The Cowboys have emphasized relying on young talent this season, but they also need their veterans to elevate their performance.

This season, it’s evident that the Cowboys’ strategy was to heavily depend on young players and rookies to compensate for offseason losses. This approach has inherent risks, as it can be unrealistic to expect consistent performance from inexperienced players. However, for this plan to succeed, the Cowboys must receive improved performances from their star veterans.

The recent loss to the Detroit Lions was a disastrous outing for most players, aside from perhaps Brandon Aubrey and KaVontae Turpin. While disappointing, such performances might have been anticipated from younger players and backups against a strong Lions team. Nonetheless, several veterans turned in some of their worst performances ever, undermining any chances for a competitive game.

Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have shown much better play in the past than they did against the Lions. Although various factors affect offensive success, the burden ultimately rests on these two players. Prescott faced relentless pressure and, while typically effective under duress, struggled significantly, finishing with 17 completions on 33 attempts for 178 yards, two interceptions, and no touchdowns.

A key concern following the game is Prescott’s rapport with CeeDee Lamb. After missing all of training camp, Lamb’s earlier miscommunications may have been understandable, but after Week 6, those excuses no longer hold water.

On the offensive front, guard Zack Martin possibly had the worst game of his career on Sunday. The future Hall of Famer faced difficulties, yielding three pressures and a sack, which marked his second of the season; he had only allowed two sacks throughout 2023 and none in 2022. According to PFF, he earned a career-low grade of 28.3 with a pass-blocking score of 0.0. While Martin had back issues earlier in the week, this performance was highly atypical for him.

The defensive side faced significant injuries, necessitating backups at all levels. In such situations, the remaining starters must be dependable. Trevon Diggs was expected to be that reliable presence, but he had one of his worst outings. Tackling has been a persistent issue for Diggs, but he usually compensates with strong pass coverage. Against the Lions, both tackling and coverage were glaring weaknesses.

Diggs was targeted four times, allowing all completions for a total of 80 yards and a touchdown for the first time this season. Jameson Williams exploited Diggs, contributing 57 of those yards and scoring 37 on the touchdown. PFF noted that Diggs’ passer rating when targeted was a staggering 158.3, showcasing a performance uncharacteristic of the former All-Pro and NFL interception leader.

The Cowboys are heading into a bye week, which will be crucial for healing injured players and addressing numerous team issues. Unfortunately, their next opponent is the 49ers, a team that has long troubled the Cowboys. To have a chance at finally overcoming this hurdle, the team’s stars and veterans must rise to the occasion, meet their expectations, and aid the development of the younger players.