It was a rough night for the first-team offenses of the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders in the two teams preseason openers on Monday Night Football. Neither team was able to move the ball with any sort of consistency and the units showed they have a lot of work to do to get into regular season form.
For the Cowboys, starting quarterback Tony Romo was without starting wide receiver Miles Austin and only had Dez Bryant for a few snaps. Romo went 3-for-6 for 30 yards. Twenty-six of the yards came on one completion to Dez Bryant. While the passing game was mediocre, the running game was horrendous.
The Dallas offensive line was dominated by the Raiders front four. DeMarco Murray and Felix Jones could find no daylight and Murray had no rushes for positive yards. Jones was only able to rack up 4-yards on the night. The running game will need work as the preseason goes on.
Oakland only kept their starting offense in for three possessions. The three series led by Carson Palmer ended with two punts and an interception. Palmer’s receivers were plagued with the dropsies and the one opportunity he had downfield was read by Cowboys safety Gerald Sensabaugh and resulted in an interception.
There was some positive for the Raiders. Starting tailback Darren McFadden added 38 total yards.
Both teams will need to improve before they hit the field for the regular season but this is exactly what the preseason is for.