Four Quarters of Offense

It has become habitual for the Dallas Cowboys offense to struggle at the beginning of games only to do just enough to pull close and lose it down the stretch.

They trailed 13-7 in the first half against the Los Angeles Rams. 20-0 in the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons. And 30-15 in the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks.

The offense has shown its offensive firepower in the past two games with late surges that has many holding out hope the early-game woes will correct itself soon. Dak Prescott is 17-of-29 passing – a 58.6% comletion – in the first quarter for 196 yards and zero touchdowns. Prescott has thrown for at least 300 yards in each of the next three quarters with completion percentages of 86.7 in the second, 65.4 in the third and 62.1 in the fourth.

The Cowboys offense has also only scored one touchdown in the opening quarter through three games thus far.

Trevon Diggs potential

A lot has been heaped on the shoulder of second-round pick Trevon Diggs in the first quarter of the season. By default, he has been the Cowboys best cornerback through three games and has flashed the potential to remain that once Chidobe Awuzie and Anthony Brown return to the starting lineup from injury reserve.

However, there has been some luck on his side. The Julio Jones dropped interception and the brain lapse by DK Metcalf are two plays that could have wrote a different story on the young Alabama corner.

Mike Nolan appears to have optimism Diggs is up for the assignment on gaurding the opposing team’s best receiver and he has another tall task Sunday against Odell Beckham Jr.

DeMarcus Lawrence

DeMarcus Lawrence has a half of sack in his past 11 games played with Dallas – 2.5 in his past 15. For the second year, a defensive end who was brought in to complement Lawrence has been the standout player on the line (Robert Quinn, 2019; Aldon Smith, 2020).

Smith leads the NFL in sacks with four and has established a presence on the line after his five-year hiatus from football. On several plays against the Seahawks Nolan opted to not have Lawrence out there on critical pass rush downs.

After attempting to place Lawrence in a hybrid pass rushing scheme, the former All-Pro spent the majority of his plays with his hand in the ground. He’ll be up against a Browns line that has allowed four sacks in three games this year.