Cowboys Face Early Season Concerns After Preseason loss & Penalty Troubles
The Dallas Cowboys suffered a 31-21 preseason defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, but the scoreline only tells part of the story. Several concerning issues surfaced during the game, raising questions as the regular season approaches.
A significant blow came with an injury to wide receiver James Lamb, adding to early anxieties. Moreover, the team racked up a hefty 83 penalty yards across 11 flags – a performance that clearly displeased head coach Mike Schottenheimer.
“I hope the guy’s OK, but we have to be better than that,” Schottenheimer stated, directly addressing the team’s discipline. “CeeDee knows better. We certainly know better.”
This level of undisciplined play is particularly worrying given the ongoing situation with star defender Micah Parsons, who has publicly requested a trade. You can understand why the team would want to avoid any further distractions as they prepare for the season.
Here’s a look at the full slate of NFL preseason Week one results:
Indianapolis Colts 16 – 24 Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals 27 – 34 Philadelphia Eagles
Las Vegas Raiders 23 – 23 Seattle Seahawks
Detroit Lions 17 – 10 Atlanta Falcons
cleveland Browns 30 – 10 Carolina Panthers
Washington Commanders 18 – 48 New England Patriots
New York Giants 34 – 25 Buffalo Bills
Houston Texans 10 – 20 Minnesota Vikings
Dallas Cowboys 21 - 31 Los Angeles Rams
Pittsburgh Steelers 31 – 25 jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans 7 – 29 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
new York Jets 30 – 10 Green Bay Packers
Kansas City Chiefs 17 - 20 arizona Cardinals
Denver Broncos 30 – 9 San Francisco 49ers
Miami Dolphins 24 – 24 Chicago Bears
New Orleans Saints 13 – 27 Los Angeles Chargers
what Dose This mean for Dallas?
I’ve found that preseason games often reveal more about a team’s mental fortitude and discipline than their raw talent. The Cowboys have the talent to compete,but penalties and injuries can derail even the most gifted squads.
For Dallas, the focus now shifts to cleaning up the penalties and ensuring Lamb’s injury isn’t serious. It’s a crucial period for establishing a foundation of discipline and resilience.Ultimately, you want to see a team that can avoid self-inflicted wounds.If the Cowboys can address these issues, they’ll be well-positioned to make a strong run this season. However, if these early mistakes persist, it could be a long year in Big D.