A Dallas Cowboys football blog

Cowboys’ defense returns, offense still shaky in red zone — Monday Morning QB

1 Comment

I imagine the mood around The Star in Frisco last week was dark and stormy. The defense played a terrible game against Arizona.

The offense moved the ball up and down the field until they got inside the Cardinals’ 10 then flamed out.

Back home on Sunday, the Cowboys played like a team on a mission.

The defense recorded two more touchdowns on returns. A defensive lineman even scored on a two-point conversion.

The unit may also have ended Mac Jones’ time as the Patriots’ starting quarterback in the 38-3 win over New England.

Monday Morning Quarterback: Cowboys’ defense returns, offense still shaky in red zone
Dante Fowler strips Patriots’ quarterback Mac Jones during a tackle. Leighton Vander Esch recovered the fumble and returned it for a touchdown in Sunday’s 38-3 win over New England.

DaRon Bland had two interceptions – including one he returned for a 54-yard touchdown return.

Leighton Vander Esch had an 11-yard fumble return for a score. Following that touchdown, Dallas called a fake point after try.

Punter Bryan Anger, who serves as the holder on kicks, hit defensive end Chauncey Golston – lined up as an eligible receiver — for the two-point conversion.

The offense was still less than stellar inside the 20. Dallas settled for three Brandon Aubrey field goals of 23, 23, and 33 yards.

Dak Prescott did throw a 20-yard touchdown to CeeDee Lamb.

Rookie Hunter Luepke scored his first NFL touchdown on a three-yard run, a rare accomplishment for Dallas’ offense this year so far.

The Cowboys still have some work to do on both sides of the ball. With George Kittle waiting next week, coverage on tight ends needs to improve.

So does containing the running game with Christian McCaffery also lurking about.

The offense still looks disjointed inside the 10-yard line. Dallas cannot afford to leave four points on the field against San Francisco.

By The Numbers

Sunday’s win puts Dallas at 2-0 against AFC East teams in 2023.

Unfortunately, they get to play the division’s two best teams on the road later this year.

The victory improved the Cowboys’ record against the Patriots to 9-6 overall. They are now 5-2 at home and have won the last two games against New England.

Monday Morning Quarterback: Cowboys’ defense returns, offense still shaky in red zone 2

The win was the first Dallas win over the Patriots at AT&T Stadium.

It also moved Dallas into sole possession of second place in the NFC East, one game behind the Eagles. The Commanders are a game back of Dallas.

The Cowboys record all-time in Week 4 games is now 33-24 and this was their third straight Week 4 win.

Dallas is now 17-9 at home overall and 6-11 against AFC teams all-time in Week 4 contests.

Last Two Standing

Speaking of the 49ers, they and the Eagles are the only remaining undefeated teams in the NFL after four weeks.

San Francisco rolled over Arizona while Philadelphia escaped with an overtime win over Washington.

Miami wasn’t so lucky on Sunday. One week after hanging a 70 on the Denver Broncos, the Dolphins got stampeded (sorry, not sorry) by Buffalo, 48-20.

Monday Morning Quarterback: Cowboys’ defense returns, offense still shaky in red zone 4
Buffalo handed the Miami Dolphins their first loss of the season on Sunday. (Yahoo Sports photo)

Dallas heads west for a Sunday night meeting to try to hand the 49ers their first loss – and avenge last year’s playoff loss. The Eagles will play in Los Angeles against the Rams.

The 1972 Dolphins will be chilling the champagne and hoping to crack it open by late Sunday night.

Tired Of Tay-Tay Yet?

Am I the only one sick and tired of seeing Taylor Swift every time I turn on an NFL game lately?

We’re not even sure she and Travis Kelce are really a thing. But for two weeks now it “OMG Taylor’s at the game!”

The pre-game shows are running with Taylor sightings. For the first time that I can recall, Taylor Swift commercials are airing during the games.

Monday Morning Quarterback: Cowboys’ defense returns, offense still shaky in red zone 5

Stares disapprovingly in old man “Get off my lawn!” vibes.

Look, I get it. Its marketing.

Even if they aren’t a thing, both Swift and Kelce are playing this to perfection. She’s selling tickets and he’s selling merch.

But after two weeks my television might not survive another Taylor Swift sighting.

For its sake, I’m begging y’all, enough with Tay-Tay already.

Richard Paolinelli

Staff Writer

Richard Paolinelli is a sports journalist and author. In addition to his work at InsideTheStar.com, he has a Substack -- Dispatches From A SciFi Scribe – where he discusses numerous topics, including sports in general. He started his newspaper career in 1991 with the Gallup (NM) Independent before going to the Modesto (CA) Bee, Gustine (CA) Press-Standard, and Turlock (CA) Journal -- where he won the 2001 Best Sports Story, in the annual California Newspaper Publishers Association’s Better Newspapers Contest. He then moved to the Merced (CA) Sun-Star, Tracy (CA) Press, Patch and finished his career in 2011 with the San Francisco (CA) Examiner. He has written two Non-Fiction sports books, 11 novels, and has over 30 published short stories.

Follow this author:

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments