Dallas Cowboys: 3 Takeaways vs. Seahawks in Week 16

1. Defense didn’t force any turnovers

A lot of the loss for the Dallas Cowboys Sunday goes to the offense and their lack of success when it came to scoring points, but the issue for the defense — especially compared to the Seattle Seahawks — was the lack of turnovers forced. The Cowboys defense didn’t force any type of turnovers, while the Seahawks did, which changed the complexion of the game greatly.

Jon Machota of Sportsday Dallas News noted in an article that the Cowboys’ lack of turnovers in games this season has affected them in the win-loss column:

"“Seattle forced three and for the fifth time this season, the Cowboys didn’t force any. Dallas fell to 1-4 in games when not recording a takeaway.”"

The lack of forcing turnovers caught up with the Cowboys this season, and when the starting quarterback throws two interceptions (with one of them bouncing off the hands of their top wide receiver), and that same wide receiver also loses the football by having it taken away from him, it makes for a long day for the defense, too.

Dallas’ defense was put into some awkward situations in Week 16, but having two sacks and no turnovers didn’t cut it for the Cowboys when the season was on the line.

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The defense is still a work in progress for the foreseeable future, and that is great, but when a defense doesn’t force a single turnover in a must-win game, the results witnessed on Sunday are expected. Now it is back to the drawing board for the 2018 season.