One of the key storylines for the Dallas Cowboys over the past couple of weeks has been that, due to the poor play of Matt Eberflus' defense, Dak Prescott and the offense have to be perfect for the team to win.
With the offense averaging 29.7 points per game, and the defense allowing, on average, 30.7 points per game, a lot of what Brian Schottenheimer and Dak are cooking up is getting wasted.
As such, if the Cowboys' offense doesn't score a touchdown on every possession, the defense can't get a stop, and that ends up being one of the major reasons for Dallas' 2-3-1 record. Yes, the offense has had some poor moments in fourth quarters, too, but that's magnified because the defense can't stop anyone.
But Dak doesn't see it as any added pressure to score touchdowns on every drive due to the defense's poor performance.
“It's my standard, it's our standard,” Prescott said. “It's what we believe that we can do, what we expect to do, so I don't think it's any added pressure through our defense's early struggles, we've got trust in them. We're going to do our job. When we come off the field, if we don't score or we get to the red zone, we get a field goal over touchdown, that whole group is pissed and unsatisfied.
“It's not about well our defense, we need to help them out, we need to score. No, it's because we expect to, it's because we have the ability to. So, we're just going to keep holding ourselves to that standard and doing the best we can.”
More: CeeDee Lamb proven right over George Pickens' Cowboys explosion
Cowboys offense will be reason team wins games
That's not saying anything that people haven't said already.
The truth is, if the defense were just league average, this Cowboys team could very well be above .500 and be in a position to lead the NFC East, but the defensive failures (and offensive ones, too, at times) mean a 2-3-1 record is what Dallas is right now.
But there's no denying that Prescott and the offense must score at least 30 points per game, while also hoping the defense can secure a takeaway and/or make a crucial stop down the stretch; otherwise, a loss will be coming their way.
With the Washington Commanders up next, the Cowboys get CeeDee Lamb back, and there's no doubting Dak will be feeling a little bit of pressure to put up points early.
Do that, and Dallas at least has a fighting chance against its division rivals.
More Cowboys news:
- Cowboys reveal how to get run game back on track after poor Panthers showing | Sporting News
- How long is CeeDee Lamb out? Ankle injury timeline, return date, latest updates on Cowboys WR | Sporting News
- George Pickens gives Dallas fans a reason to believe again | Sporting News
- Cowboys, 49ers suggested as possible trade partners for 81-sack edge rusher | Sporting News