The frustration was evident on Dan Quinn’s face and in his voice. The Dallas Cowboys’ defensive performance Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals was not what he expected.
Quinn usually opens his Monday afternoon news conferences after a game with an opening statement. Following a stunning 28-16 loss to the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium, Quinn spoke for 45 seconds before answering his first question.
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“Saw a lot yesterday that upset me, and hurt as well,” Dallas’ defensive coordinator said. “But I think one of the things that probably felt like five fingers across the face was: ‘Man, you guys didn’t look like your defense.’ The reason it probably hit me was that I felt that was right. We didn’t play to the standards that we’ve seen and what our excellence looks like. I think we’ve seen that over the last couple of weeks.
“So, when it doesn’t happen, you certainly feel (upset) about it. But I do know this about our guys, and I really know them well, this is a warrior crew. I certainly know that we’ll grow from this. And I’m looking forward to seeing that.”
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The biggest issue was a run defense that was exceptional last week in holding New York Jets running backs Dalvin Cook and Breece Hall to a combined eight carries for 16 yards.
Quinn was particularly frustrated about a first-half run defense that allowed four plays of 20-or-more yards.
On all four, the Cardinals ran to the left and the Cowboys struggled to get off blocks.
“We just didn’t play with that relentless energy that we’ve kind of grown to know and appreciate about our group,” Quinn said.
On the second play of Arizona’s opening possession, QB Joshua Dobbs kept on a read option after faking the handoff to RB James Conner. Micah Parsons, who was rushing off the right edge, went for Conner. By the time he realized Dobbs kept the ball, it was too late. Forty-four yards later and Dobbs had Arizona set up for an early 3-0 lead.
Conner added a 20-yard run on the next series after both Dallas linebackers, Leighton Vander Esch and Damone Clark were unable to make a stop on first down from the Dallas 43. Conner scored on a 5-yard run four plays later.
The Cardinals pulled ahead 15-3 on their third possession. This time WR Rondale Moore took a handoff left for a 45-yard touchdown run. Sam Williams, who was lined up at right defensive end, got too far up field, which created space underneath. By the time Moore passed the line of scrimmage, LB Markquese Bell was blocked out of the play and Moore was too fast for pursuing DE Dorance Armstrong and Vander Esch.
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Conner added another 26-yard run off left tackle on a read-option play on the Cardinals’ fourth possession. This was one of Dallas’ formations where Vander Esch lined up at right end and Parsons was over the center. Vander Esch was blocked up field and DT Osa Odighizuwa was also blocked out of the play, creating a large running lane.
“We just have to do a better job of setting our edges,” Quinn said.
Arizona’s five first-half possessions ended with two touchdowns and three field goals, a scoring total Dallas’ defense probably shouldn’t have allowed in an entire game against the Cardinals, who were a double-digit underdog. Quinn’s group also failed to record a single takeaway after having seven the first two weeks. They led the NFL last season, averaging just under two per game. They also led the league in 2021 with exactly two per game.
Of the 19 Cowboys defenders who played Sunday, Quinn only pointed out three for playing well: DE DeMarcus Lawrence, S Malik Hooker and CB DaRon Bland.
Hooker appeared to be to blame for the biggest defensive error in the second half. With 9:28 remaining in the game, Dallas was coming off consecutive defensive stops, pulling to within 21-16. But Dobbs found a wide open Michael Wilson for a deep ball grab that turned into a 69-yard gain. Hooker was the nearest defender and ended up making the tackle, so it looked as if he missed the assignment. Quinn said that wasn’t the case.
“That was not his play,” he added. “He gave us a chance to go make a stop. It was actually quite a good play by him.”
The result was a back-breaker as the Cardinals added a Dobbs-to-Marquise Brown 2-yard touchdown three plays later.
“That’s one we have done correctly many times,” Quinn said. “You haven’t seen us lose a coverage or lose one over the last few years, I don’t think. So, to have that happen, that was a bummer for us.”
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It was a strange showing from a defense that has elevated to a level where many consider them to be one of the best in the league. But it was also an ugly reminder of a couple other uncharacteristic performances over the last two seasons. Dallas was good enough to win 12 games last year, but still had that 26-6 Week 18 loss at Washington on its resume. In 2021, again the Cowboys were a 12-win team, but still capable of a 30-16 loss to the four-win Denver Broncos in Week 9.
“I’d love to say all the lessons are the same, wins and losses, but I think we all know that’s not the case,” Quinn said. “When you have these moments like this, to teach from and grow from, you better use it, otherwise the pain of yesterday wasn’t worth sh–. You might as well make it count and say let’s get the lessons learned and get back to playing like we like to play.”
Dallas responded to that 2021 loss to the Broncos with a 43-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons. After losing to Washington last season, the Cowboys were outstanding in a 31-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
How will they respond this time against former teammate Ezekiel Elliott and the New England Patriots on Sunday at AT&T Stadium?
“For us, I want to make sure every time you watch us play, you see how we get it on,” Quinn said. “It’s not specific to red zone or short yardage or goal line. I would hope you see our speed, our hitting, and the way that we run. That’s what I hope you see when you watch us play again this week. That’s No. 1, top of the pile for me.”
(Photo of Rondale Moore: Michael Owens / Getty Images)
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