Dallas Cowboys Midseason Grades: ‘The Party is Over’
Nov 8, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden (20) carries the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of a game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Cowboys’ fourth quarter/overtime defense this season has been one giant letdown, and for 75 percent of the time this season, the result of the final score has gone in favor of the opponent.
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Some of that is due to the offense not having quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant for a majority of the season. Other aspects is it has taken the running game longer than expected to show up, and a lot of the 2-6 overall record is on a defense that shuts down in the second half, especially in the final 15 minutes and overtime portions of games.
It is safe to say the 2015 season is mostly over for the Cowboys, as only two teams in the league have a worse record than “America’s Team,” and as tough as it is to say – cue former Cowboys quarterback/Monday Night Football broadcaster Don Meredith – “Turn out the lights, the party is over.”
This season compares nowhere to what all of us witnessed last season (a trip to the divisional round of the playoffs and an NFC East championship), and in six straight defeats, it is very safe to say that the most important player on the entire roster is Romo. He’s proven he’s the Cowboys’ most valuable player this season, as they’ve yet to win a game without him on the field.
This progress report will look at various positions on the Cowboys’ roster, and though some of the grades might seem too light or even too harsh, there’s still time for improvement since there are still eight games remaining.
No team has ever started a season 2-6 and made the playoffs, so there is a lot of history against the Cowboys, but with the NFC East being weaker than usual in ’15 and Romo’s return coming in a few more weeks – though it is highly doubtful they make the playoffs – there is still that opportunity in front of them.
The Cowboys have made their own path, though, and it is a rocky one for sure.
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