Why Can't Cowboys Stop The Run? Defense Bullied In Playoffs Again
After another Dallas Cowboys season came to a disappointing end in Sunday's 48-32 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, an angry and frustrated fanbase is yet again left to ponder what went wrong.
Don't get it twisted, almost nothing went right against the Packers. The offense couldn't get going until it was far too late, the defense couldn't stop a nosebleed and the special teams unit made some really bad mistakes. With such a disastrous all-around performance, it's hard to really put that much blame on any one issue.
That said, the Cowboys' rush defense, which has been suspect all season, was outright atrocious on Sunday. Packers running back Aaron Jones ran hog wild in this game, rushing for 118 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
Aaron Jones
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jones' stats are one thing, but Dallas' failure to stop the run has a far greater impact than just that. It also opened up the field for Green Bay on play-action, and quarterback Jordan Love took full advantage of it. According to Next Gen Stats, Love completed seven of nine passes on play action for 165 yards and a touchdown through the first three quarters, and by that point, the game was over.
Perhaps the most frustrating part of Dallas' struggles against the run is that there were clear warning signs earlier in the season. The Cowboys gave up 222 rushing yards against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3, 170 against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 and 266 against the Buffalo Bills in Week 15. Unsurprisingly, all three of those games ended in losses, and all by multiple scores at that.
While Dallas' run defense improved statistically from last season, going from 22nd to 16th in yards allowed, those struggles reared their ugly head again at the worst possible time. Amidst the myriad of questions the Cowboys will have to answer in the offseason, improving against the run has to be one of their top priorities.
