The Dallas Cowboys came into the 2024 season stacked. Even more, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the franchise was “all in.”
The anticipation and excitement were understandable. The front office was navigating a tricky salary cap situation to retain key offensive players. On defense, head coach Mike McCarthy tapped former NFC North rival Mike Zimmer to take over for Dan Quinn, who took the head job in Washington.
In September, it all looked to be coming together for Dallas. As November begins, though, you can’t help but feel as if it’s all coming apart. Here’s a closer look at where the Cowboys are, why the picture looks so bleak, and a possible path back to contention.
McCarthy Faces Must-Win Situation Vs. Eagles
It may only be Week 10, but Dallas may be facing the age-old “must win” scenario already.
Sitting with a 3-5 mark and in third place in the NFC East, the Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday. Philadelphia, a fierce division rival, sits three games ahead of Dallas, has won four in a row, and can essentially put Dallas’ season on life support with a win.
A loss for Dallas could conceivably tie them with the lowly New York Giants for last in the division and would certainly leave them with no margin for error over the season’s final eight games. Dallas is already 1-4 in conference games, and dropping to 1-5 would give them almost no chance to gain the upper hand in tie-breaking procedures that go beyond head-to-head wins.
As significant as this week’s game is for everyone in Dallas’ camp, there are some on the outside looking in who’ve already counted them out. Count the Fort Worth Star Telegram’s Nick Harris among those who fall in that camp.
This is over.
For anyone paying attention, it’s something we all could’ve predicted weeks ago.
The Dallas Cowboys are not making the playoffs.
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) November 6, 2024
A win over the red-hot Eagles on Sunday could change that tune, though.
It would end the losing streak, move Dallas to within two games of the rival Eagles with another head-to-head matchup on the schedule, and breathe some life into what feels like a listless group through the first eight games.
Injuries Take Their Toll on Cowboys
A key factor in Dallas’ reality falling short of its expectations has been a rash of injuries to key players.
For the balance of the season, it’s the defense that has faced the most adversity. In defensive ends DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons, Dallas has arguably the best pass-rushing tandem in the NFL — when they play. But neither has played since the team’s Week 4 win over the Giants.
Lawrence is on injured reserve with a foot injury. It appears he’s nowhere close to returning. Despite missing the mandatory four games on the reserve list, the team still hasn’t opened his 21-day practice window.
Parsons is working his way back from an ankle injury that has sidelined him for half of Dallas’ games. The good news is McCarthy told reporters this week he expects the star pass rusher to return to practice in preparation for the game against Philadelphia.
The Parsons-Lawrence tandem generated four sacks in the first month of this season before both went out with injuries. In 2023, the pair combined for 18 sacks — 14 for Parsons and four for Lawrence, who also had six passes defensed.
In addition to the two best pass rushers being out of action, Dallas has been without one of its best pass defenders all season. Starting right cornerback DaRon Bland, who had nine interceptions and five defensive touchdowns last season, has yet to suit up for Zimmer’s defense. Reports have surfaced he’s close to returning to practice.
Once healthy, Bland’s inclusion in the lineup will give Dallas a standout tandem at cornerback. The 25-year-old Bland pairs well with 2020 second-rounder Trevon Diggs, who has 19 interceptions, two Pro Bowls, and one first-team All-Pro nod in not even 3.5 seasons worth of games.
On offense, Dallas has also been without receiver Brandin Cooks since that Week 4 win over New York. Cooks was placed on IR with a knee injury, but his return could happen as soon as this week.
Cooks isn’t the only offensive weapon dealing with an injury. No. 1 receiver CeeDee Lamb hasn’t missed any games yet, but he’s now dealing with a shoulder injury that caused him to miss a few snaps last week.
The biggest injury on offense, though, is at quarterback. Dak Prescott, whom the club recently signed to a four-year, $240 million extension, has a hamstring injury and has been placed on IR. That means he’ll miss at least the next four games, which is awful timing for Dallas, given the precarious position they’re in among NFC East foes through eight games.
It will be backup Cooper Rush who takes snaps in Prescott’s stead.
Jerry Jones Made Free Agent and Trade Mistakes
Another major factor in the disappointing first half of the season in Dallas is roster mismanagement, specifically as it relates to decisions made in free agency.
Miscalculations on the personnel front have led to underperformance in the running game and has not allowed Dallas to overcome the injuries to key players. The most notable error in judgment to this degree was the decision to enter the season with Ezekiel Elliott as the lead running back.
Elliott wound up back in Dallas as a result of last year’s starter, Tony Pollard, being allowed to leave via free agency. He signed with the Tennessee Titans. In addition to letting Pollard walk, the Cowboys chose not to pursue big-name running backs such as Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs in free agency.
Henry, Barkley, and Jacobs rank first, second, and third, respectively, in rushing yards this season.
Henry has 11 touchdowns to boot, while Barkley has gone over the 100-yard mark five times and has six rushing scores. Jacobs has three rushing touchdowns and has shown no regression from what former starting running back Aaron Jones provided. Jones, another possible option for Dallas last offseason, signed with the Minnesota Vikings in free agency.
Trades haven’t been any more productive than free agency for the Cowboys.
Two veterans whom Dallas acquired earlier this season via trade have both been cut — defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and cornerback Andrew Booth, Jr. Furthermore, Dallas made a trade deadline move to acquire former Carolina Panthers receiver Jonathan Mingo, a move that is perplexing, largely because they surrendered more for Mingo (a fourth-round pick) than they received for star Amari Cooper (a fifth-round pick).