Cowboys miscues, Patriots cruise: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Ugly

Mistakes have been the Achilles heel of the Dallas Cowboys 2019 season. The team’s slow starts can largely be attributed to miscues or blunders that have helped their opponent get a fast start.

In Sunday’s game, the Cowboys missed an opportunity to get an early lead when kicker Brett Maher missed a 46 yard field goal that struck the upright on the second Dallas series. The Cowboys were going into the wind in the first quarter and that direction would prove to be a challenge for both kickers.

While the missed field goal was a blown opportunity, it was not the Cowboys worst special teams play in the first quarter. On the ‘Boys third offensive series, they were backed up in their end starting the series from their twenty yard line.

Five plays later, they faced a fourth and twelve from their 30 yard line bringing out the punt team. The Patriots special team ace, Matthew Slater, found a way to get a hand on the Chris Jones‘ punt setting up the Pats at the Cowboys twelve yard line.

The Cowboys laid the foundation for the Patriots punt block weeks ago. The attention to detail with the special teams unit has not given Cowboys Nation confidence.

The opening kickoff against the New York Giants on November 4 showed that the kickoff return unit was not ready to handle a short kickoff. The ball landed at the twelve and kick returner Tony Pollard failed to manage the kick out of bounds rule.

Games against the Vikings and Lions further showed that the special teams unit was not a strength for the Cowboys. The Lions sent several short kicks that Dallas allowed to roll into the end zone tempting disaster each time.

On the Patriots punt block, fullback Jamize Olawale whiffed on his block allowing Slater to get his hand on the ball. The ball would be recovered by the Pats at the Cowboys twelve yard line.

Two plays later, the Patriots scored the only touchdown of the game on a Tom Brady throw. A missed field goal and a block punt resulted in the Cowboys being down 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and not holding a 3-0 lead.

The mantra is getting tiresome but the Cowboys will need to put this loss in the rear view mirror quickly. Thanksgiving Thursday will come quickly when the 8-3 Buffalo Bills will be America’s Team’s guests.