FRISCO, TX – The Cowboys may not have a game this week, but that doesn’t mean they can’t find a way to win during the bye when it comes to correcting what has bothered them through six games. This week’s edition of “Here We Goooo” examines three areas the Cowboys must drastically improve to reach the final eleven games of the year.

When teams cross the 20-yard line in opposing territory, confidence must be high that you can reach the end zone and, at worst, come away with three points. The Cowboys have failed to get any touchdowns on their trips into the redzone, with a touchdown scoring rate of just 37.5%, good for 3^rd worst in the NFL. Dak Prescott has completed just nine of his 23 passing attempts for 80 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions (the most in the league). CeeDee Lamb has hauled in just two catches on six targets for 11 yards and has yet to score from short range.

And the run game isn’t setting them up for success either, as the Cowboys have run the ball nine times for nine yards and a touchdown, leaving them in tight spots on second and third downs. Nothing goes right for Dallas when they get deep into their opponent’s territory, and while Brandon Aubrey has done his job putting points on the board, the offense should try to get him on the field for extra points, not field goals.

As the Cowboys have learned on the offensive side of the ball, if you can’t establish a run game, it becomes much more difficult to run your offense. Opposing teams have been able to run all over the Cowboys, leading to offensive explosions, as the Lions were able to do last Sunday. Opponents run the ball on the Cowboys defense 50.53% of the time, averaging 143.2 yards per play on the ground, the 6^e most rushing yards allowed per game in the league.

What’s more troubling for Dallas’ defense is that 629 of the 859 rushing yards they’ve allowed this season have come after contact and are allowing 1.7 rushing touchdowns per game, the second-worst average in the league. Playing from behind with guys like Eric Kendricks, DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons all missing time, Dallas’ defense needs this bye week to get them healthier and hopefully back on the field soon.

Playing free football at any level will at least keep you in the matches, and more often than not, you can win them. When your defense sets your offense up for success and vice versa, you have more opportunities to take advantage of good field position or a depleted enemy unit.

The Cowboys haven’t found a way to do that since the first half of the Cleveland game to open the season, as they have a turnover margin of -6. The Cowboys defense is allowing 5.7 yards per play and 3.2 touchdowns per game, both of which are among the worst in the NFL. Things aren’t much better offensively, with eleven substitutions in six games keeping the defense on the field longer than they should. With the two out of sync, the mountain becomes harder to climb for the Cowboys.