The Dallas Cowboys survived a battle with the Indianapolis Colts, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute left in the game. The much-maligned defense ended the game on a Caleb Downs interception, holding on for a 27-23 win. The game was closer than it should have been, with the team unable to play complementary football to put their opponent away. Dallas has played well defensively for the first half of the last two contests, but the offense hasn’t capitalized to put the games out of reach.
The team's inconsistency has been a major storyline for Dallas throughout the season. The offense plays well, the defense falls apart. The defense starts to find its way, the offense slips, and the special teams have gone from good kickers with
bad coverage units to a strength in returns and coverage, but an inconsistent kicking game.
Is this a symptom of a poorly coached team, or one with a talent issue? Can Dallas figure out a way to play well and keep it up week after week while improving in other areas, or will they remain up and down every game?
The offense is becoming inconsistent and unreliable
The defense led the way in the Cowboys’ victory in Indianapolis whilethe offense filled the stat sheet but was wildly inconsistent. A fumble followed their opening field goal drive. They went on a 15-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that took over seven minutes—then followed that up with a three-and-out and two more drives that ended in punts after four plays. Dallas scored a touchdown before halftime and had a three-and-out on their first drive of the third quarter. Later, they went on a 10-play field-goal drive and followed it with a fumble.
That has been the Dallas offense for most of the 2026 season. They accumulated over 500 yards against the Colts. Threw for 329 yards and added 179 rushing, but also converted less than 33% of their third-down plays. They owned time of possession with over 35 minutes, but lost two fumbles.Inconsistency kept the Colts in this contest, and that has to change with the upcoming schedule Dallas has.
Quinnen Williams is playing like an All Pro
Whether it was adapting to a new defense, getting used to his teammates, or dealing with an injury, Quinnen Williams took a few games to reach the level Dallas expected when they traded a first- and second-round pick for him, but he is officially there now. Due to a poor overall defense, Williams might not get the recognition he deserves, but he is playing like an All-Pro.
He started a three-game sack streak with his sack against the Green Bay Packers. He added two tackles for a loss, a pass deflection, and two QB hits in that game. The next week, against the Philadelphia Eagles, he had a sack, three tackles for a loss, and a QB hit. The Arizona Cardinals game was his first multi-sack contest, with two, adding seven tackles, and two QB hits. The sack streak ended against the Colts, but he had another seven tackles, three tackles for a loss, and added his second forced fumble of the year. He has accumulated 36 total tackles and five sacks, two behind his career second-most.
You’re either teaching it or allowing it
The Cowboys have been among the worst in penalties called against them over the last decade, but Schottenheimer started by improving that category to a middle-of-the-road team through the first five games. They had fewer penalties than their opponents in all five games and fewer penalty yards in four of the five. They averaged 6.8 penalties per game for 62.8 yards and 2.6 first downs allowed by penalty. That improvement has fallen off in their last four contests. The team has allowed three first downs on penalties per contest in the past four games, with a 10-penalty-per-game average for over 88 yards. One penalty really stands out as a problem for the head coach.
DeMarvion Overshown was flagged for running on the field after a turnover to celebrate with the team. That wouldn’t typically be an issue, but not only was Overshown not in the game during the turnover, but he was also inactive and in sweats on the sidelines due to injuries! That type of penalty can’t happen and wouldn’t on a well-coached team. A penalty like that must be pointed out, and its consequences enforced.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Inconsistent offense emerging as biggest Cowboys storyline for Week 10
