All year long, fans have waited for the moment that the Dallas Cowboys' defense would step up and be what elevates this team to a win. We're at the mid-way point and are still waiting. But while the numbers looked bad in the 33-30 OT loss to the Cardinals, it was still a turning point for the group.
With 1:35 to play in the third quarter, Christian Parker and the Cowboys had Jacoby Brissett and Arizona locked up. They held them to just three points, and they'd forced multiple turnovers. But once Gardner Minshew came in, Minshew Mania shredded them for four touchdowns in as many drives.
Frankly, the collapse down the stretch doesn't tell the full story, because they only melted down because they were worn down. It was the offense that lost Dallas this game because of their inability to give the defense a breather. A talented unit was unable to stay on the field when it mattered.
On the Cowboys' final touchdown drive, they drove down the field in a minute and 37 seconds. Six plays and 62 yards. Between the fourth quarter and overtime, they had just one drive where they possessed the ball for over two minutes, and this isn't something that can be blamed on Parker.
Dallas Cowboys' offense held back a quality day from the defense
The biggest thing to remember is that the defense got a stop in overtime, but it was the offense who went three-and-out immediately afterward. George Pickens wasn't involved enough, they relied too much on Javonte Williams and the run game, and the play-calling on offense was quite stale.
They averaged 2.4 yards per carry, yet Brian Schottenheimer chose to run the football 39 times.
The Dallas Cowboys are home to one of the most high-powered offenses in the NFL, yet Minshew nearly recorded more passing yards than Prescott, despite not entering the game until the late third quarter. There's no world where Michael Wilson should be outperforming CeeDee Lamb.
Let's also go back to the possession where the Cowboys recovered the onside kick. They started at the 20, so they should have sealed the game. Instead, Lamb and Pickens were both on the sideline for two of the three plays, as Dallas went jumbo (2 TEs, extra OT) and settled for a field goal after a sack.
Why is Schottenheimer running 22 personnel in the red zone when he has two top-10 WRs?
Three drives started inside Arizona territory, and the Cowboys mustered just nine points on those drives. Yes, it didn't help that Tyler Allgeier ran wild and that they couldn't stop the run at the end, but for the first time all season, it was offensive stagnation that made life harder on the defense instead of vice versa.
It's frustrating how there was just no late-game aggression or fight once they thought they had won.
Christian Parker has received his fair share of blame for the Dallas Cowboys' issues this season, but this is the one instance where he should be absolved. The defense gave the offense every opportunity to put this one away, and they just failed to capitalize--and that falls on the man in charge.
So, if you needed any more proof that the 3-5 Cowboys need to consider firing Brian Schottenheimer after another ugly choke, there you have it.
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