Cowboys’ Missed Chances Derail Winning Efforts

Another defeat for the Dallas Cowboys had took place on Sunday night when they lost to the San Francisco 49ers. In the entire match, the Dallas Cowboys faced challenges that have been persistent in the treatments. Winning three quarters by a total of 17-9, the Cowboys surprisingly kept the third quarter score 21-0 in favor of the 49ers, which led to their loss.

The Cowboys faced immediate difficulties. They found it challenging to build momentum during their initial offensive series, a frequent problem since they have yet to score a touchdown on the opening drive in any game this season. Even with a two-week break to get ready, their first offensive possession ended abruptly with a punt. Similarly, the start of the second half saw Dallas falter again, an unfortunate trend that has been present throughout the season. Out of 14 possessions to start a game or half, they’ve managed only three field goals, none of which came in Sunday’s matchup.

Their defensive starts were equally concerning, with opponents scoring on 13 out of 14 opening drives in each half. This lack of defensive resilience has left the Cowboys with a 71-15 deficit on first-half drives across the season, pointing to preparation and in-game adjustments as key problem areas. Dak Prescott and Jourdan Lewis have publicly commented on the effectiveness of practice regimes as well as the need for more focus to be placed on preparation, however these problems still persist in the playing field.

Despite being down by twenty one points at the beginning of the final quarter, the Cowboys rallied back during the last quarter of the game. Offense was sparked courtesy of CeeDee Lamb outrunning defense and making a catch which allowed Dallas to almost equalize the scores. But, when the Cowboys required one yard to continue their last push, they were halted, and the 49ers gained a vital first down to finish the game.

This defeat follows a similar trend seen in their past matches, such as a recent loss to the Baltimore Ravens, where the Cowboys fell behind early and only tried to mount a comeback towards the end. While the team has displayed brief moments of promise, these efforts are usually delayed, preventing any opportunity for a comeback.

There were high hopes for the Cowboys to improve after the bye week, particularly because the 49ers had key players like Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey injured. Despite missing some players, the 49ers still outperformed Dallas, demonstrating their skilled coaching and ability to make effective changes.

Changes are essential due to the Cowboys’ struggles in starting or ending halves effectively. The team needs to enhance their preparation, play-calling, and in-game adjustments in order to turn around slow starts and avoid additional losses.