Studs and Duds: Cowboys demoralized by Bills, 31-10 in frustrating performance

The Cowboys might have made a game of it if they weren’t so undisciplined, especially in the first half. Dallas is the most penalized team in the league and it didn’t take long for their reputation to emerge in the action.

In the first 30 minutes, the Cowboys had three penalties that led to three Bills touchdowns. Without those infractions, perhaps the team could’ve kept the game close and not allowed it to spiral out of control.

On their first defensive series, the Cowboys were about to hold the Bills to a field goal after an incompletion on third down, but a questionable roughing the passer penalty on defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence gave their offense a new set of downs. Running back Latavius Murray powered his way in for a touchdown two plays later to give the Bills a 7-0 lead.

The next crushing penalty came on a Buffalo punt where defensive end Sam Williams roughed the punter on a 4th-and-8, putting the defense back on the field. Williams should’ve blocked the kick, a play which could’ve turned the tide, but somehow missed as he jumped instead of just reaching out, and it resulted in the penalty. The drive would continue and resulted in an Allen to Cook touchdown.

After the Cowboys got a positive offensive possession together and scored three points to settle the game, the next big penalty came courtesy of safety Jayron Kearse. On a second-and-19, an Allen pass sailed over his receiver’s hands, but Kearse delivered a hit that was deemed unnecessary. Instead of third-and-19, the Bills had a first down and scored a touchdown to go up 21-3.

Three big penalties that led to three touchdowns. It’s tough to overcome those types of mistakes and keeping the defense on the field wore them out.

There was also a holding call on left guard Tyler Smith that negated a big first down run for running back Tony Pollard, halted a positive drive and pushed the team out of field goal range.

The outcome might have been different had the Cowboys not been so undisciplined. This game will be remembered as a blowout, but it could’ve been closer if McCarthy’s team didn’t commit penalties at the worst times.