The Dallas Cowboys are averaging 29.3 points per game, the fourth-highest mark in the National Football League. They also post the second-most total yards (393.5) and passing yards (270.3) per game, and Dak Prescott is playing the best football of his career.
That's why watching this team fall to 2-3-1 after six weeks is disappointing. The offense can only do so much when the defense gives up even more points (30.7, the second-most in the league) and total yards per game (428.7 total, 269.5 passing).
Even Struggling Quarterbacks Are Torching Matt Eberflus' Defense
As pointed out by Jon Machota of The Athletic, Matt Eberflus' defense has failed to contain opposing passers this season. They've faced mostly struggling quarterbacks, yet they've all looked like superstars when facing the Cowboys:
"The Cowboys have faced Bryce Young, Justin Fields, Jordan Love, Caleb Williams, Russell Wilson and Jalen Hurts. Combined, they’ve completed 72% of their passes while throwing for 270 yards per game, 15 TDs, only 2 INTs with a combined passer rating of 117.0, highest in the NFL," wrote Machota.
According to PFF, Bryce Young had a perfect 158.3 passer rating when trailing against Dallas. He completed all ten passes for 125 passing yards and three touchdowns, and we're talking about a player who averages just 191 passing yards per game while completing 61.8 percent of his passes. He's now up to ten touchdowns for the season, three of which came in this game alone.
The Cowboys allowed the New York Giants to put up 37 points on them. Russell Wilson, who was benched just two games later, completed 30 of 41 passes for 450 yards and three interceptions with a passer rating of 123.0.
Then, the following week, Matt Eberflus finally helped Caleb Williams win a game. Unfortunately, he was on the other side of the field. The former No. 1 pick had the best game of his young career, completing 19 of 28 passes for 298 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions.
The offense has done most of the heavy lifting, and they should get better once CeeDee Lamb returns. Then again, there's only so much they can do when the defense is constantly digging them out of games.
Eberflus and the Cowboys will host the Washington Commanders' explosive offense in Week 7, and a date with Jayden Daniels might not be what the doctor ordered to reverse this worrisome trend.