5 major causes for concern after Cowboys Week 10 loss to Packers

The Dallas Cowboys had no business losing to the Green Bay Packers in Week 10.

For the first time in a long time, the Cowboys were the far better team entering the game. Dallas had a 6-2 record, was coming off a huge 49-29 win over the Bears, and had a full bye week to get players with ailments some much-needed rest. The Packers, on the other hand, lost several key players to injuries in Week 9 and were entering the game on a five-game losing streak.

The Cowboys should have won.

Instead, they started off incredibly poorly on offense. Once they finally found their momentum after halftime, they blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead to lose in overtime thanks to discipline penalties, poor communication, and questionable calls.

It was a game the Cowboys needed to win to prove they were actual contenders. A game that would’ve shown they could win big games against tough adversaries when it mattered.

Now, they sit at 6-3 and gave the Giants and Eagles a leg up in the NFC East.

The game was frustrating on many fronts, but what was most concerning? Let’s talk about it.

5 major causes for concern after Cowboys’ Week 10 loss to Packers

5. D(ak)r. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

It’s a problem when you don’t know which version of your franchise quarterback you’re going to get. To be fair, Dak has only played in four games this season. However, he’s been a different version of himself in each one.

Week 1 was a dismal performance that ended in a broken hand. Week 7 was an understandably slow start in his first return back, but he did finally pick up the pace after the first half. Week 8 saw a stellar quarterback who was using his arm and legs to dominate his opponent. Week 10 was the opposite.

You can blame it on miscommunication, poor calls, and some drops from receivers, but this wasn’t the Prescott we saw against the Bears.

Instead of coming out strong against the Packers, No. 4 had an incredibly shaky start. He went 0-for-4 to start the game and also led the Cowboys to two straight three-and-outs.

As if that weren’t enough, he then threw two interceptions on back-to-back drives. Both interceptions resulted in touchdowns for Green Bay. Even Hall of Famer Michael Irvin tweeted his displeasure about the interceptions.

It was a rough day at the office overall for Prescott. He had several miscommunications with his receivers and just couldn’t move the offense as efficiently as he did in Week 8.

4. The Run Defense is Still A Mess

The run defense has not improved. Dan Quinn has been praised all year for his defense, but this thorn in their side is really starting to get frustrating.

In the first half alone, Green Bay had 18 rushes for 93 yards. That was the most yards and attempts the Packers had all season. This also happened after Aaron Jones was seen walking around in a boot in the Packers’ Week 9 loss to the Lions. After injuring his ankle, Jones ran all over the Cowboys for all four quarters.

During the game as a whole, Dallas gave up 207 yards via a mix of long runs and short gains. There were also several missed tackles. Jones and RB2 A.J. Dillon were able to break off for big runs after getting contact early. That shouldn’t happen at all.

The run defense was so bad that the Packers chose to keep on the ground even after being down two scores in the fourth.

When asked about the situation, Micah Parsons wasn’t thrilled. 

"“We’ve just got to be accountable. …It’s going to keep happening until we stop it. Period. …Until we put this flame out of this running the ball stuff, we’re never going to be as good as we need to be. Period.”"

The Cowboys face some of the best running backs in the league in the next few weeks. If Quinn can’t clean this up, this team will continue to suffer.

3. This Team Needs to Play All Four Quarters

The Cowboys seem to have a habit of not showing up for all four quarters of football. It’s great that they have found a way to make second-half adjustments, but there’s no reason this team shouldn’t start every single game as strong as they started Week 8 against Chicago.

As mentioned earlier, the start of the first quarter was absolutely terrible and the team wasn’t able to get points on the board until the second and third quarters.

So, after they were able to get 28 points on the board, did they keep their foot on the gas pedal? No. The Cowboys reverted to getting penalties and blowing a lead in 15 minutes of football.

How are people supposed to consider Dallas contenders if they can’t beat struggling teams up 14 in the fourth quarter? This team had no business going to overtime in the first place. After turning on the jets and scoring 21 unanswered points, they just gave all the momentum to the Packers.

If this team wants to compete they need to play from start to finish. Good teams will take advantage of the lulls.

2. Dallas Must Stop Playing to Their Opponents

In other words, Dallas can’t go into a game against a team on a five-game losing streak and just expect an easy contest. This team needs to play every game like they are playing the best team in football.

The Packers had practically lost their playoff hopes, lost two of their best defensive players to season-ending injuries, were playing without two of their best receivers, were coming off a horrifically embarrassing loss, and they still beat the Cowboys.

Sure this rivalry has a lot of history and anything can happen, but Dallas should have won this game. They didn’t show up like they had in weeks past. They let a rookie wide receiver in Christian Watson go for 107 yards and three touchdowns — the first rookie to have a three-TD game against Dallas since Randy Moss in 1998.

Plus, the Cowboys had a full extra week of rest and came in much healthier than the Packers while riding a two-game winning streak. Whether the Packers were 3-6 or 9-0, the Cowboys needed to come into this game and play like they needed to win this game — because they did.

A win would’ve kept them on pace with the undefeated Eagles, but now they drop down in a relentless division.

1. The Penalties Continue

The Cowboys have become more synonymous with penalties than anything else lately, and it’s downright embarrassing.

On Sunday, Dallas racked up nine accepted penalties which lost them 83 yards. The team only drew more flags in Weeks 1 and 6, the only other two games they have lost this season.

The frustrating part is that most of these penalties are disciplinary. For example, an unnecessary roughness on Peyton Hendershot on a punt return forced Dallas to start from their own five-yard line.

No penalty comes at an opportune time, but they all seemed to be at the worst moment possible, especially in overtime.

The Cowboys were lucky to win the toss and get the ball but just continually shot themselves in the foot. On 2nd and 3 from the Green Bay 46, Pollard had a great rush for what should’ve moved the chains.

Instead of a first down, rookie Jalen Tolbert was called for an “offensive offsides,” which is the first time many had heard that in their lives. The mistake for the rookie negated the rush and cost the team five yards.

Prescott was able to overcome that one. But not for long. On a later 2nd and 10, rookie Malik Davis had a beautiful 16-yard drive to take the Cowboys to the Packers’ 26. Nope. Holding on Connor McGovern.

Every big play seemed to be marred by a penalty. If the discipline doesn’t get under control, the Cowboys will once again lead the league in penalties — a category you don’t want to be at the top of.

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