With the Dallas Cowboys facing a suddenly very important game against the New York Giants http://www.cowboyscheapauthenticstore.com/kavon-frazier-jersey-cheap , we are all wondering if they can bounce back from a very disappointing opener against the Carolina Panthers. In particular, the team saw some bad play from Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Tyron Smith, and Sean Lee, all of whom are going to be vital if the team is to overcome an 0-1 start. Can they play better this week? My co-author here at Blogging The Boys, Michael Strawn, and I sat down and had a little discussion about that.Michael: Well, those are actually four separate questions; three of those questions can be addressed with the same answer. I fully expect Tyron Smith, Sean Lee and Ezekiel Elliott to bounce back to form. Each of them are All-Pro players with long histories of elite level performance. A one game aberration won’t make me doubt what they can do. I put more faith in the body of each of those player’s work than I do in a single game after a long layoff.However, I can’t say the same regarding Dak Prescott. I’ve been a big Dak believer. But I was utterly appalled at his performance Sunday. He not only didn’t improve upon his second half 2017 performance, he regressed even further. At this point, I’m on the other side of the coin with him. Until he can prove he can again be 2016 Dak, I’ll have to assume that what we have seen recently is what we’ll get moving forward.Tom: Well, on the first three, the legalese that “past performance is no guarantee of future results” seems appropriate here. In the cases of Smith and Lee, both have been in the league a long time already, eight seasons for Smith and nine for Lee. All players face an inevitable point of decline, and while I certainly hope it is not so, they might have hit that point after all those games. Both have injury histories to worry about as well.With Zeke, it is more about the lack of time right now. He has gotten off to slow starts in his first two seasons, so a rebound is certainly likely. The problem is that it took him a couple of games to get on track the first two years http://www.cowboyscheapauthenticstore.com/la_el-collins-jersey-cheap , and the Cowboys just can’t afford that. They need him to get it going on Sunday.On Dak, I will say this in his defense. He is only entering his third year in the league, and the man so many use as a measuring stick for him, Tony Romo, did not become a starter until his fourth seaspn. There is certainly room for growth. The problem with him is like with Zeke: They can’t wait until next season to see him figure things out. Not if certain coaches want to keep their jobs.Michael: You raise a number of interesting points. I can’t really argue what you say about Tron and Lee; they are reaching the point of their careers where age-related declines could impact their performance (although it’s amazing to me that Smith is still only 28, the same age as Zack Martin). And yes, injuries have plagued Smith in recent years. But he looked better than he has in years in preseason. And his issues Sunday weren’t physical so much as mental; he frequently seemed confused on assignments and just failed to pick up his man. Lee, on the other hand, has always played well when he’s been on the field.But your final sentence regarding Dak is the elephant in the room. The Cowboys’ brass effectively bet the team’s immediate and near future on Prescott. It was a sound bet based upon his 2016 performance. And it looked perfectly reasonable all the way through November of last year. At this moment, however, it’s looking very iffy. Prescott has played at a Brandon Weeden/Matt Cassell level for his last nine games. He currently ranks 24th in QBR (which has always valued him higher due to his running contributions). If he can’t turn it around, and pronto, as you say, the entire coaching staff likely won’t be here in a year. And the franchise will have been set back years as they look for their next franchise quarterback. No pressure, Dak.Tom: I do agree that the issues with both Smith and Lee looked mental. The question remains for them if they can clean up things in a week of practice. That is a concern, given how long they had to come out and get it right in the opener. As much respect as we all have for both of them, it is now a “prove it” situation. And the Cowboys need them to, because the loser of this game is all alone in last place in the NFC East, and that is a deep hole to climb out of, even this early.Zeke similarly showed some similar things, missing openings to just plow into the center of the formidable Panthers defense. With another pair of good defensive tackles lining up this week to stop him, he has to get things right as well. And he does not have the long years of experience to fall back on. He needs some help from the line and from Scott Linehan to put him in a better place to succeed.Dak makes it unanimous about mental breakdowns. He had happy feet and was just slow in his reads. Again Cheap Terrance Williams Jersey , he needs more protection plus some help from Linehan, Jason Garrett (who is always very involved in the QB room), and Kellen Moore. And he needs to take in and use what they tell him.Michael: Again, all good points. I think we’re not really far apart here. It is somewhat surprising that after an offseason of concerns about the tight ends, receiving corps and safety position we’re talking about Smith, Lee and Elliott. I end where I began; I’m optimistic we see a return to form.Tom: I hope we do, but as I said, this is a prove it situation. But if there is a silver lining, it is that not all four have to get it down this week (assuming they come along later). The defense played well even with an off day from Lee, and if either Dak or Zeke is back to form, then the offense should do enough to win this one. Better play from Smith might be enough all by itself, given how that would impact both the passing and running game. But the team will need all four on track before too long. And they have to have at least some of these players back up to what they can be this week, or bad days are ahead.10 thoughts on the Cowboys loss to the Texans: Did Garrett make the wrong call on fourth down? The Dallas Cowboys got caught up in another nail-biter only this week they came up short, losing to the Houston Texans 19-16 in overtime. The Cowboys had a chance to grab the division league, but now join the Philadelphia Eagles at 2-3 on the year. The Washington Redskins play on Monday Night and will remain in atop the division regardless of what happens in their matchup against the New Orleans Saints.This game was a bitter pill to swallow as the Cowboys showed some holes on both sides of the ball. The offense struggled, failing to score at least 17 points for the third time in just five games. The defense looked great at times, but then would give up some big plays that ended up being all