Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said his offense veered away from its game plan during Sunday night’s 23-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, pointing to a lopsided pass-run split as the central issue. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw the ball 54 times in the loss, a number Schottenheimer said never matched his original approach for the matchup.
The Cowboys offense needs more balance going forward, according to Schottenheimer, who called the heavy reliance on the pass against Green Bay a poor fit for the Packers’ defensive strengths. Dallas fell to 23-13 on the scoreboard while its defense showed signs of improvement even as the offense stalled.
Schottenheimer’s Assessment Of The Loss
Schottenheimer did not hide his frustration with how the game script unfolded. “I didn’t plan on coming to this game and throw it 54 times,” Schottenheimer said. “That wasn’t the plan.
That’s not a good recipe against this defense that’s been down against the run and pretty good against the pass. So, that wasn’t a good recipe for us. But that’s the way the game turned out.”
The comment makes clear that the pass-heavy approach was not by design. Schottenheimer framed it as a departure from what he intended to do against Green Bay specifically, not a broader philosophical shift for his offense.
What It Means For Cowboys Offensive Balance
Schottenheimer’s point carries weight given Green Bay’s defensive profile entering the game. The Packers’ run defense ranked near the bottom of the league in run-stop metrics and the team was dealing with injuries at defensive tackle and linebacker, conditions that typically favor a run-heavy script rather than 54 dropbacks.
Dallas has shown it can establish balance when it commits to the ground game with running back Javonte Williams. The fact that the offense drifted so far from that identity against a vulnerable run defense is the detail Schottenheimer zeroed in on after the game.
Personnel And Scheme Context
Before the loss, personnel adjustments were expected to help Dallas establish a more balanced offensive approach. The Cowboys had planned to potentially increase snap counts for physical offensive players capable of handling edge rushers and linebackers, a move aimed at supporting more consistent rushing opportunities.
Those plans had not yet translated into sustained balance by kickoff against Green Bay. The 54-pass total stands in contrast to the stated goal of leaning more on the run with those personnel groupings in place.
Team Impact
The offensive letdown came even as Dallas’ defense showed signs of progress during the same game, according to the Houston Chronicle. That split performance, a struggling offense alongside a defense trending upward, adds context to why Schottenheimer singled out the passing volume rather than broader unit-wide issues.
The Cowboys have also been retooling their coaching staff on defense, adding Mike Pettine in recent weeks to help address struggles on that side of the ball. Schottenheimer has separately addressed team meetings as Dallas works through a difficult stretch.
What’s Next
No details have emerged yet on specific play-calling adjustments Schottenheimer plans to make to restore balance. Dallas will look to apply the lesson from the Green Bay loss in its next matchup, with the ground game and Williams’ workload likely to be a point of focus heading into preparation. For more on the lead-up to this game, see the Cowboys-Packers preview covering the matchup beforehand.
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