Dallas Cowboys: The same dilemma, with the same results

After winning their first three games, the Dallas Cowboys loss their second game in a row in dramatic fashion, and there is one common theme.

The Dallas Cowboys have more story lines with dramatic twists and turns than any soap opera on television.

The Cowboys started the season with three dominating wins over inferior competition. They were deemed early favorites to at least represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. One of the main reasons for the Cowboys success was the stellar play of fourth year quarterback Dak Prescott.

Dak had been playing like the franchise quarterback Jerry Jones and Cowboys Nation envisioned, and new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was the icing on the cake.

Moore had implemented a new level of creativity and was utilizing the unique skill set of wide receivers Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Randall Cobb, Tavon Austin, Devin Smith, and running back Ezekiel Elliott. When was the last time we saw the wide receivers run in motion?

With this elite talent at Dak’s disposal, the former Mississippi State star had thrown for 920 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions in his first three games. Dak was playing like the $40 million dollar quarterback that he wants to become. Man those were the best three weeks of my life as a Cowboys fan in a very long time!

Well after three weeks of believing the Cowboys were the best team in the NFL and headed to the Super Bowl, I’m faced with a stern reality check that this team is the same one from previous years.

Translation: Dallas has the same dilemma (not knowing how to use great talent) with the same results (poor preparation).

After losing their last two games to the New Orleans Saints and to that Grinch known as Aaron Rodgers, Dallas looks like an entirely different team from the one that beat down its previous opponents.

Yes, I’m very aware that the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, and Miami Dolphins are not good teams. However, this is the NFL and any team can lose on any given Sunday (pun intended) and how a team performs in their wins/losses is still a good measuring stick for success.

The New Orleans Saints game

While watching Dallas play the Saints, I realized that Coach Clapper (Jason Garrett) played a conservative game and lost 12-10 because once again, Garrett did not know how to out scheme Sean Payton. Instead of Dallas passing on first and second downs like they did in their previous wins, they kept feeding Zeke the ball without any success and the play action was nonexistent.

Further, there was no creativity on offense, a lack of motion, and Dak was not used as the dual threat that he’s capable of being. The question is why not? Why go conservative when the Saints were without All Pro quarterback Drew Brees?

This was classic Coach Clapper.

Coach Clapper loses a winnable game because he was either playing too conservative or ill prepared to make adjustments during games. The Saints defense held Dallas in check because Coach Clapper refused to do anything to counter the Saints defense.

Dallas did have two fumbles that stalled drives, but that’s no excuse for losing a winnable game.

Raise your hand if you’re seen Coach Clapper have the best team on the field but only to lose the game because he was out coached. Heck, we saw his gaffe last season against the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs, and to the Indianapolis Colts, just to name a few games.

Granted, Dallas’ defense came to play and held the Saints to 12 points with Teddy Bridgewater as the quarterback. But with so much on the line (own the tiebreaker with a win over the Saints and maintain a lead over the Philadelphia Eagles), Dallas’ offense resembled the one from last season that didn’t have Cooper-an anemic one.