'Real' Cowboys' D needs to stand up, declare itself with 4 games left

Key Highlights

• 1 in PFF’s game-by-game grades. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn EPA terms, the Cowboys defense ranked 21st in the league, allowing a cool 0.000 in EPA/play during that glorious stretch.
• At 42 percent, Dallas even rose to 11th in success rate against.
• They held opponents under 20 first downs in each game, a feat only accomplished twice previously in the season.
• And they allowed an average of just 22 points against after averaging 31 points in the nine games prior. For the first time in years, it seemed the Cowboys defense was headed in the right direction.
• After beating the two Super Bowl teams from last year, it appeared their defense finally had what it took to hold up against real playoff caliber offenses. Then the debacle in Detroit happened. In Week 14, the Cowboys quickly reverted to the defense of old, allowing big gains, broken plays and a windfall of points to the tune of 44 big ones.