the Texans needed to pull out the win. Here are my 10 thoughts on the Cowboys loss to the Texans.1. Big play tight endsIn each of the Cowboys first two drives, their biggest play came in the form of a passing play to their tight end. First it was Geoff Swaim who, for the second-straight game, caught a pass and turned on the jets for a 43-yard gain. Then, on their next possession, Rico Gathers caught a pass for 32 yards. Even Blake Jarwin caught his first ever career pass for a key first down in overtime.It’s great that Swaim is playing well http://www.cowboyscheapauthenticstore.com/anthony-brown-jersey-cheap , but it’s terrible that he was the team’s leading receiver with three catches for 55 years. It’s the second time this season he’s been the team’s leading receiver. That’s never good.2. Can’t close the dealThe Cowboys did a great job moving the ball on their first two drives, but had to settle for field goals each time. The offense was great on the early downs, but struggled on third down. Dallas had a chance to make a statement early with a couple scores, but unfortunately that statement was - they still are having trouble getting in the end zone.Once again, kicker Brett Maher had to do most of the scoring. The Cowboys had four scores on the night, with three of them being field goals. If the Cowboys offense can’t find a way to turn those red zone opportunities into touchdowns, it’s going to be a long season for this team.3. Too much dancing time for WatsonThe Cowboys defense struggled to get pressure on Deshaun Watson. He would only get sacked one time and that was a one-yard loss as he was trying to escape Jaylon Smith. The Texans quarterback would create more time by running around in the pocket. Even when the defense looked like they might get him, he narrowly escaped and made a play. Watson kept extending plays allowing him to his receivers and keep the drive going. He also churned out 40 yards on 10 carries.Those hits started taking a toll however, as his second half scrambling declined. Considering the state of the Texans offensive line, it was disappointing that the Cowboys pass rush couldn’t come away with more plays.4. Jaylon comes up bigThe Cowboys were driving towards the end of the first half, but an interception shifted the momentum back to the Texans. In 90 seconds, Watson led his offense 67 yards down the field. Unfortunately for the Texans, they need 68. Houston had the ball inches from the goal line and Texans head coach Bill O’Brian decided to go for it on fourth down. If they punched it in there, it would’ve given them a 17-6 lead going into halftime. Instead, it remained a four point game as Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith flashed some of that Notre Dame speed and chased Watson down before he could get in the end zone.That was worthy of a swipe.It was also a nice game from his linebacker partner Leighton Vander Esch as the rookie racked up 14 total tackles, 11 of which were solo. The Cowboys have some things to sort out on defense, but the absence of Sean Lee doesn’t appear to be affecting them.5. What can Brown do for you?The second half couldn’t have started any better when the Cowboys defense came away with a turnover. Cornerback Anthony Brown was able to pull away Deandre Hopkins arms, causing the ball to come loose. Fellow cornerback Jourdan Lewis was right there to jump on it and then get up and scamper 14 yards setting up the Cowboys offense deep in Texans territory?The Cowboys could not ride that momentum into seven points however, as they once again stalled out and had to settle for a field goal.6. Costly non-catchesI’m not going to call them drops (although some were exactly that), but the Cowboys receivers struggled to catch the ball on Sunday night. Whether it was poorly thrown passes, having a defender draped all over them, or just a flat letting the ball slip through your hands Youth Byron Jones Jersey , the Cowboys had some costly incompletions. Deonte Thompson just couldn’t come down with a third down pass that would have kept the chains moving. Tavon Austin made a great play on the ball while toe-tapping the sidelines, but the ball popped out as he contacted the ground. The coaches would challenge the play, but it would not be overturned. And then there were the two interceptions that were deflected off the receivers. In fact, all four of Dak’s interceptions this year have came off of deflections. That’s not to say they weren’t his fault as some of these passes were not thrown well, but Dallas continues to be on the wrong end of these deflected balls.7. Another costly mistake by GregoryRandy Gregory hurt his team in Seattle when a personal foul put the Seahawks in field goal position at the end of the half, resulting in a free three points. Against the Texans, Gregory had a costly penalty that gave Houston new life. On a third and long play in the fourth quarter, Gregory would get called for a hands to the face penalty, giving the Texans a new set of downs.The Texans would keep the drive going and kick a field goal. In a game where points are scarce, these plays are damaging.8. Goal line standsThe Texans offense would come up with some big plays, but the Cowboys defense really buckled down when they got near the goal line. Houston had the ball near the goal line four different times, but only once did they score a touchdown. The Cowboys defense forced two field goals and had a turnover on downs at the end of the first half. What a great defensive stand by the Cowboys defense to hold them there. It’s a shame they couldn’t muster up enough offense to go with it.9. Houdini Part IIYou all know the infamous Tony Romo spin move to escape J.J. Watt the last time these two teams met where he then heaved it into the end zone for a touchdown. Well, Dak got his Houdini moment against Watt as well. After escaping from Watt, Prescott was able to roll to his left and launch it down field to Tavon Austin.10. Controversial 4th down callThe Cowboys won the toss in overtime and elected to receive the ball. They started out pretty good with a couple first downs after a Ezekiel Elliott and Blake Jarwin were able to turn short passes into first downs. But then the team was faced with a 3rd-and-1 at the Texans 42-yard line. After a Zeke run went for no gain, head coach Jason Garrett decided to punt the ball rather than go for it on fourth down. Was that a mistake?Well, as it turned it, it proved costly as the Texans moved the ball down the field and kicked the game winning field goal. The Cowboys could have taken matter in their own hands and just went for it there. Of course, the Texans faced a similar situation last week when Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich gambled and went for it, but failed to convert. It proved costly for them as it set the Texans up nicely for a game winning field goal.Reich took a lot of heat for that decision and you better believe Garrett is going to as well this week.