Dallas’ defense in Week 1 was an absolute mess, letting the New York Giants convert a ridiculous 82% of their third downs, nine of 11. Yeah, you read that right. That’s a figure New York hadn’t hit since 1978, and it meant the Cowboys offense barely saw the field, especially in the second half. Now, heading into Week 2 against Washington, the message is crystal clear: the offense has to start fast and make a splash to carry a defense that’s already looking shaky.
Their Defense Is Already in Freefall
That 28-20 “Sunday Night Football” loss to the Giants wasn’t just a loss, it was a defensive disasterclass. The Giants just owned the ball, dominating time of possession at 36:40 compared to Dallas’ 23:20. Because of that, the Cowboys’ offense had only two drives in the entire second half! Both of those drives ended in touchdowns, but they still came up one drive short of victory. Think about that: two chances in an entire half, and they needed three.
According to defensive expected points added per drive in TruMedia, the Cowboys’ defense put up the absolute worst effort of any team in Week 1. Worse than any of their defensive games from last year. Seriously, out of 576 defensive performances since the start of the 2025 season, that Week 1 showing ranked 574th. Their seven defensive possessions yielded four touchdowns, a single fumble recovery, a punt, and then the game just ended. It’s a brutal reality check, and it’s happening right out of the gate.
Offense on a Mission: Punch It In When You Get It
So, with the defense struggling under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, what’s the plan? The offense has to maximize every single drive they get. All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who’s a five-time Pro Bowler at 27 years old, talked about the unpredictable nature of the game, saying, “The second half, we scored on the two drives that we did have the ball. So, I feel like it’s just making the most of the opportunity we do have. In this game, you never know when you’re going to get the ball back.” Lamb gets it. The margin for error is razor thin.
That means Dallas is prioritizing explosive plays from Lamb and George Pickens. Quarterback Dak Prescott is right there with him, reviewing film and telling his guys to be ready. “Yeah, just making adjustments and looking at the tape or the pictures from the last drive and going and making sure the receivers and everybody knows when you get back and you get another chance, this is what we’re going to do,” Prescott said. They’re trying to root their guys on, full of faith and optimism. But trust me, that Week 1 performance is sitting heavy.
Can the offense adjust fast enough to put up points and give their defense some breathing room against the Commanders? This Week 2 game is huge. The Cowboys need to show they can overcome these early defensive struggles if they want to get this season on track.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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