Dallas Cowboys: 5 things we need to see after the bye week

Eight weeks of the 2018 NFL season is in the books. Following a bye week, the Dallas Cowboys have new armor in Amari Cooper. Can he help against the Titans?

Following a bye week, there are really no excuses for the next game. The Dallas Cowboys failed to head into the break with a win, but the upside is that they’ll have two weeks of prep time for the Tennessee Titans.

On top of that, it’s a Monday night show in Dallas, so that gives the ‘Boys another day of rest and work against the Titans.

Don’t shortchange this game. Of course, every game in the 16-week schedule matters. But, with the Cowboys coming off a bye, the acquisition of a high-profile player, this nationally televised game may very well dictate where Dallas sails.

We’re halfway in this 2018 campaign. Cowboys. Titans. Here are five things we need to see from the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

1. Penalty clean up

Against the Washington Redskins, the Cowboys owned eight penalties for 65 yards. Washington was penalized five times for 35 yards. You flip those stats, and the Cowboys easily take the last game.

Now, I’m not saying that playing clean ball will cure this up-and-down team. Following a bye week, the expectation is that head coach Jason Garrett will get these guys ready, and that means playing football free from the yellow flags.

So far in 2018, the Cowboys have been penalized 44 times for 319 yards. In terms of yardage, the ‘Boys actually rank 6th in the NFL, with the Colts taking the last place with 506 penalty yards. So, can Garrett get the refs to hold on to their flags in key moments?