Dallas Cowboys: Five Reasons They Aren't Out of the Woods Yet

Dallas got a much-needed win Sunday against their in-state counterparts from Houston. The win over Houston had many speculating that this would break them from their 0-2 skid that they started on. 

The win was a good all-around performance by a team that was desperately in need of one.

Tony Romo posted very good numbers (284 yards, two touchdowns, 127.6 QB rating) and the offensive line kept up its great job of protecting him (only one sack in three weeks).

The defense did a decent job of containing fantasy darling Arian Foster. They also forced Matt Schaub into two interceptions and sacked him four times, keeping him on his toes for most of the game.

But, not so fast Dallas fans, there are still quite a few things in the way of this Cowboy train that they must realize before they can get it back on track.

So, without further ado, here are a few things the Cowboys need to keep their eyes on in the coming weeks in order to avoid an early holiday in Dallas.

Penalties, Penalties, Penalties!

Steve Dykes/Getty Images

EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans is not happy after as an official calla a false start on the Trojans in the second quarter of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 31, 2009 in Eugene, Oregon

The Cowboys need to stop giving the referees reasons to throw their yellow laundry all over the field.

This year they have 26 penalties called against them, totaling 180 yards of unearned production for their opponents. That's nearly nine penalties per game and 60 yards. 

Even former coach Jimmy Johnson is getting concerned over the number of penalties under coach Wade Phillips.

Until they cut back on penalties and these turnovers, they are going to have a problem," Johnson said after their loss last week to the Bears.

They suffered a loss in Washington directly from a holding penalty called on OT Alex Barron, his third of the game. In that game they put up 380 yards, but only mustered seven measly points.

Last season they were on the hook for 115 penalties, 69 of which were against the offense creating stalled drive after stalled drive.

Dallas currently finds themselves tied for fifth in the league in whistles blown against them, and if they don't start getting disciplined, the wins will continue to be hard to come by.

They Can't Run The Ball

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 19: Running back Marion Barber #24 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball against the Chicago Bears at Cowboys Stadium on September 19, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Cowboys are currently 25th in the league in rushing.

They can't continue this pace if they are aspiring to end up in the postseason this December.

Marion Barber has racked up 125 yards in three games, with Felix Jones following him at 88 yards and Tashard Choice rounding out the group with 21.

Even worse is their yards per attempt. Barber flops out of Week 3 with a measly 3.5 ypa, good for 81st in the league. Jones is sitting at 62nd with 4 ypa and Choice is tied for 86th with 2.6 ypa.

Their longest run of the year comes from Jones at 15 yards. Only two teams, the Bengals and Saints, have yet to have a longer run this season.

This is coming from a team that averaged 131.4 rushing yards per game just a season ago. Something is wrong in the backfield in Dallas.

Their main three backs, Barber, Jones and Choice only racked up 84 yards rushing in the five games they played this preseason.

Maybe it is their lack of reps before the start of the season that has gotten them off to such a measly start.

Houston May Not Be As Good As We Think

Bob Levey/Getty Images

HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 26: Running back Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans rushes against the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter at Reliant Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

We know that Matt Schaub can chuck the ball with the best of them, we know Andre Johnson is a stud, and we know that Arian Foster is looking impressive.

However, from there, are the Texans really a playoff quality team?

They caught the Colts off guard in Houston in Week 1, but from there Indianapolis has gone on to get back to form and thump the Giants and Broncos.

They gave Peyton Manning free reign of their turf where he hurled his way to 433 yards on 40/57 passing.

Basically every play they knew the ball was going in the air, yet he still walked away with a personal record on completions, and only five away from the record of 45 set by Drew Bledsoe in 1994.

They then went into Washington and pulled away with an overtime victory against the Redskins. A game in which Washington led by 17 with less than 20 minutes to go and allowed Donovan McNabb to throw for 426 yards.

In overtime, Washington's kicker Graham Gano made a 52-yard field goal to win the game, only to have it called back as Gary Kubiak called timeout just before the snap. Gano missed the second attempt.

After that the Texans crashed back to earth, as a team who gives up 400-plus passing yards in consecutive weeks will, with a loss to Dallas.

So maybe the Texans aren't as good as everyone originally evaluated them to be; only time will tell.

The NFC East Is Tough

Doug Benc/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 26: Quarterbacks Kevin Kolb #4 and Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles talk on the sidelines during a time-out against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on September 26, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Eagl

The worst thing that could happen to the Cowboys is a lack of a quarterback controversy in Philadelphia.

If Michael Vick continues to show that he is the head honcho in Philadelphia, then the NFC East includes teams led by three battle-tested quarterbacks in Vick, Eli Manning, and Donovan McNabb.

Plus, the Cowboys are currently the only team with a divisional loss under their belt after being frozen by the Washington defense in Week 1.

If the Giants pull everything together in time to string together wins, then the Cowboys could find themselves locked out of the playoffs altogether this winter.

Their Schedule Is Difficult

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

DENVER - SEPTEMBER 26: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts takes the field to run the offense against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on September 26, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Colts defeated the Broncos 27-13.

Dallas has a ridiculously hard schedule this season.

Playing in the NFC East this year will be no walk in the park. They still have a game against Washington, who welcomed them to the season by allowing them to score only seven points.

Two against Philadelphia and the seemingly rejuvenated Michael Vick, and two against the Giants, who one can only assume will put their team back together by the time New York comes to Dallas at the end of October. 

Aside from playing in the strenuous NFC East, the Cowboys have a handful of difficult games on tap for the remainder of the year.

They have the burden of playing at Minnesota Oct. 17 to start a stretch of 12 games in which seven of their opponents made the playoffs last year.

Their last six games include New Orleans coming to town, at Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Washington, at Arizona and at Philadelphia in January weather. Not to mention a trip to Green Bay on Nov. 7.

This combined, with the fact that their bye week is this week, makes for a very rigorous end of the season for the Cowboys.