Dallas Cowboys: 3 Takeaways vs. Chargers in Week 12

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 23: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys scrambles under pressure from Joey Bosa #99 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the first quarter of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

3 of 4

ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 23: Nick Novak #9 of the Los Angeles Chargers winces after kicking a field goal in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

2. Kicking will not make up for much of anything

The Cowboys finally got good news on the injury front before the game, and Dan Bailey got back in the lineup. Then, almost immediately, the Chargers lost their kicker, and were an absolute mess the entire game.

The Chargers had to go for in deep in Cowboys territory on fourth-and-long, and missed multiple point afters. The Cowboys had an all-time kicker on their sideline, but that is exactly where he stayed. The Cowboys could not even give Bailey an opportunity to try and make up some of those points the Chargers lost.

In close games and for minor issues, kickers can absolutely be the difference. Those few points can be game changers, but they are useless when nothing else is going on. The Cowboys should have a kicking edge in every game the rest of the season with Bailey, but that does very little to improve their odds at getting to the playoffs.

Bailey can be and has been a difference maker for the Cowboys throughout his entire career, but that was with the Cowboys making sure every game was close. Right now, the Cowboys are not keeping it close, and even if an absolute worse case kicking scenario for their opponent, Bailey might as well have taken an extra week off.

Home/Dallas Cowboys