Talk about a letdown, while many predicted the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl this season, currently at 1-3 are the Dallas Cowboys finished for the season already? How safe is Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett? What exactly are the problems with the Cowboys?

In the history of the Super Bowl, no team from a host city has ever participated in that Super Bowl receiving the ultimate home field advantage for a game which is supposed to be played at a neutral site. Heading into this season, many sports pundits picked the Dallas Cowboys to do just that this season, and while they still might turn things around, the Dallas Cowboys are in disarray right now.

Dallas came into the 2010 season loaded with weapons on both sides of the ball. This was supposed to be the season that Tony Romo took his game to the next level. WR Miles Austin was rewarded with a new contract at the start of the season. Dallas drafted rookie WR Dez Bryant. RB Felix Jones was rumored to be more involved in the Cowboys offense. This was going to be an offensive juggernaut of a team. Oh, if they only played the game on paper.

Cowboy’s head coach Wade Phillips was rumored to be on the hot seat heading into week three with the Cowboys already 0-2. Phillips received a temporary reprieve when Dallas beat their instate rival, the Houston Texans. The Cowboys were headed into a bye week and things appeared to be turning around, after all, the Cowboys simply don’t lose their games coming out of a bye week. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to the stadium on Sunday, Dallas found yet another way to lose against the Tennessee Titans.

Penalties are killing the Dallas Cowboys this season. After four games, the Cowboys have 38. This past Sunday, the Cowboys were flagged 12 times for the second time this season. A penalty called for excessive celebration late in the game, gave the Titans good field position for the ensuing  kick off and then another special teams breakdown allowed a long return. Another penalty gave the Titans the ball inside the 10 yard line and Chris Johnson went on to score the game winning touchdown.

The Cowboys defense, which is ranked fourth overall in the league is simply not creating turnovers. After four games Dallas has only two interceptions and three forced fumbles. Championship teams need opportunistic defenses which get the ball back for their offense on a short field. Case in point, the 2009 New Orleans Saints defense. Dallas’ defense is simply not creating turnovers that at this point in the season.

The Cowboys defense isn’t creating turnovers, but Dallas’ quarterback Tony Romo is creating plenty for opposing teams. Romo has thrown more interceptions than the Cowboys have created, five interceptions. Romo is the ultimate tease at quarterback. You think he is finally getting ready to take his game to the next level and then he creates some boneheaded turnover. (think the pitch to Tashard Choice at the end of the first half  in the Washington Redskins season opener). For several seasons, Cowboys fans have waited for Romo to mature into an elite quarterback. Is  it time to consider that he might never take that next step?

Dallas has a difficult schedule ahead and perhaps their biggest game of the year will be played this coming weekend against the Minnesota Vikings. Both teams are 1-3 and have to win this game in order to remain in the playoff race. After the Minnesota game, the Cowboys will host the New York Giants on a Monday night game.

With two wins the Cowboys can climb right back into the thick of the NFC East race. However, with two losses, they could fall into irrelevance.