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Dallas Cowboys: Taking a look at offensive context by game

By Brad Austin

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 12: Head coach Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys speaks to Dak Prescott #4 after a play in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 12: Head coach Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys speaks to Dak Prescott #4 after a play in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Cowboys offense followed up laying an egg at New York with dropping a bomb on Philadelphia. It’s time to add context to past output.

As the Dallas Cowboys ease into their bye week, rejuvenated fans are still left scratching their heads at the identity of this team. The defense has its share of riddles, but offensive inconsistency is screaming for a glimpse at context.

Injuries have played a part and the quality of defensive opponents is very relevant. Below is a game-by-game look at those two factors along with scoring output.

WEEK 1: NEW YORK GIANTS

Cowboys points scored: 35

Offensive starters missing: 0

Opponent’s defensive ranking: 27th (26.7 ppg)

WEEK 2: @ WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Cowboys points scored: 31

Offensive starters missing: 0

Opponent’s defensive ranking: 20th (25.1 ppg)

WEEK 3: MIAMI DOLPHINS

Cowboys points scored: 31

Offensive starters missing: 1 (WR – Michael Gallup)

Opponent’s defensive ranking: 32nd (35.2 ppg)

WEEK 4: @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Cowboys points scored: 10

Offensive starters missing: 1 (WR – Gallup)

Opponent’s defensive ranking: 11th (21.0 ppg)

WEEK 5: GREEN BAY PACKERS

Cowboys points scored: 24

Offensive starters missing: 1 (LT – Tyron Smith)

Opponent’s defensive ranking: 9th (19.9 ppg)

WEEK 6: @ NEW YORK JETS

Cowboys points scored: 22

Offensive starters missing: 3 (LT – Smith, RT – La’el Collins, WR – Randall Cobb)

Opponent’s defensive ranking: 23rd (26.0 ppg)

WEEK 7: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Cowboys points scored: 37

Offensive starters missing: 0

Opponent’s defensive ranking: 24th (26.6 ppg)

SUMMARY TAKEAWAYS

Dallas scored 30+ points in all four wins. Three times the entire starting unit played and once only one starter was missing. Not a single defense ranks above 20th.

At New Orleans, the Cowboys were still only without one starter and got stonewalled for 10 points against an 11th ranked defense. No excuses, they just finally met a talented stop unit and got whipped.

Green Bay’s 9th ranked defense continued the abuse of a largely intact starting offense. 24 points sounds formidable, but not when collected in garbage time.

The offense was respectably banged up when facing a fairly game Jets defense, yet was again exposed as vanilla and inconsistent. Lastly, Dallas got healthy again and poured it on a lame duck 24th ranked Eagles defense.

Next. Top 10 Undrafted Free Agents in Dallas Cowboys History. dark

The Cowboys expose bad defenses and bow to contenders. Injuries can’t excuse away the duds against the Saints and Packers. Expect more key injury issues and struggles against formidable defenses. Inconsistency and schizophrenia are licking their chops.

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