Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer looks to the video board during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Cowboys identified a laundry’s list worth of solutions to their problems over the course of the 10-day break. They brought in a new defensive assistant in former head coach Mike Pettine to help their struggling defense. They made personnel changes, including the addition of rookie pass rusher Malachi Lawrence to the starting lineup. They also identified a less-tangible need.
They needed more swag, according to defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. They needed more energy, said rookie defensive back Caleb Downs.
Instead of energy, they found silence waiting for them at the end of Sunday’s 23-13 loss to the Packers. Instead of swagger, they were stunned as they sat with the reality of being 2-4 after their second-straight loss.
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“We’re definitely surprised,” Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland said. “That’s not something we thought coming in.”
Sunday’s loss was a reminder that energy, ultimately, can’t be manufactured. At least not genuinely. It’s hard to force a smile when things aren’t going well, and it’s hard to be positive when the on-field execution is lacking like it did in Green Bay. The Cowboys knew this.
“A big part of it is making plays,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Friday, “and a big part of it is celebrating the brotherhood and when you make those plays celebrating that. But I think talking to the players, you guys can see and hear the urgency: they want to do their job at a high level.”
It was evident before the game when quarterback Dak Prescott gathered the entire team for a traditional pre-game speech. He’s let others take the reins on speaking this season, including second-year right guard Tyler Booker and even wide receiver Ryan Flournoy last game. Not this time. Prescott looked fired up as he moved from player to player, pointing at each of them before breaking them down. What was said wasn’t immediately disclosed. The energy, however, was there.
Then the game started. The Cowboys confidently went against the grain and decided they wanted the ball first when they won the toss. There was an argument for it. The Cowboys entered Sunday’s game trailing an average of over 38 minutes per game. There’s ripple effects to always playing from behind, including a diminished running game. The Cowboys wanted to start fast. Instead, they punted. The Packers went down and scored on the next drive. They didn’t trail for the remaining 49 minutes and 43 seconds of the game.
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The Cowboys ran the ball just one time in the fourth quarter as they tried to come back from a two-score deficit.
“It’s extremely frustrating,” Cowboys left guard Tyler Smith said of not scoring on the opening drive. “That’s why I talked about opportunities. You have to take advantage of those opportunities when they come.”
With the Packers ahead all night, there weren’t many chances for energy or swagger. Perhaps the best chance came when the Cowboys appeared to have their second interception of the game. Originally, Bland’s attempt at a sideline interception was ruled incomplete. Then, replay assist ruled that it was an interception, sending the Cowboys defense pouring from the sideline toward the end zone to celebrate their much-needed turnover in a 13-point game early in the fourth quarter. Then, it was announced that an extended review ruled that Bland’s interception was actually an incompletion all along.
Even the most energized moment of the game for the Cowboys wasn’t real.
The Cowboys did score a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to make it a 10-point game, but any hopes of a comeback were eliminated by a failed 2-point conversion and an ensuing onside kick that went out of bounds.
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The Cowboys then trudged one-by-one into the visiting locker room at Lambeau Field. Not a single word was muttered. It wasn’t much different in the locker room, either. At one point, the only sound was one assistant reading the name of a play call to another assistant who typed it into his computer for record keeping. Prescott sat at his locker for more than a moment, staring into the distance as back-to-back losses settled in.
Last week, Prescott agreed that the up-and-down, win-then-lose nature of their recent history was frustrating. That has to be better than two-straight losses like they’ve had, however.
“It’s not necessarily that easy to flush,” Prescott said. “It should make you hungry to get back to work and that’s the most important part of it. Whether you can flush it or not, maybe we shouldn’t flush it. Maybe we should bring this into each and every day. Maybe we should bring the last two weeks into each and every day of our preparation to intensify our focus and everything that we’re trying to accomplish.”
And if they want to create energy or swagger, there’s only one way it can be done.
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“You have to get that first win,” Prescott said. “That’s actually what me and [Williams] were just talking about. You get the first win, you get the confidence going. We know the guys that we have and you get a streak going.”
Dallas Cowboys fans Isaiah Leiva of Sheboygan, Wisconsin (left) and his friends Orlando Sosa (center) and Green Bay Packers fan Peter Yang throw back a poured shot ski during a tailgate party outside Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026. The synchronized shot is from shot glasses glued to a retired snow ski.
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Green Packers fans visit during a backyard party next to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026. The Packers are getting ready to face the Dallas Cowboys.
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Dallas Cowboys fans hang out with Green Packers fans during a tailgate party outside Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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The Packer Tailgate Band performs ‘”Beer Barrel Polka’ during a tailgate party outside Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (left) pulls head coach Brian Schottenheimer close to visit with him during pregame warmups before facing the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker hugs wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) during pregame warmups before facing the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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New Dallas Cowboys senior defensive assistant Mike Pettine watches his squad during pregame warmups before facing the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Kavontae Turpin (9) limps to the sideline after injuring himself on the opening kickoff against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (0) leaps into the stands after scoring a first quarter touchdown against Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker (24) at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) rolls out looking for a receiver during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Green Bay Packers cornerback Brandon Cisse (2) attempts to intercept a pass in the end zone intended for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Green Bay Packers cornerback Brandon Cisse (2) attempts to intercept a pass in the end zone intended for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Green Bay Packers safety Evan Williams (33) celebrates his interception of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during the second quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026. Joining him was cornerback Keisean Nixon (25)
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy (19) is tackled by Green Bay Packers cornerback Brandon Cisse (2) following a during a irst quarter pass completion at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dee Winters (53) celebrates his first quarter interception with teammates at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026. After official video review, the score was called back because he was ruled down by contact. Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw the interception.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) hands the ball off to running back Javonte Williams (33) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) drops a second quarter touchdown pass against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Ameer Speed (23) at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker (24) tackles Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) following a second quarter pass completion at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (13) and safety Markquese Bell (14) bring down Green Bay Packers wide receiver Savion Williams (83) after a first half completion at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (25) makes a diving tackle of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Savion Williams (83) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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On fourth down, Green Bay Packers safety Javon Bullard (7) nearly intercepts a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Kenny Clark (97) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) during the third quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is thrown to the ground by Green Bay Packers defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (51) after releasing a fourth quarter pass at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford (89) leaps over Green Bay Packers linebacker Ty’ron Hopper (59) following a third quarter pass completion at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams (33) holds up his jersey number for the Sunday Night Football camera after he scored a third quarter touchdown against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) sits on a case at the end of the bench during the second half of their game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) makes a second half catch in front of head coach Brian Schottenheimer at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026. Green Bay Packers cornerback Kamal Hadden (36) was covering on the play.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) escapes the grasp of Green Bay Packers defensive end Barryn Sorrell (99) during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer confers with referee Craig Wrolstad (center) as Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott walks away following a second half foul during the Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) hands off to running back Marshawn Lloyd (32) during the second half at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Green Bay Packers place kicker Trey Smack (28) kicks a second half field goal against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) escapes the sack attempt by Green Bay Packers defensive end Brenton Cox Jr. (57) during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys running back Tyler Goodson (32) lets a potential touchdown catch slip through his hands as he’s covered by Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine (24) and linebacker Isaiah McDuffie (58) In the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) fails to make a catch as Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine (24) stepped in front of the pass during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) looks to the video replay after the team failed to convert a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Lt Overton (99) leans over in a chair as he and his defensive teammates watch the Green Bay Packers run out the clock during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and his lineman walk off the field after failing to convert on 4th and 11 during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) runs up the tunnel following their loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer walks off the field following their loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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A Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers fan watch as the final minutes tick off the clock during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 18, 2026.
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