For the first time in three months, the Cowboys walked out of a stadium with a loss, and both have come against the New York Giants. The Cowboys must figure out what has happened to their offense after a tough performance. (0:43)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- For those who believe the Dallas Cowboys needed to lose a game at some point down the stretch, you got your wish Sunday against the New York Giants.

You probably didn't want the Cowboys to lose their mojo on offense, though.

Let's take care of the big picture first: With the 10-7 loss, the Cowboys missed out on a chance to clinch the NFC East for the second time in three years. With the Seattle Seahawks losing earlier in the day to the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys also missed out on clinching a first-round bye.

Dak Prescott had the first multi-interception game of his career and was sacked three times against the Giants. Al Bello/Getty Images

Now let's talk about the offense. Could it be time for the 11-2 Cowboys to seriously consider reinserting Tony Romo to the lineup?

After converting just one of their nine third-down tries against the Minnesota Vikings in their last game, they were worse against the Giants. They converted on just one of 15 third-down attempts Sunday. Their chances ended when Dak Prescott's fourth-down pass to Dez Bryant hit the ground.

The Cowboys were in the game only because their defense was able to take the ball away three times and limit the Giants to just 10 points. But with no margin for error because of the poor offense, Odell Beckham Jr.'s 61-yard touchdown catch proved to be the difference.

Sure, Ezekiel Elliott went for 100 yards (107) against a defense that limited him to 51 yards on 20 carries in the season opener, but that was the only positive on offense.

Simply, Prescott had his worst game. He had his first multiple-interception game of his career. The first interception came after Bryant slipped to give Janoris Jenkins the takeaway. The second was a forced throw on third-and-long to Bryant that Leon Hall picked off late in the third quarter. He nearly had another pass picked off in the fourth quarter by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Prescott was sacked three times. He was inaccurate, completing just 17 of 37 passes for 165 yards. He was flustered. For the first time this season, he looked like a rookie. This time, he could not summon any magic.

Twice late in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys had a chance to tie the score or go ahead. They finally looked like they would convert a third down when Bryant had his first catch of the game. But Jenkins was able to poke the ball free and Landon Collins picked up the fumble. Then the fourth-down pass to Bryant fell incomplete.

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A game after posting season lows in points, yards and first downs against the Vikings, the Cowboys posted season lows in points (seven) and yards (260), and matched their season low in first downs (13).

The Cowboys will have a chance to clinch the division title next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They could also have another chance to earn a bye and home-field advantage.

But they better figure out what has happened to their offense and how to fix it, and that has to include the possibility of returning Romo to the lineup.