Dallas Cowboys' 2013 Preseason in Review

Hall of Fame Game vs. Miami (August 4th): The Cowboys faced the Dolphins during Hall of Fame Weekend in Canton, Ohio in a warm up match-up for the backups of America's Team. Because the team was scheduled to play an extra preseason game, the coaching staff made the wise decision not to play many of the team's starters.  Cowboys' fans were introduced to the team's new additions, including an internet sensation (Alex Tanney) who has a bright future as an NFL quarterback.  Taylor Reed's game-high nine tackles led the charge for a superb Cowboys' defense that forced two turnovers, Nick Hayden's fumble recovery on the Dolphins' first offensive play and DeVonte Holloman's 75 yard pick-six in the second quarter.  The Cowboys were also productive on the ground with 170 rushing yards and two touchdowns.  As impressive as the Cowboys' 24-20 victory was, it was not a perfect outing because the Dolphins nearly stole the game after the defense, made up predominately of reserves, gave up 421 yards in the game.

Team Grade: B

Week 1 at Oakland (August 9th): The Cowboys headed to Oakland with a full roster for this preseason match-up against the Raiders.  It was a back-and-forth duel, but the Cowboys didn't convert when opportunities arose.  The team took the early lead and led 10-6 at halftime, but turnovers and missed opportunities cost the team a victory in the second preseason game.  The numerous occurrences included a blocked field goal attempt and an interception in two of the team's first four drives, as well as a costly muffed punt late in the game.  It was known early that it wasn't the Cowboys' night in the "Black Hole", but the quarterbacks shined for the Cowboys and were players who stepped up in the game.  Kyle Orton, who struggled mightily in the Hall of Fame Game, was the game's standout with all six of his passes complete for 52 yards and a touchdown. Tony Romo started the game and finished 6/8 for 88 yards, while backup Nick Stephens went 7/12 for 78 yards.  The defense forced its third and fourth turnovers of the preseason, but the Cowboys fell short 19-17 after struggling in the second half.

Team Grade: B-

Week 2 at Arizona (August 17th): It was a disaster from the beginning for the Dallas Cowboys. The team had five turnovers in the first half, beginning with Dwayne Harris' fumble on the game's opening punt return.  Romo's first-team offense was held scoreless on three possessions with back-to-back drives ending in fumbles by Lance Dunbar and Dez Bryant. The Cowboys' offense finally found its feet with Alex Tanney stepping up in the second half.  He completed his first 11 pass attempts and threw a touchdown pass early in the 4th quarter.  Even with Tanney's precision, the Cowboys were still prone to turnovers.  The team's comeback attempt was stalled with Tanney's late interception.  The defense, on the other hand, allowed only 12 points in the game and forced a turnover in the first half.

Team Grade: D+

Week 3 vs. Cincinnati (August 24th): The Cowboys' starters came out firing with their curtain call performance after the debacle that was the previous week's loss.  It was the team's first home game at the newly-renamed AT&T Stadium (previously Cowboys Stadium) and it was an impressive performance across the board.  The quarterbacks for America's Team thrived with Romo's best performance of the preseason (13/18 for 137 yards and two touchdown passes), as well as Orton's second game of the preseason without an incompletion (4/4 for 44 yards and a touchdown).  Running backs Joseph Randle and DeMarco Murray were explosive and combined for 117 rushing yards, Dez Bryant was the game's leading receiver with six receptions, and the defense forced four turnovers.  It was a back-and-forth duel between the Bengals and Cowboys, but the Cowboys finally played two complete halves of football and hung on for a 24-18 victory.

Team Grade: A

Week 4 vs. Houston (August 29th): Many of the starters were benched in the final preseason game with reserves competing for the final roster spots with the 53 man limit approaching on Saturday.  The Battle of the Lone Star State returned between the Cowboys and Texans after a three year absence, but Dallas struggled extensively throughout the game, scoring only two field goals.  Besides the team's opening drive, quarterback Alex Tanney was under center for the Cowboys, but was unable to produce long drives or set up scoring opportunities.  The defense also allowed its most yards of the preseason, 427 yards, in the 24-6 home loss.  The team's few bright spots in the preseason finale included Joseph Randle, Tim Benford and Dan Bailey.  Randle finished with 47 rushing yards and 17 receiving yards, Benford totaled 4 receptions for 60 yards, and Bailey was the only Cowboy to score with his two field goals.  With the loss, the Governor's Trophy was returned to the Texans for the first time in three years.

Team Grade: D-

Final Preseason Record: 2-3

Week 1 Match-up: Sunday September 8th vs. NY Giants at 7:30pm