Dallas Cowboys Face Special Teams Challenges Ahead of Thursday Game

The Dallas Cowboys are preparing for a Thursday night game while facing significant challenges with their special teams, particularly in field goal protection. Over the past two weeks, the Cowboys have experienced two blocked field goals, a situation that has raised concerns among the coaching staff.

The first blocked kick occurred in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens, where a 59-yard attempt by Brandon Aubrey was thwarted, contributing to a narrow 34-31 loss. In Week 4, the Texans also blocked a field goal attempt by Aubrey, although the Cowboys managed to win that game 34-30 thanks to late-game efforts from Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.

Team owner Jerry Jones emphasized that the issue lies with the protection rather than the kicker, while Texans coach DeMeco Ryans noted that film study revealed weaknesses in the Cowboys' protection strategy. As the Cowboys head into their upcoming game against the Buccaneers, adjustments are expected to be made to the field goal team to address these vulnerabilities.