The Dallas Cowboys, once known for their high-scoring offense, have hit a troubling stat this season that’s costing them games — their lack of production in the third quarter.
After a rough loss to the San Francisco 49ers, where the Cowboys were outscored 21-0 in the third, it’s clear something is going wrong.
Currently, the Cowboys rank second-to-last in the league for 3rd-quarter points per game, managing just 2.7 on average. In their last three games, they’ve averaged only one point
per game in the third quarter. For a team that led the league in scoring just last season, this is a significant and concerning drop-off.
The trend started with a blowout loss to the Saints, where the Cowboys trailed by only nine at halftime but managed just three points in the third.
This was followed by a tough game against the Ravens, where they couldn’t score in the third and let a close game slip away. Even in their recent win against the Steelers,
the lack of third-quarter scoring almost cost them, turning what should have been a comfortable lead into a nail-biting finish.
Last week’s 49ers game highlighted the issue even more, with the Cowboys getting outscored 21-0 in the third and mounting a desperate fourth-quarter rally.
Outside of standout receiver CeeDee Lamb, the offense has struggled to find consistency or production.
If Dallas wants to make a serious playoff run, they need to solve their third-quarter woes. The offense, led by Mike McCarthy, must find a way to shake off this slump and put points
on the board consistently across all quarters. Until then, the Cowboys’ playoff hopes will remain in jeopardy.