Another Cowboys loss has put some things into perspective.
Even the return of All-Pro Micah Parsons couldn’t stop what happened on Sunday. It was a disaster for the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles as they suffered their fourth consecutive loss to fall to 3-6 on the season. It looked like a typical Cowboys game. They couldn’t stop the run (gave up 187 yards), were unable to get a stop in the red zone (Eagles scored on four of five attempts), and they racked up penalties (seven).
There’s still eight games left in the season, and it is likely to be more of the same for the Cowboys. They just don’t have good overall depth or talent, and they’re still dealing with some injuries as well. It will be interesting to see how some of the young players will develop over the next two months, but don’t expect the Cowboys to catch lighting in a bottle and go on a run or anything. With that being said, here’s what we have learned about the Cowboys as we enter Week 11.
Trey Lance needs to get significant playing time
What do the Cowboys have to lose at this point?
Starting quarterback Dak Prescott is getting ready for injured reserve for the rest of the year with a torn hamstring. Yes, head coach Mike McCarthy said the Cowboys are moving forward with Cooper Rush as the starter.
As surprising as that is with his performance against the Eagles, Lance should still get an abundance of playing time. He gives the offense a different element with what he can bring to the table with his legs, and let’s face it, the Cowboys running game needs all the help it can get. He’s an unfinished product and needs reps desperately, and the Cowboys are going nowhere fast. Play him and play him a lot.
A top-five draft pick in 2025 is a real possibility
Dallas has dug itself into a huge hole. On top of that, they just aren’t a good football team. Their offense was stagnant even with Prescott at the helm, and that will continue under Rush and Lance. Defensively, the Cowboys are at the bottom of the barrel in most categories, and they were awful even when they were healthy. To top it all off, there’s not a single team left of the Cowboys schedule that they are better than at the moment except maybe the Carolina Panthers, and even that’s a toss up right now. Anything can happen, of course, but it just seems like wins for the Cowboys will be few and far between from now until January when their season ends.
Asim Richards was solid in the absence of Tyler Guyton at LT
Asim Richards had the spotlight on him against the Eagles as he got his first career start. In 60 plays, he looked pretty good for the most part. Richards did a nice job in pass protection as he didn’t over set, and he used his hands well throughout the game. Also, he showed some power and athleticism as well getting to his spots.
Of course, Richards is still raw and needs more work, but for a guy that hasn’t seen the field much, he looked very solid overall. Richards played some left guard and right guard for the Cowboys a season ago, which speaks to his versatility. So, he has value in multiple spots, and it gives the Cowboys some much-needed depth to work with. Richards is certainly a player to keep an eye on for the rest of the season.