Cowboys Suffer Devastating Loss to Giants. What Lies Ahead For Them?

35-14 was the final score in a game the Cowboys would like to forget, the Cowboys now head into a much needed bye week. Dallas limped into their most important game of the season. Star QB Tony Romo was sidelined from his hand injury, starting corner and veteran Terence Newman missed another game with a nagging sports hernia, Felix Jones perhaps the Cowboys biggest spark during their 1st 3 games missed from a hamstring injury and starting left guard Kyle Kosier missed. Even more players hobbled into this game such as Jason Witten, Anthony Henry, Pat Watkins, and Anthony Spencer played with injuries.

Was this an excuse for getting dissected by the Giants? No but could this game been a different story? Sure, Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger combined for 14 for 27 (51%) 3 INT's and a total of 134 passing yards. No team in the NFL will be competitive with those kind of numbers. However the Cowboys have more problems then poor QB play. Heading into the season the Cowboys had what many said the best offensive line with 3 pro bowlers. This offensive line has collapsed ever since the Arizona game which Tony Romo was sacked 3 times in and injured in. Throughout the last 3 games the Cowboys allowed a total of 10 sacks, Romo was sacked only 7 times through 6 games.

Nevertheless even the running game has stalled which also can be in large part contributed to the lack of blocking. Marion Barber known around the league as the toughest back to bring down has in his last 2 games has had a 2.8 rush per average, 0 touchdowns, and only 125 yards. Since Felix Jones injury Barber has been receiving over 90% of the carries on offense and his offensive line hasn't given him much of a chance. 

Point blank the offense stinks in every way. The passing game has been pathetic, the running game hasn't been any better, the offense has combined 41 points in the last 3 games. Against the Eagles in week 2 the Cowboys scored 41 points, lastly and perhaps the most fatal problem the offense just can't stop turning the ball over the team is -6 in the turnover ratio. These are all just offensives problems.

The good news? No matter how you want to slice it this team is banged up badly and have lost many key contributors granted the return of Tony Romo and Felix Jones won't make this team Superbowl bound again but it's a start. An extra week of healing and practice never hurt a team especially considering overall the Cowboy's biggest problem may be unorganized coaching and playing. I.E the most penalized team in the NFL. Everyone will get an extra week to step back and rethink where they are at and the team get's an extra week to prepare for a now a must win against Washington.

The season is starting to slipaway however it is not over. The Cowboys still have some control over their own destiny in the division because they still will meet the Eagles, Giants and Redskins one more time. After the Washington game Dallas will play at home for 4 of their last 6. It's time to get back to basics in Dallas.