Dallas Cowboys Always Have Trouble With This Foe

Dec 21, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys injured linebacker Sean Lee on the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys have beaten a lot of teams in their storied history. In fact, the Cowboys have a winning record against most of the teams in the NFL, especially against their NFC East rivals. They beat them repeatedly last season, earning victories against each on the road.

In fact, Dallas was a perfect 8-0 on the road last season.

More from Dallas Cowboys

There are some teams that have the Cowboys’ number right now, like the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, and San Diego Chargers. The Cowboys haven’t beaten these teams in a long time. They have yet to beat Tom Brady and the Pats in this millennium.

But their is another foe the Cowboys can’t seem to beat, either. This foe has literally destroyed them over the last few seasons. This opponent hit so hard in 2013 that the Cowboys literally were signing players off of the street to play.

The Dallas Cowboys had no answer for this fearsome foe. Last year was the first time they were able to win a division title and playoff game despite this villain.

But he was there, no doubt. Believe that Cowboys Nation. Just ask some of the players who seem to be scared of this foe .

For some particular reason, this adversary always finds the Cowboys. Or maybe the Cowboys haven’t figured out how to beat it or find a defensive mechanism that will help them overcome it. There are certain players who are susceptible to this foe, good players at that.

It’s always the good players, like a Sean Lee, for example. Or the ones trying to prove themselves, like Morris Claiborne.

I truly believe that’s one reason why Jason Garrett got a contract extension. He has dealt with this foe ahead on and won.

I’m sure your wondering who exactly this foe is and why the Cowboys have no answer for it.

The foe I’m talking about is the injury bug. That cancer that seems to infect the Cowboys every single year. Some how, some way the Cowboys get more than their share of injuries. The Cowboys’ players get injured as if they’re fighting in a war zone.

The injury bug wrecked the Cowboys back in ’13 when they lost several players to injuries, thus using well over 22 different line ups on defense. Lee, Claiborne, Bruce Carter, DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Tyrone Crawford, Jay Ratliff, Lance Dunbar, DeMarco Murray, Miles Austin and Tony Romo (who missed the last game of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles) all fell to the injury bug that year. These players either missed the regular season altogether or had nagging injuries throughout the year that caused them to miss significant playing time.

That ’13 defense was the worst in team history and the worst in the league, mainly because the defense suffered so many injuries. When the backups start dropping like flies, you have no chance to win and I don’t care who you are.

The Cowboys opened up the 2014 season with Lee on the IR, DeVonte Holloman retired with a neck injury, rookie Demarcus Lawrence on the P.U.P. list and Romo coming off of his second back surgery in as many years. Although the Cowboys weren’t ravished with injuries like the previous season, it lost Justin Durant and Clairborne for the season with injuries. Others would miss games with nagging injuries, too, but the Cowboys would prevail.

And the injury bug is slowly creeping back again.

Brandon Carr is out with a hand injury. Dunbar, Joseph Randle, and Darren McFadden are all nursing injuries. Dez Bryant (hamstring), Ronald Leary (back), Doug Free (foot) and Tyron Smith (biceps) are sitting out practices with nagging injuries that have the potential to get worse if not handled with caution. I know these injuries aren’t season ending or anything serious, but the Cowboys’ brass aren’t taking any chances with any of them, especially Bryant, their $70 million dollar man.

They have to watch McFadden because he’s always been injury prone, and Dunbar as well. This explains why the Cowboys signed Gus Johnson and Lache Seastrunk to a crowded backfield.

And it also explains why the Cowboys drafted so many defensive players in the draft. Not just because they were talented, but because of the possibility of injuries to other players. They wanted depth to fall back on, something the Cowboys weren’t familiar with in the past.

I don’t want to hear about other teams getting injuries, losing players, the ‘next up’ approach, “it comes down to coaching” and blah, blah, blah, blah.

Yes, other teams do have injuries but not like the Cowboys have experienced over the last couple of seasons – at least not to the extent where they have had the worst defense in the league and set a record for allowing 40 first downs to the New Orleans Saints.

It’s a troublesome foe.

One the Cowboys can’t seem to beat.

More from Sports Dallas Fort-Worth

Next: Will Venable Acquired By Texas Rangers

Home/Dallas Cowboys