After a bye week to regroup, the Dallas Cowboys came back determined to redeem themselves following a tough home loss to the Detroit Lions. They put up a valiant effort against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, showing promise early on, but a late-game comeback attempt fell short. Ultimately, they suffered a 30-24 loss, marking their fourth consecutive defeat to San Francisco.
The blame for the loss can be shared across multiple areas, as both the offense and defense faced struggles. The defense was weakened by missing key players, while the offense took too long to find a rhythm, and by then, it was too late to change the game’s outcome. Responsibility likely falls most on the owner/general manager and head coach, but individual player performances also played a role.
Here are four Cowboys players who could be held accountable:
4. OT Terence Steele
This season has been challenging for offensive tackle Terence Steele, who struggled in Sunday’s game against Nick Bosa, one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers. Steele allowed a sack and three hits on quarterback Dak Prescott, making Prescott’s time in the pocket uncomfortable. Given Steele’s ACL injury from 2022, he may still be returning to form, but his struggles in pass protection are impacting both Prescott’s performance and the effectiveness of the Cowboys’ running game.
3. TE Brevyn Spann-Ford
Undrafted rookie tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford missed a significant opportunity at the end of the first half. In the end zone, he dropped a pass that could have given Dallas a touchdown, forcing the Cowboys to settle for a field goal instead. With Dallas holding a slim 7-3 lead, a touchdown could have been a crucial momentum shift. Spann-Ford has to seize such opportunities to secure his future on the team.
2. WR Kavontae Turpin
Filling in for Brandin Cooks, wide receiver Kavontae Turpin needed to step up in Sunday’s game. While he’s often a standout on special teams, he struggled on offense. Turpin fumbled after a first-down run, and later in the game, missed a critical over-the-shoulder catch in the fourth quarter that could have given Dallas a stronger position. His inconsistency highlights a bigger problem within the receiving corps, as no one was able to match CeeDee Lamb’s 146-yard performance.
1. QB Dak Prescott
As the franchise quarterback, Prescott shoulders much of the blame. Despite throwing two touchdowns late in the game, he also threw two costly interceptions, bringing his season total to 10 touchdowns against eight interceptions. His first interception, a risky pass into double coverage, was avoidable. The second, occurring in the third quarter, allowed San Francisco to extend their lead further. With mounting pressure and a high salary, Prescott is bound to face criticism.
