Winners and Losers of Dallas Cowboys' Week 5 Performance
Another game and another gut-wrenching loss for the Dallas Cowboys. And once again, Dallas failed to stop Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers' offense on their home turf. Instead of getting revenge from the 2016 playoff game, Dallas was reminded that they just can't put away the Packers.
Heading into their bye week, Dallas has a 2-3 record after losing three of their last four games. Even worse, they've lost two games at home already. But despite the tough loss, there were a few plays on each side of the ball for the Cowboys that stood out and a handful that can receive part of the blame for the loss.
Here are the biggest winners and losers from the Cowboys' Week 5 loss.
Winner: Defensive End David Irving
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In his first game back on the field, defensive lineman David Irving continued to show why he's such an important piece to this Cowboys defense. In his return to the field, Irving racked up five tackles, two sacks, two tackles for a loss and three quarterback hits. The rest of the defense was only able to get to Aaron Rodgers three times.
Irving's strength, athleticism, and quickness make him one of the most versatile defenders on the team. When he and DeMarcus Lawrence are healthy, the defensive line has a chance to be disruptive, even against the best offensive lines. At the age of just 24, Irving's future is bright in Dallas.
Loser: Linebackers
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Once again, the linebackers will get a lion's share of the blame for the defensive struggles. Against a team that was missing their starting running back, Dallas allowed 160 rushing yards on 25 carries and one touchdown. The Packers were able to take advantage of the lack of speed and gash the Cowboys in the middle of the field.
Despite the return of Anthony Hitchens, the Cowboys' linebackers collectively failed to record a single tackle for a loss in this contest. They were exposed in coverage and are a liability for this team right now. Unless Sean Lee is on the field and playing at a high level, this is one of the worst linebacker units in the entire league. They need Lee to get healthy and stay on the field to give this team a chance to contend.
If the Cowboys can't figure out how to improve this linebacker situation in a hurry, they will continue to get run on. Lee might be the only reason that this isn't one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They have given up at least 35 points in three of their last four games, and the linebackers are a big reason why.
Winner: Quarterback Dak Prescott
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If the Cowboys can take away anything positive from this game, it's that once again quarterback Dak Prescott managed to go toe-to-toe with Aaron Rodgers. Prescott scored four touchdowns and racked up 288 total yards as he led the Cowboys to 31 points. Unfortunately, his "interception" that was intended for Terrance Williams was the difference in the game. Those six points changed the momentum and pace of the game.
As the Cowboys continue to build their roster in the upcoming years, it will be comforting to know that they have a quarterback who can play at the highest level, even when his offensive line is breaking down around him. Prescott is only improving in his second year and should be one of the biggest reasons Cowboys fans shouldn't get too discouraged about their 2-3 start.
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Loser: Wide Receiver Terrance Williams
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Speaking of Terrance Williams, it was another forgettable day for the team's No. 2 receiver. Despite being matched up with the Packers' young, inexperienced defensive backs, Williams caught just two passes for 14 yards. On one of his catches, he failed to convert on third down as he was arm-tackled just a few yards short of the first-down marker.
But without a doubt, his biggest blunder came in the fourth quarter when a Dak Prescott pass clanked off of his hands and into the hands of cornerback Damarious Randall, who returned it for a touchdown. On that drive, Dallas held a two-point lead and the turnover quickly put the Cowboys down by four.
In games where the defense is struggling to get any sort of stop, the Cowboys have to avoid the costly turnover on offense. This is the second week in a row where a second-half turnover essentially was the difference in the game. This can't happen if the Cowboys want to try to get back on track this season.
As for Williams, he will, unfortunately, be remembered for his blunders rather than his performance. With Brice Butler and Cole Beasley playing significantly better than Williams, it might be time to consider moving him to the bench. Williams has failed to reach 70 receiving yards in any game this season and is yet to score a touchdown. It was another forgettable performance by the fifth-year player from Baylor.
Winner: Running Back Ezekiel Elliott
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For just the second time this season, Ezekiel Elliott was able to crack 100 rushing yards. Elliott finished the game with 29 carries for 116 yards, and in the second half, he was able to gash the Packers. His best run of the game may have come on a critical 4th-and-1 in which he was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage, but was somehow able to reach over the pile for a first down.
The Cowboys' rushing attack still needs to find a way to improve on first downs, but it's clear that Elliott isn't the problem here. He's slowly gaining his quickness back and is still playing with great power. As long as Elliott is in the lineup for the Cowboys, they should have one of the most potent offenses in the NFL.
Loser: Special Teams
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Once again, it was another rough performance from the Cowboys' special teams unit. Outside of Dan Bailey, the entire unit had a forgettable day. Ryan Switzer had one kickoff return for 25 yards and one punt return that lost yardage.
But to make matters worse, penalties killed Dallas. Dallas had three special teams penalties that could have cost Dallas the game. Not only were the penalties a problem, Dallas took an unwise time-out on a 22-yard Mason Crosby field goal. The Cowboys just aren't making any splash plays in this phase of the game, and the costly penalties are prohibiting them from winning some of these close games. It's a weakness that has to improve in the second half of the season.
Winner: Wide Receiver Cole Beasley
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After a rough start of the season in which he had just 86 receiving yards on 11 catches, Cole Beasley became Dak Prescott's favorite option in the red zone on Sunday. Beasley caught two touchdowns, both of which came from the slot.
However, Beasley totaled just 23 yards on Sunday and was still limited in the middle of the field. If the Cowboys want to continue to improve on offense going forward, a good start would be to look for Beasley more often on early downs, rather than Jason Witten. Beasley provides more explosiveness and more big-play potential after the catch.
With the bye week upon us, look for Dallas to find more ways to get the ball to Beasley in the upcoming weeks as they try to make small tweaks to their offense.
Loser: Cornerback Anthony Brown
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Most of the Cowboys' secondary played poorly, but cornerback Anthony Brown played particularly poorly as Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers targeted him repeatedly. Davante Adams and Jordy Nelson had their way with Brown, as each scored a touchdown on Brown.
With the injuries at cornerback, Brown has been forced to play more on the outside rather than in the slot. But as Jourdan Lewis continues to play at a high level, Dallas might decide to put Brown back inside and allow Lewis and Scandrick to play outside. Nevertheless, the second-year cornerback from Purdue is in a sophomore slump, as he has struggled to play with any consistency this season.
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