Key defensive injuries compound a brutal loss to the Giants, yet silver linings emerge as fluke third-down conversions and missed turnover opportunities suggest a statistical rebound is coming.
Now I hear you, Dallas Cowboys Nation. How on earth can we find any sort of positivity after the Cowboys were curb-stomped 28-20 by the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium?
Christian Parker's defense was woeful. They couldn't stop the run; there was miscommunication, and they couldn't get off the field on third down.
Jaxson Dart looked like a Pro Bowler at quarterback, Cam Skattebo looked like a prime Ezekiel Elliott, and Isaiah Likely looked like Antonio Gates at tight end.
Oh, and to top it all off, a pair of defensive starters - safety Malik Hooker (forearm fracture) and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring) - figure to miss a week or two due to injury.
It was a rough night for the defense, and post-game reactions were as expected.
Fans were angry, in disbelief, and just annoyed that after all of the offseason talk about the defensive changes and how Sunday night was a "graduation" for the defense, it laid an egg.
They were bullied.
But there are two things to take away from this game that might give us a little pause when talking about how bad the defense was.
Let's be clear, it was bad. There's no sugar -coating it.
But let's get to it shall we?
First, let's talk about the third downs.
The Giants were nearly perfect on third down, going 9 of 11, with one being a kneel-down to end the game. So, nine of 10. That's nearly perfect.
Dallas had the Giants in third and nine three times and also had New York at a third and 10, but the offense converted.
So, I ask this. How many games will the Cowboys play in which the opposing offense was nearly bulletproof on third down? Likely not many.
The lack of pass rush on those were evident, but the fact the Cowboys got the Giants into so many third down situations, and nearly half were third and long, is something.
They just couldn't get off the field.
So, there's that. Dallas won't face that sort of numbers on third down all too often, right?
The second one is the turnovers.
It has gotten lost in the wash, but Parker's defense forced four fumbles. Yes, you read that right. Unfortunately, they only recovered one. How often would that happen again?
The ball just didn't bounce Dallas' way.
Caleb Downs' sack on Dart forced a fumble, and it just happened to pop up into the arms of an offensive lineman who picked up a couple of yards. Cam Skattebo then fumbled in the fourth quarter with the score in New York's favor, 21-14, but he managed to jump on it, saving the day.
Likely also had a fumble, and with two Cowboys around the ball, fullback Pat Ricard just happened to sit on it first; a split second later, two Dallas defenders jumped on it.
So, again, if you force four fumbles, and only recover one, maybe it's just not your night.
Now, how often would these two things happen again? Not many.
It still doesn't absolve the defense of how bad their overall game was, because it was horrible, but the Giants did two things we might not see again this year.
Be bulletproof on third down, and have four fumbles, but recover three of them.
