What happened: Following a loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Dallas Cowboys entered a three-game slate that appeared favorable on paper. Instead of building a winning streak against Houston, Tampa Bay and Green Bay, Dallas dropped two of those three matchups.

Why it matters: Failing to capitalize on a soft patch of the schedule leaves the Cowboys with a narrower margin in the conference race after falling at Green Bay to renew playoff drought concerns. Opponent records have mattered less than internal execution as the club works to fix recurring on-field mistakes.

What to watch: Dallas turns to its upcoming schedule stretch with the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaching as the front office weighs roster upgrades.