The Dallas Cowboys defense had a tough time against the Detroit Lions, giving up 47 points in their Week 6 matchup. This is the most points the Cowboys have allowed since 2020, when they gave up 49 to the Cleveland Browns.
Missing key players like Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Marshawn Kneeland, Eric Kendricks, and DaRon Bland made a big difference, as the Lions racked up 492 yards of offense—something no one expected, even with the injuries.
“This was very concerning and very humbling,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. “I felt bad for all our great fans, especially those in the stadium. We have a lot of work to do.”
With many players recovering from injuries, the Cowboys refuse to use this as an excuse for their poor performance, especially after losing four straight home games dating back to last season.
“We had injuries last week when we won, so that’s not a good excuse,” said cornerback Jourdan Lewis. “We just have to go out there and do our job.”
The Lions scored on nine of their 12 drives, with quarterback Jared Goff throwing for 315 yards and three touchdowns. Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 143 yards and two scores. The defense knows it has areas to improve.
“Obviously, we have to correct it, and I know the guys in this locker room will,” said linebacker Damone Clark.
The Cowboys need to play more physically, as the defensive line struggled to pressure Goff, allowing 6.7 yards per carry to Montgomery and 5.3 to Gibbs. The secondary also struggled, giving up an average of 12.6 yards per pass attempt.
“Right now, we’re just not playing good ball, that’s all it comes down to,” noted safety Malik Hooker.
After the game, players talked about the need for self-reflection. The Cowboys understand they need to improve, but they also know accountability is important.
“We’ll see what we did wrong and how our effort and technique can improve,” Lewis said. “It starts with individuals, and then as a team, those things add up.”
As they prepare for the bye week, everyone in the Cowboys organization needs to find ways to improve. Jones emphasized the need for a new approach: “We’ve got to come in with a different attitude, execution, and approach. There’s a lot to work on.”
At 3-3 with 11 games left in the season, the Cowboys still have a chance for success. However, many questions remain.
“I don’t have a lot of answers,” Jones said. “What are we going to do about it? We’re going to go to work.”
