The Dallas Cowboys finally broke a long losing streak by beating the Seattle Seahawks 17-7 in their preseason opener. It feels good to win the first game for the first time since 2017, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The victory hides some ugly problems that need fixing before the regular season starts. A win is a win, but the details matter more than the final score.
Rookie Star Shines Early
Undrafted rookie Camden Brown stole the show with two huge touchdown catches. He made a diving one-handed grab and a 39-yard score to help lead the team past Seattle. ESPN reported via AP that Brown shone under pressure, not merely working hard in practice. His performance gave the offense something to build around immediately. The defense also tightened up after a rough start, allowing zero points in the final three-and-a-half quarters. The Seahawks were held to a mere 156 total yards of offensive production.
New defensive coordinator Christian Parker got a win, but the unit still gave up a touchdown on the very first drive. That opening score was a bad start, even if they fixed it later. The goal-line stand in the fourth quarter sealed the deal, but the early mistakes cost them. The team needs to avoid those costly penalties if they want to win real games.
Special Teams Need A Fix
The special teams unit remains a major worry for the Dallas Cowboys. A 52-yard punt return was surrendered while their own goal-line return went awry. Per K.D. Drummond of Cowboys Wire, there didn’t seem to be any improvement from last year under Nick Sorenson. The second season isn’t inspiring much hope out the gate. These mistakes are unacceptable even in a preseason game where starters sit out. The players who messed up better not be on the field for important moments later.
The offense also struggled with ball protection. Both Joe Milton and Sam Howell have issues keeping the football safe. The depth chart lists them as equals, which means the backup quarterback battle has no clear leader yet. This uncertainty could hurt the team if the starters get hurt early. The culture is shifting under new leadership, but execution still needs work.
Quinnen Williams said the new approach reminds him of his days at Alabama. He told Jon Machota of The Athletic that everybody has the same mindset to win.
