Cowboys roar, Lions don’t score (enough): The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Ugly

For the third week in a row, the Cowboys opening offensive series ended in a negative play. In what can now be described as an epidemic, Dallas must find a way to right their wrongs.

Two weeks ago, Dak Prescott threw an interception on the first play of the game against the Giants. Last week, the opening series ended with a badly missed 57-yard field goal attempt giving the Vikings a short field.

On the second offensive play of the game, Ezekiel Elliott took the handoff and ran behind the left side of the offensive line. Lions prize free-agent addition, Trey Flowers, made a great play knocking the ball out of Elliott’s hands at the 29-yard line.

The Lions recovered the ball at the 28-yard line setting up their offense, led by backup quarterback Jeff Driskel. with a short field. Five plays later, 2018 Cowboys seventh-round draft pick, Bo Scarbrough scored on a five-yard rush up the gut running through a DeMarcus Lawrence tackle.

Elliott’s fumble was his second lost one this year. The first was in the Saints game. The scary thing for the Cowboys is that it is a different player each week with the negative play.

Against Green Bay, Amari Cooper tipped a ball for an interception. A three and out against the Jets helped New York to an early 7-0 lead.

Dallas players and coaches are likely tired of talking about their slow starts. By now, the Cowboys might be building their own self-fulfilling prophecy. Until America’s Team can sustain a few opening game drives, the discussion is not going to go away.

While Cowboys Nation will dissect the good, the bad and the ugly from the road win, the Cowboys will need to move on to their next opponent. Next week, the Cowboys play the 9-1 New England Patriots who did Dallas a favor beating the Eagles on Sunday. The ‘Boys will need to play a flawless game to have any hope of beating the Pats on the road.