After their dismal start to the season and last Sunday’s 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions, the Dallas Cowboys are in desperate need of a reprieve. Despite their current standing as a sloppy .500 team, this is not the championship-quality performance that was promised at the start of the season. David Helman and Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reviewed the performance of key personnel and the team overall, giving Head Coach Mike McCarthy a failing grade for not delivering on his promises of stability and Championships, marking quarterback Dak Prescott with a B despite his MVP talent being dragged down by a lacklustre offence, and criticizing owner/GM Jerry Jones for offseason missteps and excuses that are preventing the team from attracting outside help.
Vacchiano further criticizes the Cowboys offence, describing it as one-dimensional with a focus on Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. The offence’s poor performance is attributed more to the failing offensive line and a lack of a productive running game. Nevertheless, Vacchiano gives the offence an overall grade of B-. Mike McCarthy’s defence doesn’t fare much better. Helman acknowledges that injuries have affected the team’s performance, but points out that even when healthy, the Cowboys’ defence has allowed opponents to score 65% of the time they have possession, giving the defence a grade of F.
The only positive review comes from the special team, specifically kicker Brandon Aubrey. Aubrey’s exceptional performance has earned him the position of the best kicker in the league, with Helman praising his ability to perform under pressure from beyond the 35-yard line. This, coupled with the excellent contribution of KaVontae Turpin who has proven to be a dangerous returner, has earned the Special teams an “A+.”
When looking at the team’s overall performance, Vacchiano gives a C grade. He recognizes that there are still 11 games left in the season, and despite being one game out from the lead, the Cowboys are failing to meet the high standards they set for themselves. This is particularly evident in their lack of home advantage with three consecutive losses by large margins. Meanwhile, Helman gave a D grade overall, asserting that despite the team’s .500 record, this is one of the most disappointing 3-3 teams he’s observed. Helman and Vacchiano stress that drastic changes need to be made if the Cowboys want to survive the rest of the season.
