A bad season has gotten worse for the Dallas Cowboys. Much worse.
Already without starting quarterback Dak Prescott because of a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle, backup Andy Dalton was forced out of the Cowboys' 25-3 loss to the Washington Football Team in the third quarter because of a concussion.
"We need to be much better and we're running out of time," coach Mike McCarthy said.
Dalton, who was making his second start for an injured Prescott, took a hit to the head from linebacker Jon Bostic as he slid to the turf with 6:22 to play in the quarter. Bostic was ejected from the game; Dalton went straight to the locker room for further examination and was replaced by rookie Ben DiNucci.
Before the injury, Dalton completed 9 of 19 passes for 75 yards. He was sacked three times and lost a fumble on the Cowboys' first possession that led to a safety. He had one pass intercepted on a throw that was behind running back Ezekiel Elliott and tipped into Cole Holcomb's hands for the turnover.
According to a team spokesman, Dalton is alert and described as doing much better now than he was when he came off the field following the hit. He is in "good spirits," and will be flying home with the Cowboys.
Making matters worse, McCarthy was not pleased at the passive reaction teammates had to the Bostic hit.
"We speak all the time about playing for one another, protecting one another," McCarthy said. "It definitely was not the response you would expect."
Asked what he thought of when he saw Dalton get hurt, Elliott said, "Just how s---ty this year has been. Yeah, just how bad this year has been. But we've still got time left. We've got a big division game next week (at Philadelphia Eagles). So I mean we've got to go out there and find a way to win."
But there was little hope the Cowboys were going to come from behind to beat Washington with Dalton or without him.
Washington had more rushing yards on its first two series than it had averaged in the first six games. The Cowboys allowed three plays of more than 20 yards in the first half, pushing their total to 30 allowed for the season, including a 52-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Allen to Terry McLaurin, who ran by rookie Trevon Diggs for the score that led to a 22-3 lead after two quarters.
It was the fourth time the Cowboys trailed by at least 17 points at halftime this season.
Washington finished with 208 yards rushing, led by Antonio Gibson's 128 yards on 20 carries. It is the third time in the last four games the Cowboys have allowed at least 200 yards on the ground.
"We're ticked off," Dallas defensive end Everson Griffen said. "I feel like everybody is tired of it. I feel like in order to do something about it, we have to do it as a team."
As bad as the defense was, the offense got little done. The offensive line is in tatters with Tyron Smith and La'el Collins out for the year and Zack Martin missing the game because of a concussion. The Cowboys starting line consisted of Cameron Erving, Connor Williams, Tyler Biadasz, Connor McGovern and Terence Steele. Entering the game, they had combined for just 35 starts as Cowboys.
They could not hold up against Washington's formidable front with Elliott kept in check and Dalton unable to get the ball downfield.
In two games without Prescott, the Cowboys have scored two field goals and one touchdown. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Sunday was the first time the Cowboys had just one receiver catch a pass in a game since Sept. 27, 2015 when Cole Beasley had four receptions in a loss to Atlanta.
Amari Cooper had seven catches for 80 yards, while CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup did not have a reception.
"We've got to be better," Elliott said.
When things are as bad as they have been, there needs to be some historical context.
In 1989, Jerry Jones' first year as owner and general manager, the Cowboys went 1-15. That team wasn't expected to do much with the Cowboys missing the playoffs in each of Tom Landry's final three seasons.
From 2000-02, the Cowboys finished 5-11 each season. Those teams paid the salary-cap price for the Super Bowl teams of the 1990s.
In 2015, the Cowboys finished 4-12 with Tony Romo starting and finishing just two games because of a twice-broken right collarbone. The Cowboys started four quarterbacks that season: Romo, Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel and Kellen Moore, their current offensive coordinator.
If Dalton does not clear concussion protocol, DiNucci would get the start with Garrett Gilbert, who has been with the team for a week, would be the backup.
In 2017, without Elliott at the start of a six-game suspension, the Cowboys lost three straight games and scored just two touchdowns -- Atlanta (27-7), Philadelphia (37-9) and San Diego Chargers (28-6) -- in a stretch that ultimately kept them from the playoffs.
Is this as bad as those seasons or stretch of seasons?
It sure feels that way even in a division as bad as the NFC East.
And if it matters, the Cowboys' playoff chances dropped to 16% with the loss, according to ESPN's Playoff Predictor.
The Link LonkOctober 26, 2020 at 02:33AM
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30190259/dallas-cowboys-qb-andy-dalton-goes-locker-room-hard-hit
Dallas Cowboys QB Andy Dalton suffers concussion in loss to Washington - ESPN
https://news.google.com/search?q=hard&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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