Tom Brady and Carson Wentz are currently the frontrunners in the NFL’s MVP race for the 2017 season, but Dallas Cowboys’ left tackle Tyron Smith might deserve some recognition, too.
Because of injuries to his back and groin, Smith was ruled out for Sunday’s contest against the Atlanta Falcons, which pushed backup left tackle Chaz Green into the starting lineup.
Granted, nobody expected Green to step in and deliver an All-Pro performance, but he wasn’t even serviceable against the defending NFC champions, watching Dak Prescott get battered on numerous occasions.
But despite the abuse Prescott kept taking, the Cowboys decided to keep Green in the game, not replacing him with Byron Bell until Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn had already racked up a career-high five sacks. The hits took a toll on Prescott, who noticeably took longer to get up after each hit.
The decision to keep Green in the game was not only odd, it was also hazardous. Prescott was sacked a total of eight times against Atlanta, as his normally dominant offensive line turned into a revolving a door. Before Prescott took the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he was only sacked seven times in the previous six games combined.
Of the eight sacks the Falcons recorded on Prescott, Green was responsible for 62.5% of them. Before Sunday, the Cowboys had never allowed a defender to tally five+ sacks on their quarterback before in franchise history.
“No excuses, I just have to get better.” Green said told reporters for The Dallas Morning News after the game. “…Think it was more me just not sticking to what I know. Overthinking some things and getting out of my technique. I think a lot of issues were self-inflicted. I just got to go from here.
“It hurts. I feel like this was on my shoulders and I let the team down.”
It remains unknown if Smith will be able to play against the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles, but if he isn’t, the Cowboys will be in serious trouble against one of the league’s better defensive fronts.
The Falcons were ranked 18th in sacks before their tilt with Dallas, and made life miserable for Prescott. The Eagles are ranked eighth.
Assuming Smith won’t be ready to go against Philadelphia, the Cowboys’ most sensible option would be to either start Bell at left tackle or sign a free agent. This wouldn’t be ideal, but neither is watching Prescott get destroyed in the backfield.
Texas Pro Football Access 