Since Mike McCarthy became head coach of the Dallas Cowboys three years ago, a well-known story has accompanied the team. To be fair to McCarthy, this story was widely accepted before he came. It’s concerning, though, that it’s still a discussion point.
The story? On the road, the Cowboys are unable to defeat a strong squad.
That was evident in the depressing 31-10 defeat to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Although some dubious penalties early on did not assist Dallas’ cause, the team lost another opportunity to break the hated narrative because it was outplayed, outcoached, and bullied.
Being in charge at home is one thing. While it’s astonishing in and of itself that the Cowboys are absolutely invincible when they play at AT&T Stadium, the real test of a championship team is how well they perform away from home.
That hasn’t been the case with Dallas, for whatever reason, and in reaction to the defeat, a disgruntled Micah Parsons vented to his teammates.
Micah Parsons of the Cowboys chastises teammates during a lopsided loss against the Bills
Given the Bills’ standing in the AFC playoff picture, the Cowboys had to be aware of their desperation before the game, right? They must have known the prevalent story that the media has been using against them for years, right? Why, then, didn’t Dallas appear prepared for a dogfight?
All Cowboys supporters are asking themselves this question. In actuality, Arlington is 7-0 while Dallas is 3-4 away from AT&T Stadium. They score a whooping 39.9 points per game on the road, but only 18.3 at home. That is more than a 20-point margin of difference. As Parsons put it, it’s astounding.
The Cowboys’ current point difference when playing away from home against teams with a winning record is -58 as of this writing. Dallas, who had already secured a postseason spot before the game, almost assured themselves of having to begin the playoffs away from home. Should the Eagles or 49ers be upset, they will probably need to win three games away from home in order to get to the Super Bowl.
Even though Parsons is saying all the right things, it won’t matter unless the team wins on the field.
Ultimately, the Cowboys have three road games left to solidify their status as Super Bowl contenders—or, at the very least, demonstrate their ability to compete with the elite. They contended, but lost in Philadelphia as a result of numerous errors made at critical junctures after being humiliated and quitting in two of them.
Next week, they’ll get a fourth chance in Miami. Although Parsons’ comment doesn’t seem very hopeful, a victory in that game would go a long way toward wiping the bitter taste of this defeat. How many more doses of reality checks does this team need before it can compete on the road against a top-tier team?
