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The Dallas Cowboys have been a source of intrigue this season, with their performance fluctuating between triumphs and defeats. They convincingly defeated the New York Giants, New York Jets, and New England Patriots, but were shocked by the Arizona Cardinals and brutally beaten by the San Francisco 49ers. Now, they face a challenging match against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.
This inconsistent display by the Cowboys has left NFL observers pondering the true identity of the team.
“Their run defense and defensive consistency, combined with their offensive identity, are the key questions,” remarked an executive in conversation with The Athletic’s Mike Sando. “Frankly, they are not performing well. They excel when their defense is strong and generates turnovers, but against formidable opponents, this won’t cut it.”
Many uncertainties in Dallas revolve around Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy. Prescott has struggled with inconsistency this season, throwing four interceptions and enduring nine sacks in five games. McCarthy’s play-calling has also faced scrutiny, particularly as star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (27 catches, 358 yards, 1 touchdown) has been surprisingly ineffective in certain weeks.
The Cowboys have established a reputation for dominating the regular season before faltering in the playoffs. So far in 2023, they have done little to dispel these concerns.
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