The Dallas Cowboys are facing a surprising downturn this season, with their offense faltering under Brian Schottenheimer. After a disappointing 24-16 loss to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5 and a 23-13 defeat against the Green Bay Packers in Week 6, the Cowboys now sit at 2-4, marking their worst start this decade.

In 2025, Schottenheimer's inaugural season as head coach saw the Cowboys' offense thrive, ranking seventh in scoring with 27.7 points per game. However, the current season has brought a stark contrast, with the offense scoring under 20 points in consecutive games for the first time since the Jason Garrett era.

Dak Prescott expressed frustration, stating, "I mean, defense to me played a good enough game for us to go out there and win this, and we just didn't hold our own on offense," according to The Dallas Morning News.

Key statistics highlight the offensive decline:

• First four games: 30.5 PPG, 8 TDs to 1 INT
• Last two games: 14.5 PPG, 2 TDs to 4 INTs

Despite having a top-10 quarterback and elite receiving talent in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, the offense has become stagnant. The Cowboys rank last in the NFL in motion rate and have significantly decreased their play-action and under-center rates compared to last season.

Schottenheimer's failure to utilize effective strategies has made the offense predictable, hampering Prescott's ability to execute against more complex defenses. As a result, Prescott has struggled, completing just over half of his passes in recent games.

Former Cowboy Dez Bryant criticized the lack of offensive aggression, suggesting that the team should utilize their top receivers more effectively. Until Schottenheimer reintegrates successful elements from last season, the Cowboys' talented roster will continue to underperform.