Cowboys roundtable discussion: What to look for in Commanders game

Each week, the Cowboys Roundtable convenes to analyze the latest Dallas Cowboys news and provide insight from the writer's perspective. This time, Jorge Guajardo, Dyllan Rivers, Tom Ryle and Sean Martin gathered to discuss the Cowboys' performance against the Giants in their opening week matchup. The biggest problem, according to Mike, was the defense failing to get off the field, resulting in the Cowboys allowing 9-of-11 third-down conversions, seven tackles, 165 combined rushing yards, and Jaxson Dart finishing with three touchdowns.

The Giants dominated possession time, controlling the ball for nearly 37 minutes, which limited the Cowboys' offensive opportunities. Jorge emphasized the need for the defense to play efficient football and improve their effort and attention to detail. Dyllan highlighted the need for the Giants to create turnovers, as Dallas only accepted one.

Sean pointed out that despite the offensive limitations, the Giants executed their game plan effectively, controlling the clock and limiting Dallas' possessions. Tom concluded that the Cowboys were outmatched by the Giants' preparation and motivation, attributing their performance to the overall coaching and execution. Looking forward to the upcoming game against Washington, Mike stressed the importance of defensive discipline, especially on third downs.

Jorge urged the team to remove excuses, clean up miscues, and increase efforts, particularly on defense. Dyllan stressed the need for physicality from the defensive tackles and suggested that outside linebackers should focus on setting the edge rather than diving into the middle. Sean emphasized the necessity of better running the ball, both defensively and offensively, to avoid relying solely on Dak Prescott.

Finally, Tom suggested increasing third-down stops, as the Cowboys struggled to convert during their loss to the Giants. Overall, discipline and focus remained the biggest concerns for the Cowboys moving forward, as highlighted by Jorge and Sean.