Jerry Jones publicly criticised the Cowboys’ offensive plan under offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and head coach Mike McCarthy after becoming frustrated with the team’s offensive scheme.
The Cowboys had the league’s most points and fifth-most yards at the end of the 2023 campaign. With a poor running game that only manages 77.2 rushing yards per game and two total touchdowns, both of which are dead-last in the NFL, their offence has significantly regressed this season, finishing 20th in points per game (21.0) and 12th in yards per game (336.5). Despite having the third-most interceptions with six, Dak Prescott is still fourth in the league with 267 passing yards per game.
But according to NextGen Stats (subscription required), the Cowboys have not been effective on the ground or in the air, finishing in the bottom 11 in both EPA/pass and EPA/rush. This has been particularly problematic in the red zone, where Dallas has the second-lowest conversion rate in the league with just six touchdowns on 16 total trips (37.5%). The rare HC on a lame-duck contact is McCarthy, of course. Jones explained McCarthy’s return without a contract by pointing to the Packers’ wild-card loss. During the summer, Bill Belichick rumours surfaced at various times, and this is likely one of the
Instead of pursuing Derrick Henry, who leads the league in running for the Ravens, the Cowboys chose to re-sign Ezekiel Elliott this offseason rather than add elite playmakers through free agency or the draft. Jones dismissed any notion that the All-Pro could have aided the Cowboys’ offence when he was questioned about Henry on 105.3 The Fan. “This year is a career year for Derrick. According to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Jones stated, “I don’t know if he’d be having a career year in our situation.” “That kind of offence is not something we run at all.” Although Henry’s $8MM-per-year average was just the fifth-highest among running back free agency contracts signed this offseason, Jones again attributed his inability to offer Henry a competitive contract to the salary cap.
The Lions, who stopped the Cowboys to just 251 total yards and a pitiful 3.9 yards per play while committing five turnovers, most recently humiliated Dallas 47-9. In order to stay in the NFC East with the Commanders and the Eagles, they must defeat the 49ers on Sunday when they visit San Francisco in Week 8.
