On his 82nd birthday, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hoped for a victory against the formidable Detroit Lions. Instead, the team delivered a disastrous 47-9 defeat, marking their worst home loss in 35 years.
Following the game, the football community reacted strongly, including former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, who did not hold back in his critique. Garrett, who led the team from 2011 to 2019, pointed to the Cowboys’ lack of physicality on both offense and defense, emphasizing their failure to run the ball effectively and control the line of scrimmage.
“They’re not physical on either side of the ball,” Garrett stated. “On offense, they can’t run it; they’re not controlling the line of scrimmage. Everything is on Dak every time the ball is snapped. And they can’t stop the run on the other side.”
Jason Garrett on the Cowboys:
“They’re not physical on either side of the ball. On offense, they can’t run it, they’re not controlling the line of scrimmage. Everything is on Dak, every time the ball is snapped. And they can’t stop the run on the other side.” #NFL pic.twitter.com/rpXLyTs1nf
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 14, 2024
The Cowboys have consistently struggled with their physical presence this season. In Sunday’s game, they surrendered 184 rushing yards, the third time this year their defense has allowed 180 or more yards. Meanwhile, Dallas managed only 53 rushing yards, averaging a mere 3.9 yards per play, compared to the Lions’ 7.5 yards.
This matchup also marked a significant low for the Cowboys, as it was the first time they failed to score a touchdown since Week 1 of 2022.
With the bye week approaching, head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff are under pressure to find solutions. They face a challenging schedule ahead, including matchups against the 49ers, Falcons, Eagles, and Texans in the next four games.
