The Cowboys have been bad in one specific area all season, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer wants it fixed.
We know one thing that is sticking in the craw of Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer is his team's turnover differential.
Stating it "sucked" before the Week 14 game against the Detroit Lions, the Cowboys then lost the game 44-30 and lost the turnover battle 3-0. Yuck.
The Cowboys' offense is now on a streak of six games with at least one turnover, and in four of those six games, Dallas has committed multiple turnovers, while the defense hasn't gotten a takeaway in the last two weeks.
Oh, and it won't get a takeaway this week from once-upon-a-time ballhawk Trevon Diggs, who despite his announcement of readiness to come off IR and play on Sunday night against the visiting Vikings will not be activated.
Coming into the weekend, Diggs said, “I’m ready ... I feel like I got reps this week, got a lot of practice here and, yeah, good week.''
He also spoke about his future here a player who has been embroiled in controversy and conflict with the organization.
“Whatever happens, happens,” he said. “I’m prepared for it and I would love to be here. I love everything in coming to Dallas, the fans, the relationships I’ve built here. But, you know, if that’s not what it is, that’s not what it is.”
Based on months of reporting from our Mike Fisher, we don't think "that's what it is.''
Meanwhile ...
Overall, the Cowboys have the fourth-worst turnover differential in football at -8, and have only won the turnover battle four times this season.
“Our biggest issue right now as a football team is the giveaway, takeaway ratio,” Schottenheimer said. “Us not protecting on offense and us not taking it away on defense.”
Perhaps somewhat luckily, the Cowboys are facing a Minnesota Vikings team that is even worse in turnover differential, currently 31st at -12.
With young QB JJ McCarthy at the helm, the Vikings, in his last four games, have eight turnovers, and in three of those games, multiple turnovers have happened.
So, for coordinator Matt Eberflus' defense, it appears there is a chance at a takeaway or two on Sunday night, and as for Dak Prescott and the offense, Minnesota's defense has forced five turnovers in the last two games, so they are hunting the football.
The Vikings only have five games without a turnover, so this does appear to be one battle Dallas has to win if it is to secure a seventh win of the year and keep the hope of playoff football alive for another week.
Schottenheimer knows turnovers are his team's biggest issue, and if it isn't fixed by Week 15, there's a chance it won't miraculously fix itself in the final four weeks.
But Dallas did go four games without a turnover earlier in the year, so it can be done; however, will Sunday night see the Cowboys come out on the right side of the turnover battle for once?
Schottenheimer will be watching for it. And Diggs? He's reduced once again to watching, too.