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FRISCO, TX — The secret isn't one at all, to be honest, if the topic is the continued struggles within the red zone by the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵÏÂÔØÈë¿Ú. What's not often discussed, however, is the fact they've actually taken a step back from what the first six games of the 2023 season looked like in that area, and that's concerning when you consider just how, concerning, the issue was one year ago.
Considering it's the second year of Mike McCarthy's offense in Dallas, there should instead be a level of comfort that didn't exist in the inaugural season of it — with heavy installs presumably being replaced with muscle memory and more free-flowing play on a rep-to-rep basis.
In the red zone, it's been anything but comfortable.
Discomfort Zone
To put it plainly, it's been a mattress made of broken glass, and that's the bed the Cowboys have been made to lie down on.
Red Zone Touchdown (%) -
2023: 39.1% (26th-ranked)
2024: 37.5% (30th-ranked)
It goes without saying that is not only less than ideal, but it's outright concerning, and it blatantly screams as the primary reason for the consistent inability to put up points, along with the absence of chunk plays that become touchdowns as mask to said struggles in the red zone.
And then there are the giveaways, be it a fumble by CeeDee Lamb and/or an interception by Dak Prescott targeting Lamb, the two having not consistently been on the same page with their route communication as the field begins to shrink; and drive-killing penalties that suddenly put them behind the chains once they start sniffing the end zone.
The current overall turnover ratio for the Cowboys through their first six contests?
Minus six.
That's correct, they've given up the ball six more times than they've taken it away, also a knock to defense's struggles in helping out in that category, but that aside, it's evident that it's self-inflicted wounds are the real culprit here — not so much scheme or playcalling — because it's not as if Prescott, Lamb and the Cowboys' offense is incapable of moving the ball.
The good news is they most certainly are.
Go, Go Gadget Drive
Entering the bye week, they are one of the league leaders in number of drives that consist of 10 or more plays, right up there with the likes of the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills. The challenge comes in scoring touchdowns after those extended drives, however, seeing as the Cowboys have found their way into the end zone on those 11 drives of 10 or more plays just five times this season.
That means 55 percent of the time, they don't score a touchdown on a lengthy drive.
Instead, they're often forced to settle for field goals, All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey having scored literally as many times on those types of drives (5) as the entire offense this season.
This may come as a surprise to you (insert sarcasm here), but you won't win many games in the NFL when your kicker is sometimes the entirety of your offense.
Chunky but Funky
Word to the late, great Heavy D, but remember the chunk plays, or lack thereof, that I mentioned?
Let's take a look at the Minnesota Vikings, to illustrate my point.
Owners of a 5-1 record, the Vikings have only four drives of 10 or more plays with only one touchdown scored on those four opportunities (25%), but are still the sixth-best offense in the league — averaging 28 points per game — in complete contrast to what's happening in Dallas, who are ranked 20th in scoring with an average of just 21 points per game on the heels of a nine-point showing against the Detroit Lions at home.
Yes, I'm telling you the Cowboys are markedly better than the Vikings at devouring time of possession and extending drives, but the Vikings are light years ahead when it comes to making up that difference with downfield plays (hi, Justin Jefferson) that actually turn into touchdowns and not simply a drive-extending catch.
As it stands, the Cowboys are near the bottom of the league in chunk plays, let alone those that pay off with a one-way trip to pay dirt.
If only they had an All-Pro quarterback and an All-Pro receiver and a Pro Bowl tight end to help solve such a problem.
Wait a minute…
Gold? Mine.
There's no two ways about it going forward.
This version of the Cowboys need to figure out how to both capitalize on extended drives with more than a simple swinging of Brandon Aubrey's right foot and how to create more chunk plays that take them into the end zone — the latter also tied to the target's ability to make defenders miss, e.g., Lamb's 65-yard touchdown catch-and-run against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2.
There is no better time to do it than right now, in the face of their own personal Boogeyman, namely Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers; and in Santa Clara, no less.
It's a game that could help change the trajectory of the remainder of the season in Dallas, and the Cowboys' defense will have their hands full as well, which goes without saying.
But, in the event they find themselves again playing out of sorts, will the offense have it in them to chisel away at the Niners' defense until they finally strike gold? They've got the talent, and that combined with the scheme turned them into the No. 1 offense after the bye in 2023.
You know, when Lamb went off for 11 touchdowns and 1,274 yards over the remaining 11 games.
Just know bringing back silver from California on Monday simply will not do.
