FRISCO, Texas — Battered and bruised, both physically and morally, the Dallas Cowboys are entering their bye week at the perfect time. They’ve won three road games, most recently a resounding, overcoming-all-odds victory against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, but they’ve also lost three at home, and the crushing loss to the Detroit Lions is technically the fourth consecutive humiliation in the AT&T Stadium.
They have been outscored 53-119, very close to an all-time record for points allowed at home in the first three games of an NFL season.
All of this plays into who the Cowboys are currently, but with 11 regular season games left to right the ship, it’s at least possible that early season adversity could pay for itself as the season progresses, as stated by the offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
“They’re testing us in battle, and that’s the important thing,” he said of the six-game slog. “One of the things that is happening now is that we are being tested in battle. We are discovering a lot about ourselves and our courage.
“We are not just talking about young players, but all players. We would like to get those qualities now, so that when the games become more and more important and on a bigger stage, you feel equipped to handle it.”
Being ravaged by injuries lately is one reason for the struggles, but not an excuse, considering there were issues (e.g., red zone offense, run defense) that arose before the injury plague hit. sank its fangs into the squad in recent weeks.
However, it has created opportunities for role players to get plenty of reps they otherwise wouldn’t have received, helping to build them up for the winter ahead.
There are good things to take away from the first six games, but there are many more bad things, and with a .500 record, one is really what your record says. The next few weeks will give the Cowboys a chance to do some soul-searching to avoid other teams having to do it for them as the calendar turns the pages.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a bad time for a bye week,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “I think the fact that this game is a challenge. It’s a 17-game season, so I understand that. When a schedule comes out, you look at how it lines up. But, based on where we are, as far as injuries and things like that “I think it’s a good time for a rest week.”
And, on the other side of that bye week, another big test awaits them, a familiar one, when they travel to face the 49ers in Santa Clara.
“We have studies to do, a big project that we will do with our players when they return,” McCarthy added. “So it’s all about continuing education and really staying on top of things. I think we have to do better. We have work to do, obviously.”
We passed three exams, but none with an excellent grade. They missed three and not many showed up, mentally, to take the last one.
And now it’s time for midterms.
