(Editor’s Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in ‘Mailbag’ presented by Miller Lite.)
Any reason for the consistently slow starts? The Cowboys have now been outscored 109-49 in the first quarter this season. In the other quarters combined they are outscoring opponents 332-277. Why is this such a problem? Is there a fix? – Paul Roberts/Oklahoma City, OK
Patrik: To be honest, yes, they can. They have on an occasion or two this season, but therein lies the rub: inconsistency. So, for me, the question is can they do it religiously, and to that I say … I have no clue. Their slow starts have indeed put them in the hole far more often than they should be, especially given how explosive the offense has shown it can be as the respective game wears on. But that also puts a serious strain on said offense, and it’s not a sustainable recipe for success. Now that they’re back home, they’ll need to find that switch and flip it on the first possession and do away with the self-inflicted wounds (one of the biggest reasons they’ve stalled early in games). Playing from behind also taxes a defense that’s trying to solidify itself with new pieces, so yeah, just be consistent in first quarters; or rather be consistent in finding the end zone and stop being consistent in not.