Inconsistent Cowboys don't make much of a case for a quick fix at the trade deadline

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — A trip to Denver figured to determine how aggressive the Dallas Cowboys would be before next week's trade deadline for a team that was possibly closer to contention than expected after unloading star pass rusher Micah Parsons a week before the season.

A dismal day on offense and defense in a 44-24 loss to the Broncos showed that the immediate reactions to the Parsons trade were the most accurate.

“I don’t know what’s realistic,” puzzled owner and general manager Jerry Jones said after the game. “Could one better player — if we didn’t pay too big a price to have a better player on defense to possibly help? I’m not trying to be cute, but that’s why you’d go get him because you think that you could go help your defense.

“Are we one player away on defense? I think we’re not,” Jones said. “I think we’re more than that away, but what we’re closer to than it looks, in my mind, is executing better on defense.”

The focus has been on the defense because the Cowboys (3-4-1) have given up at least 37 points three times and just allowed at least seven plays of 20 yards or longer for the second time.

The NFL's worst defense didn't get much help from what had been the No. 1 offense, with Dak Prescott ending a four-game streak without an interception and watching most of the fourth quarter from the bench because the game was so out of hand.

Dallas is 0-3 this season when it has a chance to get above .500, and is now looking at consecutive Monday night games against teams currently 2-5. Arizona visits next week, and the Cowboys go to Las Vegas on Nov. 17, after their bye.

“Right now, our identity is up-and-down, and that’s not anything I’m proud of,” Prescott said. “Nobody in that locker room should be proud, on any side of the ball, or coaches. Our identity right now is inconsistent, and that’s unacceptable. We’ve got to find a way to be consistent, whether it’s at home or on the road, regardless.”

WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens continue to thrive in their new pairing. Both had seven catches for more than 70 yards and had plenty of do with scoring drives that had Dallas within 27-17 midway through the third quarter.

Injured or not, the Dallas defense simply hasn't been good most of the season. But injuries are an issue for the Cowboys in the secondary.

Both starting safeties are out, Malik Hooker with a toe injury that has sidelined him a month and Donovan Wilson with elbow and shoulder issues that finally forced him to miss a game. Backup Juanyeh Thomas has missed two games dealing with migraines, and undrafted rookie Alijah Clark was knocked out of the Broncos game with a rib injury.

Star cornerback Trevon Diggs has missed two games after sustaining a concussion in an accident at home, and will miss at least three more after going on injured reserve. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said the IR decision was made in part because Diggs is still dealing with troublesome knees. He spent the past two offseasons rehabbing separate major knee injuries.

RB Javonte Williams was limited to 41 yards on 13 carries against his former team, in part because the Cowboys were down 14-3 before the first quarter was over. But he did have two touchdowns rushing to give him eight, third in the NFL behind Jonathan Taylor of Indianapolis (12) and Green Bay's Josh Jacobs (nine).

Pre-snap discipline was a huge problem against the Broncos. The Cowboys had six pre-snap penalties in the first half. One was defensive end James Houston lining up offside when Dallas got a third down stop on Denver's second possession after intercepting Bo Nix to start the game. Next thing they knew, the Cowboys had given up four plays of at least 20 yards in the first quarter, two for touchdowns.

Center Cooper Beebe was close to returning against Denver, but instead missed his sixth consecutive game with a foot injury. This week will be the third time Beebe is eligible to return from injured reserve. ... LB Jack Sanborn was added to the injury report Sunday and missed the Denver game with a groin injury. He was out two weeks earlier with a concussion. ... LB DeMarvion Overshown and rookie CB Shavon Revel are in their 21-day practice windows to return from IR but aren't likely to play before the Nov. 2 bye. Both are rehabbing torn knee ligaments from last season. Revel's injury came at East Carolina.

8 — The Cowboys lost to Denver for the eighth consecutive time. That is tied for the longest losing streak against an opponent in franchise history. Dallas lost eight in a row to NFC East rival Philadelphia from 1987-91.

Dallas has never played consecutive Monday night games. Each of the other two times the Cowboys had Monday games scheduled this close to each other, there was a Sunday game in between.

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