SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 22: Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy looks at the scoreboard during the NFL NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Cowboys are aware that by losing to the Bills, they provided a template for opponents in the playoffs.
The Dallas Cowboys’ sole successful outcome in Buffalo occurred prior to their 31-10 defeat at the hands of the Bills, when they successfully completed their third straight postseason trip as a result of Atlanta’s loss.
The last time the Cowboys achieved that was during a six-year postseason run in the 1990s that featured three Super Bowl victories.
Dallas is aware that opponents will target the team’s run defense in an attempt to thwart their greatest postseason run since those times.
James Cook of Buffalo ran for 179 yards, the most by a running back in a game against the Cowboys since Alfred Morris finished with 200 yards in the season finale in 2012.
The Bills’ 266 running yards against Dallas were their highest since 2020, the year before defensive coordinator Dan Quinn took over and turned around one of the worst defensive teams in team history.
Despite the gains Quinn’s Cowboys (10-4) have made in terms of sacks and turnovers, stopping the run has proven to be an issue.
The most noticeable problem Quinn has had in his three seasons come back to haunt him against the Bills, with the postseason drawing near.
Cornerback Jourdan Lewis told reporters, “It would be a stupid football team not to exploit some of the stuff you see that we have a problem with.” “I am certain that we will receive that in the future. However, I’m certain that we can resolve the issue.”
The most obvious reason is that defensive lineman Jonathan Hankins was not there due to a sprained ankle that might keep him out for several weeks.
rookie selected in the first round In comparison to Hankins, who was added in a midseason trade last year particularly for that purpose, Mazi Smith hasn’t done anything to demonstrate that he’s ready to be a run-stuffer.
The Cowboys realized they would need Hankins again, so they re-signed him even after selecting Smith. Runs in between the tackles, however, are not the only issue. Another problem has been perimeter carrying.
Miami on Sunday and Detroit on December 30 are Dallas’ next two opponents, and both teams are in the top four in the NFL in terms of rushing offense.
Miami on Sunday and Detroit on December 30 are Dallas’ next two opponents, and both teams are in the top four in the NFL in terms of rushing offense.
San Francisco, who has defeated the Cowboys in the playoffs the last two seasons, is ranked third. Coach Mike McCarthy declared, “We have to be better, no question about it.” “They ran the ball way too effectively.”
SUCCESSFUL
With three postseason seasons under his belt, McCarthy’s Cowboys are 11-1 following a loss. In order to have any chance of making it to the playoffs, Dallas, who have won 15 straight games at home, have to defeat the Dolphins, who are currently dominating the AFC East, 12-1.
WHAT REQUIRES ASSISTANCE
Zack Martin, a six-time All-Pro right guard, left the game against the Bills in the first half due to a quadriceps injury. McCarthy stated the Cowboys were confident Martin wouldn’t lose any more time.
Without him, Dallas’ offense stagnated until the game was lost. When the Cowboys were behind 31-3 in the fourth quarter, they went on their lone touchdown drive, gaining 80 of their 195 total yards.
AVAILABLE STOCK
Again in Buffalo, Prescott’s scrambling ability has been strong for the majority of the season. After a first-quarter scramble that resulted in an unwarranted roughness flag on Taylor Rapp, he finished with 24 yards on seven carries.
Prescott had obviously begun to slide when Rapp dove at and went over the top of him. A matching roughness charge on Martin, who flattened Rapp to convey a message about taking a shot at the Dallas quarterback, neutralized that penalty.
LOW STOCK
Given that the Cowboys’ defeat to the Bills made it more likely that they would have to begin and remain on the road throughout the playoffs, there is a clear problem with the way they perform at home compared to away from home.
The Cowboys are leading in points, third in total yards, and second in passing yards at home, where their 15-game winning run is the team’s longest in 42 years. In all three areas, Dallas is ranked 15th, 21st, and 20th while traveling.
The Cowboys have a 171-point (24.4-point) advantage over their last seven opponents while playing at home. They had a negative road point difference (156–152) as a result of the loss in Buffalo.
PERSONAL HARM
Martin was hit close to his left knee on the play that caused a quad bruise, but he was fortunate to avoid a catastrophic injury. The Cowboys are worried about other ankle issues besides Hankins’s. Security Malik Hooker’s ankle issue kept him out of the Buffalo game as well. As the playoffs draw near, a keen eye will be on the health of both Hankins and Hooker.
ESSENTIAL NUMBER
94 – Buffalo only needed 94 yards passing from quarterback Josh Allen since the Cowboys were so bad against the run. It was the first time in what amounted to a complete game since his rookie year in 2018 that he had less than 100 yards passing in just five games of his career. In a game where he was the only one for Buffalo to throw a ball, Allen’s fifteen attempts were his fewest.
Next actions
There are no more games Philadelphia has versus winning teams in the last three weeks of the NFC East title battle. The two Cowboys have.
