Red Flags For Each NFL Wildcard Playoff Team
Whether Tony Romo exorcizes his playoff demons will depend on his defensive teammates.
It may come as a surprise to many, but Tony Romo is not the weak link of this playoff team. Dallas sports one of the most high-powered offensive units in the league, with a dominant offensive line that gives Romo the secure pocket he needs. He doesn’t have to make panic moves to keep the ball moving. With a dominant run game, a receiving corps that can make big plays and the security blanket in TE Jason Witten, the offense can be measured, consistent and deadly.
It’s the defense that remains a question.
Coming into the preseason, many pundits wondered if Dallas would field one of the worst defenses in league history. Under Monte Kiffin in 2013, the Cowboys ranked near the bottom of the league in most statistical categories. Then they lost middle linebacker Sean Lee for the season with a knee injury. Few options were available to them, and they were forced to rely on former draft bust Rolando McClain as their starter.
However, Rod Marinelli was brought in to replace Kiffin, and while the defense is not great, it also hasn’t been historically bad. Dallas ranked as merely below average (#19) in overall defense, and 15th in scoring defense.
This is the red flag for Dallas – they give up a ton of yards, especially in the passing game. If they allow Matthew Stafford to sustain drives and fail to bring pressure, it could turn into a shootout. The Cowboys defense needs to find a way to get off the field consistently on 3rd downs – otherwise, another playoff game could be entrusted to Tony Romo.