The Dallas Cowboys coaching staff spent all preseason and the first three weeks of the regular season preaching patience and confidence in the process. Brian Schottenheimer and his assistants have consistently backed their decisions and their players, even as questions continue to mount. The problem is the fan base is running out of reasons to buy in. A 1-2 start wasn't what anyone anticipated, and Sunday's last-second loss to the Ravens only added to the frustration.
What makes the defeat sting even more is how avoidable it felt. Schottenheimer's willingness to ditch an effective running game at key moments looked more reckless than aggressive and helped swing momentum away from Dallas when they had all of it. The Cowboys still showed enough
flashes to believe better days could be ahead, but flashes don't win games. Mistakes, questionable coaching decisions, and poor execution once again defined Dallas' Week 3 performance.
With plenty of new issues surfacing for the Cowboys, it's time to hand out grades for the offense, defense, and special teams.
Cowboys Offense | Grade: D
Much of the blame for this grade falls on Brian Schottenheimer and his play-calling. Dallas' running game was effective early, with Javonte Williams and the offensive line consistently moving the Ravens off the ball. Despite finding success on the ground, the Cowboys repeatedly went away from it, including on a promising opening drive that ultimately settled for a Brandon Aubrey field goal. It became a recurring theme throughout the afternoon. Every time Dallas appeared to find an offensive rhythm, Schottenheimer abandoned what was working and stalled the momentum.
Dak Prescott did plenty to keep the offense afloat, but poor field conditions, questionable play-calling, a late turnover, and time management issues ultimately proved too much to overcome. If Dallas wants to get its offense back on track, Schottenheimer has to start taking what defenses give him. Continually hunting explosive plays while ignoring efficient gains is putting the offense behind the chains and behind the scoreboard. With Houston looming Sunday and then Tampa Bay waiting on a short week, the Cowboys cannot afford many more offensive performances like this one.
Cowboys Defense | Grade: C
The final score doesn't fully reflect the effort Dallas' defense turned in against Baltimore's rushing attack and the return of wide receiver Zay Flowers. The Cowboys held Derrick Henry, who entered the game averaging 5.3 yards per carry, to 89 yards on 26 carries, just 3.4 yards per attempt. Defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia and rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham led the way, combining for 11 run stops and playing a major role in slowing one of the league's most physical rushing offenses.
While the run defense showed legitimate improvement, the secondary couldn't survive a wave of injuries. Safety Jalen Thompson and cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. both left the game, leaving Dallas vulnerable on the back end. Lamar Jackson eventually took advantage, engineering the late drive that set up Baltimore's game-winning field goal. Defensive coordinator Christian Parker put together a solid game plan, but injuries once again changed the equation. Finding answers in the secondary has become a weekly challenge, and Dallas needs better options than what it got from Marquese Bell in this game.
Special Teams | Grade: F
Brandon Aubrey's kickoff issues resurfaced at the worst possible time. Multiple kickoffs gave Baltimore favorable field position, including one sequence that helped set up a Derrick Henry touchdown run. Field conditions may have played a role, but this has become a recurring problem rather than a one-week anomaly. Special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen needs to identify the cause quickly because Dallas cannot keep handing opponents free yards.
The problems didn't stop there. The Ravens blocked an Aubrey field goal attempt late in the third quarter, creating another major swing in momentum. Baltimore capitalized on the short field and extended its lead to 24-10. In a game decided by a field goal, the mistakes from Dallas' special teams unit were impossible to ignore. Between poor kick placement and the blocked field goal, this group directly contributed to Baltimore scoring points and played a significant role in the Cowboys falling to 1-2.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys' Week 3 grades tank as coaching, injury woes continue
