GREEN BAY, Wis. -- At 2-4 following Sunday's 23-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves searching for answers everywhere.
Last week's decision to add Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant to help first-time coordinator Christian Parker did not seem to alter much. Neither did the players-only meeting.
But it's not just the defense. A talent-rich offense that is completely healthy and started the moniker "GOTI" -- Greatest Offense There Is -- in the offseason has hit a lull that has led to only 29 points scored in the past two games.
"We have a great process. We practice the right way. We're just not executing what we need to win games," quarterback Dak Prescott said. "The 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 and that's what ultimately sucks about it. But that's the NFL and we've got to figure out a way to get better and to get out of this rut or hole or whatever it is that we've been in these last two games."
Prescott was intercepted twice in a first half for the first time since Week 17 of the 2022 season against the New York Giants. The Cowboys were shut out in the first half for the first time since Week 9 of the 2021 season against the Denver Broncos. The 29 points in their past two games, including a 24-16 loss to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is the fewest in a two-game span of Prescott starts since Weeks 5-6 of the 2024 season.
Prescott averaged just 4.8 yards per attempt (34-of-54, 258 yards) with two interceptions. It was the first time he averaged fewer than 5 yards per attempt and had multiple interceptions since Week 3 of the 2018 season against the Seattle Seahawks.
The normally reliable connections with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were off. Prescott completed only 15 of 29 throws to the duo, and both of the turnovers were on throws to Lamb, who slipped on his route leading to the second pick.
"They know the guys that we have," Prescott said. "They know we want to take the top off of it and they're going to get back. Their method is stay the deepest, stay the furthest back, make us throw underneath and make tackles. And so we just got to catch and get some [yards after catch] and have the plays to make sure that we're attacking underneath and taking advantage of what they're showing and giving us."
Last week, offensive coordinator Klayton Adams said the Cowboys were still searching for their identity, despite returning every starter, including five that made the Pro Bowl in 2025: Prescott, Lamb, Pickens, guard Tyler Smith and tight end Jake Ferguson.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer puts the inconsistencies on the lack of a running game. The Cowboys ran for 48 yards on 15 carries. It was the fifth time in six games the Cowboys failed to reach 100 yards rushing.
"Because of the lack of a running game, we're a little bit one-sided and the best way to be on offense as a unit is to have balance," Schottenheimer said. "So we have to find balance. And again, there's a lot of reasons for that. There's missed blocks, there's bad calls, there's missed runs, there's different things. But at the end of the day, we know what we're capable of, but we have to go out and do it."
Prescott's protection was subpar even if he was sacked just once. In the first half, he took a hit to the ribs from Zaire Franklin on the pass before his first interception. In the second half he was pressured on 21 of 41 dropbacks.
Prescott said after the game he was just a little sore but would not need further testing on his ribs.
"We're in a hole, put ourselves there," Schottenheimer said. "There's one way out of it. That's what I told the guys, got to work, got to find solutions, can't repeat mistakes. And they understand that."
In the Super Bowl era, the Cowboys have not made the playoffs after starting a season 2-4.
The Cowboys' offense needs to find its form to end that trend.
"All of our focus is inward because ultimately what goes on in between these closed doors is what affects our ball," Smith said. "And I think just winning every week, just having the attitude to win every week is the most important thing. Obviously, this sucks. I don't think this is who we are, but what can we do to fix these mistakes? What is killing us? I think it's about just observing that and making the necessary corrections."