Schottenheimer must manage the gap between offense and defense

Best Offense in the NFL

If not for the scoreboard, Dallas would be drawing universal praise.

Through four weeks, the Cowboys rank #1 in the NFL in total offense, averaging a staggering 404.3 yards per game.

Their balance has been as impressive as their explosiveness, with Prescott distributing the ball to multiple playmakers while Williams pounds defenses on the ground.

On top of the yardage, theyre scoring in bunches, averaging 28.5 points per game, good for a top-five mark in the league.

Prescott has silenced early-season critics with efficient accuracy and clutch throws, showing command of the offense in the same way he did during his NFL MVP runner-up season of 2023.

Williams has proven to be the perfect complement, breaking tackles and wearing down defenses late in games.

Pickens has emerged as the deep threat Dallas desperately needed, while Ferguson provides a steady option across the middle.

Turpin, meanwhile, has been the sparkplug, turning gadget plays into chain-movers and red-zone opportunities.

This group looks capable of scoring on anyone, anywhere, and at any time.

The Cowboys dont just have a good offense, they have the kind of attack that can carry a team deep into January.

Schottenheimer should be proud of his play-calling, and also should praise OC Klayton Adams and OL Coach Conor Riley for the work they’ve done with the run game.

Defense is Swiss Cheese

Unfortunately for Dallas, their defense has been the exact opposite.

After four weeks, the Cowboys rank 32nd in the NFL in total defense, allowing a staggering 420.5 yards per game.

Even worse, they are giving up 33.0 points per game, numbers that make every contest feel like a shootout.

The Green Bay tie was the latest example: the Cowboys simply could not keep the Packers out of field-goal range when it mattered most.

Several factors explain the collapse. Injuries have decimated the unit, robbing Dallas of consistency and depth in key areas, but the bigger question mark lies in philosophy.

Under new DC Matt Eberflus, the Cowboys have leaned heavily into zone coverage, more than any other team in the league.

That strategy has backfired, leaving massive windows for opposing quarterbacks and putting stress on an already-thin secondary.

Pass rushers who once thrived in man-heavy looks have found themselves neutralized as the ball comes out quicker.

The result has been a defense that cannot get off the field, cannot stop big plays, and cannot be trusted to protect even a two-score lead.

Through four weeks, the Cowboys embody a strange paradox: a top-ranked offense paired with a bottom-ranked defense.

If they want to turn ties into wins, the formula is obvious; either the defense must rise, or the offense must somehow become even more perfect.

The offense can’t do much more, so it is up to Schottenheimer to sit with the defensive staff and try and figure out how to bridge the gap to turn losses into wins.