The Dallas Cowboys failed to win their week 3 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. After falling beyond once again in the second half, trailing by 15 points, the Cowboys couldn’t complete the comeback.
The Cowboys are now 1-2 and look to improve from their week 3 game in which they didn’t play their best. Here are some key takeaways from their week 3 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Cowboys’ Secondary Needs Help
To say the least, the Cowboys’ secondary needs plenty of help. In week 3, the Cowboys were without their starting cornerbacks, Chidobe Awuzie and Anthony Brown. Although both of their safeties, Darian Thompson and Xavier Woods, were healthy, they allowed too many big plays in this game.
The Cowboys allowed two touchdowns over 40 yards against Seattle. The Seahawks should have added a third touchdown over 40 yards if it wasn’t for DK Metcalf. After a 62-yard completion to Metcalf, he thought he had a secure touchdown. However, Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs punched the ball loose before Metcalf entered the endzone.
Not only did Dallas allow loads of big plays, but their secondary also conceded far too many penalties.
As a team, the Cowboys had 10 penalties accepted against them including some key ones against the secondary.
In the second quarter, two straight defensive pass interference calls helped set up a Seahawks touchdown. Also, in the second quarter, on third down, Jourdan Lewis sacked Russell Wilson to end the drive. However, an illegal contact called on the Cowboys’ secondary resulted in a first down. The Seahawks would score a touchdown later on that drive.
At the end of the day, this secondary is the weak link of this team. If the Cowboys want any chance at a postseason run, they should give Earl Thomas a call.
Aldon Smith is Back
Through three weeks, who leads the league in sacks? That would be former All-Pro, Aldon Smith.
He currently has four sacks on the season thanks to his dominant game against Seattle. Smith has been the most efficient pass rusher for Dallas this season. Against Seattle, he had three-sacks, four tackles (two for loss) and four quarterback hits.
This is a guy who once had 19.5 sacks in a season to go along with three forced fumbles and 66 tackles (18 for loss). When Smith is on his game, he is one of the hardest to guard. His spin move mixed with his quick footwork helps him get past offensive lineman so easily.
As shocking as it may seem, this is Smith’s first season in five years. With the drugs and alcohol problems in the past, the Cowboys might have just gotten the steal of free agency.
What Happened to Zeke?
The passing game was once again what Dallas leaned heavily on. Through the first three games, Dak Prescott has thrown the most passing attempts in the league (143). This could be due to Dallas falling behind in all three of their games.
However, in the past, a lot of Dallas’ success came from their ground game. When Ezekiel Elliott runs for 4.6 yards per carry or better in a game, the Cowboys are 23-6, including 6-2 last year. When he gets under 4.0 yards per carry, the Cowboys are just a mere 6-9.
Although Elliott has the third-most rushing attempts (58) in the league, his success hasn’t been there in 2020. Through three weeks, he averages 3.7 yards per carry and a total of 73 rush yards per game.
This is down from his previous years as Elliott’s average rush yards per game is 96.
Despite that, in Elliott’s first two games, he was extremely efficient as he carried the ball 22 times for over 4.0 yards per carry in each game.
Nevertheless, with the struggles at the offensive line position, this has hurt Elliott’s game. The Cowboys’ starting left tackle and right tackle, La’el Collins and Tyron Smith, have both been out for a bulk of the season.
Even though Dallas will rely on rookie tackles to fill in, the Cowboys have to still give Elliott the touches he deserves.
In week 3 against Seattle, he only carried the ball for 14 times on 34 yards. Elliott is someone who can create his own space, so giving him the ball is essential in every game.
Featured Image Courtesy of ClutchPoints
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