INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts' best big-play threat sat on the sideline in street clothes Sunday afternoon helplessly watching because of a hamstring in injury.

To say the Colts missed receiver T.Y. Hilton would be an understatement, because nobody else was able to provide a big-play element to the passing game against the Dallas Cowboys. Quarterback Andrew Luck had career lows in passing yards (109) and quarterback rating (41.7) in the Colts’ 42-7 loss.

"As receivers, we know that we have to step up when called upon," receiver Hakeem Nicks said. "That’s what we do. We can’t control what’s being called. We just have to execute it as players. That what our main focus was going into this game, executing the plays ... (Hilton’s) definitely missed because he’s a playmaker week in and week out."

Luck only completed three passes for more than 10 yards. The first completion didn’t occur until the middle of the second quarter. The Colts’ longest pass play was a 22-yard gain by Daniel "Boom" Herron, who did most of the work after catching the short pass. That is a drastic fall-off for Luck, who went into Sunday’s game with a NFL-high 70 completions of at least 20 yards this season.

The Colts are an easy team to defend when they don't have Hilton or a running game, which accounted for a whopping one yard on the ground.

It should be noted that the poor passing game can’t be put directly on Luck’s shoulders.

The Colts increased their season total of dropped passes to 34 after dropping four more, including two by tight end Dwayne Allen. Their first big play -- a 24-yard completion to tight end Coby Fleener -- was called back because of a holding penalty on Xavier Nixon.

"Cut out the mistakes. Don't shoot ourselves in the foot," Reggie Wayne said. "That's what happened. We'd have a big play and there would be a penalty. We had big play opportunities and just didn't capitalize. We didn't stop the bleeding. They got rough in the beginning and we couldn't find a way to get it going."