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What we learned: They lead the league in plays in which two defensive players stare at each other in confusion after a big completion. There's no shame in getting lit up by Russell Wilson, given how he and the Seahawks are playing right now. But the Cowboys made it too easy at times. League-wide, there were 11 instances of a passing touchdown when the defense didn't have a single player within 5 yards of a receiver. The Cowboys were the only team that was victimized by two such plays (both were Tyler Lockett touchdowns). It's reasonable to expect young players like cornerback Trevon Diggs to improve with additional reps, but through three weeks the Cowboys rank 26th in EPA per snap against the pass.

They are 1-2 and could easily be 0-3. The offense is fun to watch, but that defense is woeful.

You'd be wise to consider yourself a marked man, Trysten Hill. Pathetic behavior in a game that's inherently dangerous enough.

What we got wrong: The defense would be better.

The defense is a mess. The Cowboys aren't the only team that has a new defense without the benefit of an offseason program, full training camp and preseason. That said, the Cowboys have allowed 97 points in three games, the most to open a season in franchise history. They have allowed 77 points the past two games. There have been injuries (Gerald McCoy, Leighton Vander Esch, Chidobe Awuzie, Sean Lee, Anthony Brown), but they are allowing far too many big plays. They have faced good (Jared Goff) to very good (Matt Ryan) to excellent (Russell Wilson) quarterbacks in the first three weeks. But it just can't be this bad. -- Todd Archer

Give them credit for the fight. The Cowboys could have packed it in when they went down two scores in the second half to the Seahawks, but Dak Prescott and Cedrick Wilson -- yes, really -- kept Dallas in the game and even put them ahead ... before Russell Wilson went and ruined it all with his unimpeachable 2020 greatness. Prescott's final throw (a forced pass into coverage for a game-deciding interception) was regrettable, but he was otherwise stellar again in another 400-yard passing day. The defense continues to be a major concern, however. Wilson lit up the secondary for five TDs, and it would have been six if not for a boneheaded play for the ages by DK Metcalf. Mike McCarthy's defense just needs to be respectable for Dallas to be successful. It hasn't been so far.