaps a full week of practice together will make things easier for Cassel against the Eagles.

The Cowboys offense committed only three penalties for 15 yards on Sunday, but they all seemed to be drive killers. One play in particular illustrates this fact perfectly. With 9:37 remaining in the third quarter and Dallas driving at the Seattle 29 yard line, running back Darren McFadden runs the ball all the way to the Seahawks five. The play would be called back on an illegal motion penalty by rookie receiver Lucky Whitehead. The play would have set the Cowboys up with first and goal, but they instead settled for another field goal.

This leads to the biggest deficiency of the Cowboys from Sunday’s loss. Dallas’ offense had three drives enter the red zone against Seattle, and on each one they came away with a field goal. In fact, since Romo was injured, the Cowboys have scored touchdowns on only six of 14 red zone possessions. That appears even worse when you realize that three of those touchdowns came in the first half of the Atlanta Falcons game in Week 3. Dallas simply must improve in this area if they expect to win either of the next two games.

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I would suppose the best news I can give you here is that the starting quarterback is allowed to return to practice on Monday. The Cowboys have two more games to play before Romo is eligible to come off Injured Reserve – Designated For Return. If they have any hope of staying in the playoff hunt they must win at least one of those two matchups. The offense should have an easier time of things against the next two opponents, so here’s hoping the wheels haven’t fallen completely off the Cowboys wagon by the time Romo returns November 22nd against the Miami Dolphins.