DAL @ SF, this Sunday

Let's talk about that game here. How much of a chance is there that Dallas comes out of this game 3-1, vs 2-2? Apparently, a couple of days ago the odds makers had Dallas at +3. Which surprised me.

I can't get a good gauge on how good/bad SF really is at this point. They shut out the Rams 28-0, Lost to Carolina 46-27, and lost to Seattle 37-18.

Whereas Dallas lost to NYG 20-19, beat WAS 27-23, and beat CHI 31-17.

Uh oh...first quarter just ended. Dallas showing no signs of stopping SF.

This could turn into an @$$ kicking. Could get real ugly real fast.

Well, that's a bit better. Tied up at the half...

Well, I was certainly wrong...

24-17.

Cowboys 3-1. Anybody surprised at this point? I still don't think they're at a playoff level.

Overall, they're not playoff level. D Lawrence returning may tilt things in that direction a bit. More time for Dak could help too. I am glad to see other receivers enter the mix this past week at San Francisco, but this week also confirmed my suspicion that this WR unit is less than what this fan base wants to think of them. Maybe Butler clears up his thick skull, but he's had his chances, so I'm not holding onto hope. I have been very disappointed and have had to come to terms with acknowledging Butler is who he is, and admitting Terrence Williams hasn't grown much in his time here. Add in a Devin Street and its time for the Cowboys to reevaluate how they are approaching the WR position as an organization.

Although, I am not surprised at the results at this point. What we saw in preseason was enough to know Dak could manage the team and then some. Looking at the schedule, I even think it was reasonable to anticipate 4-0 and we would have been with a little more help form the receivers.

Of course, we get a real test this coming week against the Bengals. I am afraid they are going to exploit this defense and put real pressure from a real defense on this offense to score points. The Bengals will be the most talented team on both sides of the ball the Cowboys have faced so far.

I know they say football is a "game of attrition", but Dallas had a number of players out Sunday, too.

Butler did make a couple of good catches, though. Cole Beasley is more involved in the offense than he's been in a while, isn't he?

Zeke is leading the league (or close to it) in rushing, if you can believe it. Beasley is leading the team in catches and receiving yards.

Cole is one bright spot, but as a special utility player, he offers very little breadth to the other WR needs. He'll get lost on deeper routes most of the time. Plus, who can back him up? Dunbar, I suppose. I think he is great to have. Much of the time he is as reliable as they come. He's just a slot receiver and absolutely no more. I'd feel great about him if the other members of the unit were more reliable.

Butler has the physical attributes, for sure. Mental? I don't know. Dez was offering him an excellent tip on how to haul in that TD pass, and Butler wasn't receiving as well as a player in his position should. 

Williams made a NICE adjustment with his body to catch the perfect back-shoulder pass for the TD. That was the second-best (@SEA 2014) catch I've ever seen him make. Why have we not seen him consistently? 

I watched the Seattle and Jets game just before the Cowboys and 49ers game. The Seahawks can go four wide with a TE and each and every one of those receivers makes catches like that Williams TD every time. There are no stars...Lockett and Baldwin scare noone. No one there is a Dez. But, everyone is better than Williams and Butler.

Think back to a time when we had T.O./Roy Williams, and Miles Austin/Terry Glenn, rounded out by Sam Hurd/Patrick Crayton. At one point, they had so many decent receivers they passed on Danny Amendola! Right now, I'd prefer the talent we saw from all of those previous receivers (maybe not Hurd) over Williams and Butler.

I'd love it if they prove me wrong.