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Sportsradio 1310 The Ticket host Bob Sturm grades the Dallas Cowboys in their loss to the Green Bay Packers:
OFFENSE: B
The offense has led this team all season long and simply could not afford a slow start. After going field goal, punt, punt, the Cowboys offense was dynamic the rest of the day -- scoring 28 points on their final six possessions. But the hole proved to be too deep. Dak Prescott was impressive all day, including a host of third-down conversions that kept the team alive. Ezekiel Elliott was as advertised as well, dominating on the ground. In the end, it seemed the game might have required one less field goal and one more touchdown.
DEFENSE: C-
All game long, it felt like the Cowboys were chasing Aaron Rodgers around, trying to come to a different conclusion than any of Green Bay's defensive opponent from the last two months. There were plays made, but, to their dismay, not enough to slow him and that offense down. Receivers ran open continuously, advantageous matchups were found and the final verdict was reached when Rodgers was able to roll out and convert a massive third-and-20 with 12 seconds to go. Allowing 6 passes of 25 yards or more was unlike any other performance all year.
COACHING: B
The biggest issue from a coaching standpoint was being unable to establish Elliott and the devastating ground game amidst the chaos of Rodgers applying pressure to the scoreboard early. When Elliott was given the ball, he was seldom slowed down, but by the end of the game, the Cowboys were never able to see their massive advantage realized. That said, defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan both had their troops fighting their tails off for 60 minutes, and Marinelli designed every blitz that could be imagined to try to change the game.
OVERALL: B
It cannot be described how difficult this loss is for a team that was good enough to win the Super Bowl. The margins in the NFL playoffs are incredibly slim, and while both teams seemed to have a right to victory, perhaps the Cowboys ultimately paid for their slow start and fell just short. That said, this rookie class, which might be considered one of the best in NFL history, remained positive contributors until the end while falling short. This Cowboys team will be in the mix for many years to come, but this one will sting for quite a while. Great year, but an empty feeling for an ending.
