Cowboys Reveal 3 'Biggest Issues' From Loss

The Dallas Cowboys were humbled 31-10 by the Buffalo Bills in a brutal way, and coach Mike McCarthy has revealed what the biggest issues were in the loss.

The first step in fixing a problem is acknowledging that there IS a problem; the next step is to fix it. For the Dallas Cowboys, two glaring issues have stuck with this team for what feels like the last couple of seasons.

Against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the Cowboys were handed a soul-crushing 31-10 loss in a game they never looked like winning. This was due to a number of ugly warts, including penalties and the inability to stop the run.

James Cook morphed into Barry Sanders at Highmark Stadium as he rushed for 179 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Such was his effectiveness, Bills quarterback Josh Allen only threw 15 times for the game.

The run defense was non-existent for the Cowboys and head coach Mike McCarthy knows where the unit went wrong.

“The biggest issue was the tackling,” McCarthy said. “We lost the tackling battle ... The two glaring statistical characteristics of our production success this year is winning the tackling battle and winning the big-play opportunity battle. We lost both those battles significantly.''

McCarthy said the Bills "broke twice as many tackles'' as is the Cowboys defense norm.

"I think they had 12 broken tackles,'' he said. "We (on offense) had only six, so we're minus six there. And then we were minus 13 in 'big play,' which is a huge statistical area of production to overcome.”

So one wart was the rush defense as the Cowboys defense has given up rushing totals of 222, 170, and 266 (Bills) this season. Not to mention that just four times Dallas hasn't given up over 100 yards rushing in a game.

The other wart is penalties.

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook had his way with the Cowboys defense on Sunday / Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys, in the first half, were largely responsible for their downfall as three times, costly defensive and special-teams penalties extended Buffalo drives, all of which ended in touchdowns, making 18 of the Bills' 21 first-half points, solely down to Dallas' poor discipline.

“Whether you agree with [the penalties] or don't agree is irrelevant but the timing of it was clearly tough because they extended drives that eventually resulted in points,” McCarthy said. "So we definitely got to be bit more disciplined there at this point in the year.”

Dallas, as it stands, is the most penalized team in the NFL (102) through 14 games, and for a team that has Super Bowl intentions, it can't beat itself with poor discipline. Five times the Cowboys have had nine or more penalties in a game and 80+ penalty yardage as it is now a common theme for the season...especially against quality teams on the road.

McCarthy knows the team has to be more disciplined and tackle better going forward, and while that is all good and well to say now, the proof will be how Dallas responds in its next game.

Oh, and said game is against the Miami Dolphins - the fourth-highest rushing team per game in the league (139.6), and has the most rushing touchdowns (26). ... in their building.

What's Wrong With Dallas Cowboys Defense?

Dallas' shortcomings were there for all to see against the Bills and with a team that has rushing totals of 145, 350, 222, 162, 167, and 158 on the year, the Cowboys will again get a serious test of their physical and mental fortitude.

Are they up for the task? Can they tackle, manage big plays and avoid killer penalties? We don't know. But at least we know the Cowboys inside The Star have a mirror to see those warts.