Slow starts. It is the recurring nightmare that keeps Jerry Jones up at night and sends AT&T Stadium into a collective, hushed panic by 4:30 PM on Sundays. If you’ve spent any time watching the Dallas Cowboys lately, you know the feeling. The national anthem fades, the pyrotechnics settle, and then—bam—the Cowboys are down 10-0 before CeeDee Lamb even gets a target. It’s frustrating. It's predictable. Honestly, the cowboys first quarter score has become a more reliable indicator of their postseason success than any advanced metric or PFF grade you'll find on the internet.
Why does it happen? Is it a script issue? Is Mike McCarthy getting out-coached in the opening sequence, or are the players just not "on" until their backs are against the wall? When we look at the 2024 season specifically—a year defined by defensive lapses and a run game that often felt stuck in neutral—the first-quarter numbers tell a story of a team constantly playing catch-up. This isn't just about bad luck. It is about a fundamental failure to set the tone in the opening 15 minutes.
The Brutal Reality of the Cowboys First Quarter Score
Let’s get real about the numbers for a second. In the 2024 season, the Dallas Cowboys were frequently outscored in the opening frame, particularly in high-stakes matchups against NFC rivals. Look at the game against the Detroit Lions. By the time the first quarter ended, the vibe in Arlington was already toxic. It wasn't just that they were losing; it was how they were losing. They looked sluggish. The defense couldn't get off the field on third down, and Dak Prescott was forced into "hero ball" mode by the start of the second period.
Statistics from Pro Football Reference show a glaring disparity. When the Cowboys lead at the end of the first, their win percentage skyrockets. When they trail? They become one-dimensional. The running game, which was already a question mark with a rotating door of backs, gets abandoned. You can't run the ball when you're down two scores and the clock is your enemy. This creates a feedback loop where the cowboys first quarter score dictates a panicked offensive strategy for the remaining 45 minutes.
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It’s a trend that stretches back. Remember the playoff debacle against the Green Bay Packers in January 2024? That was the blueprint for disaster. A 7-0 deficit quickly ballooned. Jordan Love looked like a seasoned vet while the Cowboys’ defense looked like they were running a prevent scheme in the first five minutes. By the time the first quarter score was finalized, the game felt over. That’s the danger of a "America's Team" falling behind early; the pressure doesn't just double, it quadruples.
Scripting vs. Reality: Where McCarthy’s Plan Fails
Coaches usually script the first 15 to 20 plays of a game. It’s meant to be the "perfect" version of their offense, designed to exploit specific weaknesses found in film study. So, if the script is so carefully curated, why is the cowboys first quarter score so often lopsided in favor of the opponent?
- Defensive Identity Crisis: Under Mike Zimmer, the defense shifted from Dan Quinn’s high-variance, turnover-dependent style to something more traditional. The transition was rocky. Early in games, teams targeted the middle of the field, knowing Dallas was still figuring out their gap assignments.
- Predictable Play-Calling: Opposing defensive coordinators seem to know exactly when a screen is coming on 3rd and long.
- Execution Errors: Penalties. Oh, the penalties. Nothing kills a first-quarter drive like a holding call on a 12-yard gain.
Basically, the Cowboys often beat themselves before the opponent even gets a chance to. It’s a discipline issue as much as a talent issue. When you look at the elite teams—the 49ers, the Chiefs, even the revamped Lions—they come out with a surgical precision that Dallas often lacks.
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Does the Turf Matter?
There’s a weird theory among some fans that the afternoon sun glinting through the windows at AT&T Stadium affects the opening drives. While it makes for a great Twitter meme when a receiver drops a ball in the "sun zone," the reality is more mundane. It's about preparation. It's about the intensity of the warm-ups. Micah Parsons has mentioned in various interviews and on his podcast that the team needs to "bring the energy" from the jump, but saying it and doing it are two different things.
Comparison: Cowboys vs. The Rest of the NFC East
To understand how bad the cowboys first quarter score problem is, you have to look at their neighbors. The Philadelphia Eagles, despite their own inconsistencies, often find ways to grind out early points through the "Tush Push" or explosive plays to A.J. Brown. The Washington Commanders, under Jayden Daniels, became one of the most explosive first-quarter teams in the league in 2024.
Dallas, by comparison, often looks like they are "feeling out" the game. You can't do that in the modern NFL. You have to punch first.
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Why the Comebacks Are a Trap
Dak Prescott is the king of the "garbage time" stat—even if that's an unfair label. He has led incredible fourth-quarter charges that make the final score look close. But those comebacks are only necessary because the cowboys first quarter score was a disaster. If you're down 14-0, throwing for 400 yards and three touchdowns in the second half just isn't enough most of the time. It’s a "too little, too late" scenario that masks the deeper systemic issues of the team's preparation.
Actionable Insights: How to Evaluate the Next Game
If you are betting on the Cowboys or just trying to manage your heart rate as a fan, there are specific things to watch in the first five minutes that will tell you what the final cowboys first quarter score will look like.
- Watch the first 3rd down: If Dallas is facing a 3rd and 8+ on their first drive, they are likely going three-and-out. Their "long" playbook is too predictable.
- Check the Pressure: Is Micah Parsons getting near the QB on the first defensive series? If he’s being neutralized by a double-team and the secondary is playing 10 yards off, expect a long day.
- The Run-Pass Balance: If the Cowboys throw on the first three plays, McCarthy has already lost faith in the offensive line’s ability to set a physical tone.
Moving forward, the focus for the Dallas coaching staff has to be on "winning the toss and winning the drive." They need to stop deferring. Take the ball. Get a field goal. Do something to ensure the cowboys first quarter score isn't a zero. Breaking the "slow start" stigma is the only way this roster ever makes a deep run in January.
For fans, the best move is to track the "First Drive Success" metric rather than just the score. A 10-play drive that ends in a missed field goal is a failure on the scoreboard, but it's a sign that the script is actually working. On the flip side, a lucky 70-yard touchdown on a busted coverage might hide the fact that the offense is actually struggling. Look for the process, not just the points, and you'll have a much better idea of whether the Cowboys are actually "back" or just lucky.
Stop checking the score at halftime. The game is usually decided in the first twelve minutes. If you want to know how the season ends, just look at how it begins. Every single Sunday. It’s a pattern, a habit, and until it’s broken, the ceiling for this team remains firmly capped.