Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson has been a reception machine through the first six weeks, having at least three per game, but against the Denver Broncos in a 44-24 loss, something rather odd happened for the “big biscuit.”

Against the highly touted Denver defense, Ferguson didn’t have a single reception.

Yes, you read that right. Dak Prescott’s ultimate security blanket had nothing to bother the stat sheet with, and that just went with Dallas’ poor day.

But for a tight end who had 51 receptions and six touchdowns entering the game, surely the defense did something to take Ferguson away, right? Head coach Brian Schottenheimer detailed what that was.

“They play real wide, they’re a real wide contained defense,” Schottenheimer said. “They line up the wider than the widest. That’s how they call it in this defense. Van Joseph’s a hell of a coach, and they had a great plan. They play some of the boots and movements a little bit different than most people. But Fergie’s a big part of what we want to do, and sometimes the ball doesn’t find those guys.”

Cowboys’ offense self-destructs vs. Denver

Penalties killed the Cowboys’ offense against the Broncos, with a handful of pre-snap penalties crippling this high-octane offense.

And when things did get rolling, and the Cowboys did score, needing a stop from the defense, it wasn’t forthcoming as the unit gave up 44 points, in what was a horror day.

In total, nine penalties for 80 yards tells the story of a team that was on the road, giving Denver a helping hand in beating them, and considering how potent the Broncos’ defense is, that is nightmare fuel and makes it tough sledding.

There are a host of reasons for Dallas’ fourth loss of the year.

Poor offensive play, poor defensive play, the costly penalties, and poor coaching. Pick your favorite.