Sometimes the criticism sneaks through. Things said by fans and media carry a little more weight when a coach’s seat gets hot and difficulties begin to mount. Brian Schottenheimer, the Dallas Cowboys’ maligned second year head coach, was hearing the noise.

Criticism that he abandoned many of the wrinkles that made him so successful a season before, was met with circumstantial excuses. Run-pass balance, under-center quarterback play, play-action, and motion have all been conspicuously absent from Dallas’ playbook in 2026. According to Schottenheimer, it wasn’t a purposeful deviation but rather a biproduct of playing from behind.

Monday night’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles offered a great opportunity to play from ahead. The injury-riddled Eagles allowed the Cowboys to play with a lead or within a position throughout the game. Schottenheimer’s reasons for abandonment didn’t apply so a return to the wrinkles of 2026 seemed eminent.

While Dallas didn’t fully embrace their gameplay of old, they did reclaim their run-pass balance. With a 38-27 split in favor of the run, and with 204 yards on the ground, the Cowboys were the most balanced they’ve looked all year.

The Cowboys rushing success rate finished at 50 percent with a 48 percent success rate coming on early downs alone. Highlight touchdowns by CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will headline the events of the Cowboys’ 38-21 win over the Eagles, but it was the rediscovered running game that proved the most impactful. Blocking was phenomenal most of the night, with Javonte Williams finishing with 155 yards on the ground marking the first time he's clocked over 100 yards in roughly a year.

Motion at the snap was still curiously missing in Week 7. On first watch, Dallas appeared to use this at-the-snap motion eight times with success on five of those plays (one additional motion play was successful due to a pass interference call).

It’s not a complete return to 2025 but it’s a step in the right direction. More under-center play-action and more motion at-the-snap would do wonders for the offense, but gains are gains and Schottenheimer made a couple gains with his playcalling.

Clock management is another issue, and the defense remains a massive concern, but getting the running game back on track is the headline today.