Cowboys defense cracking against elite quarterbacks
The 31-28 loss in Green Bay proves the Cowboys (6-3) defense cracks against an elite quarterback.
The Cowboys lost three games this season against the Eagles, Buccaneers, and Packers. Each has a top-tier QB. According to Oddschecker, Jalen Hurts (Eagles) has the second-best NFL Most Valuable Player odds. Tom Brady (Buccaneers) is a seven-time Super Bowl champion, and Aaron Rodgers has won four MVPs.
When facing these high-level passers, the Cowboys allowed 25.3 points per game, higher than their 18.2 average.
Rodgers smoked Dallas in the fourth quarter during its defeat on Sunday. They surrendered 14 fourth-quarter points thanks to Rodgers connecting on two Christian Watson touchdowns.
"The Cowboys didn't lose this game because of one play," said Pro Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe on FS1's undisputed. " One of the better defenses in all of football had a 14-point lead that's got to stand."
Per the Associated Press, the Cowboys (6-3) squandered a 14-point fourth-quarter lead for the first time in franchise history. The collapse sent the game into overtime when Dallas failed to convert on fouth-and-3.
The conversion attempt was in field goal range, and the Cowboys would've taken the lead. Even if they made the field goal, Rodgers received one more opportunity to pull off a clutch drive, explaining why McCarthy gambled.
"He didn't trust the Cowboys' defense," Colin Cowherd said on his podcast following the defeat. "For the first time all year, a wobbly, inconsistent offense passed for over 200 yards."
Rodgers threw for 208 yards, trusting a tired defense that surrendered 14 fourth-quarter points and struggled against talented QBs carried risk, like the fourth down conversion.
The Cowboys need to crack the code on players like Rodgers because it separates good defenses from championship-winning defenses.
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