Dallas 20, Minnesota 16
KIRK COUSINS: Not a lot to say after a poor performance like that. We didn't stay on the field enough. Too many three-and-outs. We didn't score touchdowns in the red zone as often as we needed to. Didn't convert third downs. It was a combination of things.
I can open it up for any questions.
Q. You came out first drive so good, right down the field. How did things change so drastically after that?
KIRK COUSINS: Just a combination of factors. Not converting third downs to stay on the field, not being productive enough on first and second down, not finding ways to get explosive plays, yeah.
Q. I think it was your lowest average depth of target this season. Were the check-downs a product of pressure or game plan, something else?
KIRK COUSINS: I think it was a combination of coverage and pressure. I think it was a combination.
Q. How do you walk the line as a quarterback in terms of taking what is there for you, but also wanting to get some things down the field and maybe giving guys a chance every once in a while on a contested ball?
KIRK COUSINS: I think you trust your reads, you trust the way you play. You also understand the situation of the game you're in. You just kind of understand how you need to play.
Q. 1 for 13 on third down. You said coverage and pressure. Was that a particular issue on third down, there was a little bit more pressure?
KIRK COUSINS: There was no particular reason. Combination of factors to not get better on third down.
Q. Is there extra disappointment you're coming out of the bye, had a chance to self-scout, correct some of these things, it didn't happen?
KIRK COUSINS: It's very disappointing to be at home. We're only .500. We were .500. We needed a win. It's disappointing.
Q. I think there was a stretch in the second half of three straight three-and-outs. Does it feel like things are kind of compounding because you're not in any sort of rhythm?
KIRK COUSINS: Yeah, we've had too many three-and-outs. We have to correct that. Three in a row is just far too many. That's one area to improve in a major way moving forward.
Q. Before the half there was the scramble, then sort of the 20 seconds or so ran off the clock. In that situation is that your prerogative to call a timeout?
KIRK COUSINS: I just led Zimmy call the timeouts because I never know quite what the coaches want to do, what they're thinking, a play ahead, what it may be.
I was just going to let them handle that, call the next play if we're not getting it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports