Following a 23-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys fell to a 2-4 record. The defeat marks the franchise’s worst six-game start since 2020, driven by offensive miscues and a struggling defense.
The Dallas Cowboys entered Week 6 looking to right the ship after a 10-day break, bringing a roster laden with high expectations and offensive talent to Lambeau Field. Instead, they left Green Bay stunned following a 23-13 defeat against the Green Bay Packers. The loss dropped Dallas to 2-4 on the season, cementing their worst record through the opening six games of a campaign since 2020.
Dak Prescott and the Offensive Struggle Against Green Bay
Unable to rely on a consistent running game or a reliable defense, the Cowboys have hinged their playoff hopes on quarterback Dak Prescott. For the first month of the season, that reliance paid off as Prescott threw eight touchdowns against just one interception across his first four outings. In the last two contests, however, the regression has been sharp, with Prescott managing only two touchdown passes while surrendering four interceptions.
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Against Green Bay, Prescott attempted 54 passes and completed 34. Late in the fourth quarter, he engineered a 13-play, 78-yard drive, escaping two tacklers to throw a touchdown pass on the run that pulled Dallas within 23-13 with 44 seconds remaining. Yet that late surge followed a critical missed opportunity just four minutes earlier when, needing 11 yards on fourth down, Prescott avoided a sack before throwing a pass out the back of the end zone away from any receiver.
Despite individual production from players like CeeDee Lamb, situational execution stalled drives in scoring territory.
Defensive Rebuilding and Mounting Injury Woes
The defensive turnaround envisioned under coordinator Christian Parker has yet to materialize. Since former coordinator Dan Quinn left for Washington in 2023, the unit has cycled through three coordinators in three years, ranking second-to-last in scoring defense in 2024 and dead last last season. Entering Week 6, Dallas allowed opponents to convert over 52% of third-down opportunities, the highest percentage in the league. To address these struggles, the franchise brought in retired defensive coach Mike Pettine last week to assist Parker.
Compounding the tactical struggles is a heavy wave of injuries. Jerry Jones revealed on Tuesday morning that Shavon Revel Jr. suffered a multiweek injury
classified as a hamstring strain
during a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro. That setback joined a depleted roster featuring multiple starters sidelined for extended periods, including Jalen Thompson, who is likely heading to injured reserve, and P.J. Locke, who is dealing with a torn plantar fascia in his foot.
To help offset the depth concerns, the Cowboys signed defensive back Alex Austin, who most recently played for the New England Patriots, and reunited with Juanyeh Thomas, who spent 2022 to 2025 in Dallas before a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts.
NFC East Standings and the Road Ahead
Despite the dismal 2-4 start and lingering self-inflicted wounds, Dallas remains within striking distance in the NFC East due to the collective struggles of its division rivals. The division-leading New York Giants sit at 3-2-1, the Philadelphia Eagles have fallen to 2-4 amid injuries, and the Washington Commanders stand at 1-3-1. Notably, all four teams in the division carry a negative scoring differential, making the NFC East the only division in the league with that distinction this season.
As the Cowboys head into their Week 7 bye, Brian Schottenheimer faces a team searching for discipline and consistency. As Schottenheimer noted, the group put itself in a hole, leaving a narrow margin for error as they attempt to chase their first playoff berth since 2023.