Broken Tackles, Broken Hearts: Can Quinn Fix Cowboys Defense?

'Tackling Wasn’t Up to The Standard'! Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn Reveals The Biggest Issues with Dallas Cowboys Defense

The Dallas Cowboys did not execute at the performance level they wished they could have on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. 

After practicing with wet game balls and pasting photographs of Bills' defenders on their practice equipment, the Cowboys still fell to Buffalo, 31-10 ... exposing more than a few warts for the playoff-bound 'Boys.

The defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, Dan Quinn, has pinpointed a "biggest problem'' ...  the Cowboys' tackling issues.

“The biggest impact on this game was our tackling and our ball-hawking,” Quinn said. “We’re excellent at those two things, and we had a poor performance in both. Our tackling wasn’t up to the standard we’ve set. That is our 'secret sauce,' our tackling and our ball-hawking, and we didn’t have it.”

Dallas' below-par defense could not live up to the Bills' dominant run game. Buffalo's running back James Cook totaled 179 yards from 25 carries while adding a touchdown to the scoreboard on Sunday. Ty Johnson added 54 rushing yards of his own as well.

Indeed, matching up the two? Dallas' offense broke six tackles. Dallas' defense allowed 12 broken tackles. If you play the plus-minus game in that category? The Cowboys are big losers.

‘It’s Your Fault!’ Jerry ‘Blames’ McCarthy Staff - But Not How Critics Think

Even with the loss on Sunday, the 10-4 Cowboys are still No. 1 in the NFC East. And Dallas' defense will have the opportunity to redeem itself on Sunday when they face the 10-4 Miami Dolphins. 

But the Cowboys are aware, as Cowboys Nation surely is as well: Against Raheem Mostert and Tyreek Hill and the track-meet Dolphins offense, you miss 12 tackles? The Dolphins will have 12 monster plays ... and the Cowboys are likely to lose again.