The Dallas Cowboys have several question marks heading into the regular season. After an off-season and preseason filled with controversy, the Cowboys will likely face several distractions as they look to rebound from a 7-10 season in 2024. Here are three keys to Dallas’ success this season.
During the Cowboys’ dynasty years, they always had a balanced attack that featured a strong running game. Whether it was Duane Thomas, Calvin Hill, Tony Dorsett, or Emmitt Smith, Dallas’ Super Bowl teams were anchored by excellent running backs. That is something that Dak Prescott has not been able to rely on in recent years. Rico Dowdle, Tony Pollard, and late-career Ezekiel Elliott have not contributed enough to take any of the pressure off of Prescott and the passing game.
This season, the Cowboys’ running game will again be a question mark. Phil Mafah and Jaydon Blue are rookie late-round draft picks. Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis have a combined 271 yards rushing in the NFL. Veteran Miles Sanders, the only back in camp with a 1000-yard season, is not currently expected to make the team’s 53-man roster. The Cowboys’ starter is expected to be Javonte Williams, who averaged just 3.6 yards per carry the past two seasons in Denver. The Dallas coaching staff thinks that Blue could be an explosive back, but his injury history could be problematic.
Another trademark of winning Cowboy teams has always been a great offensive line. While Dallas has had some exceptional offensive linemen in recent years, keeping them healthy has been an issue. This year will be no different. The left side of the Dallas O-line, tackle Tyler Guyton and guard Tyler Smith, will enter the regular season nursing injuries. Backup guard Saahdiq Charles is as well. Charles and La’el Collins were both coaxed out of retirement to provide depth for the Cowboys. Rookie Tyler Booker will join veterans Terence Steele and Cooper Beebe to round out the starting line.
When healthy, this line should be solid. Booker will have big shoes to fill, replacing the retiring Zack Martin. Smith is a Pro Bowler, and Beebe has that potential as well. It will be interesting to see if the starters can stay healthy enough to provide the continuity that Dallas has missed the last couple of seasons. The Cowboys will need that stability if they hope to have any chance of having a running game and a healthy Prescott.
The Dallas defense’s big question will be how they play in the trenches. The Cowboys have not been able to stop the run in recent years. Mazi Smith and Osa Odighizuwa clogging the middle will be key for success in that area. Smith, especially, will be expected to step up this season, against both the run and the pass. Marshawn Kneeland steps into a starting role after missing much of 2024 with a knee injury. The Cowboys have high hopes that Kneeland can provide pressure in the passing game opposite Micah Parsons. A returning Dante Fowler could be a real X-factor for the Cowboys’ pass rush.
Parsons is, of course, a big question mark right now. The Pro Bowl defensive end is entrenched in a contract dispute with Jerry Jones. While it is expected that Parsons will play Week One, things are deteriorating by the hour between Parsons and Jones. Parson’s ability to stay on the field has determined much of the Cowboys’ success on defense over his four seasons in Dallas. The Cowboys have to have a happy, healthy Parsons for this defense to be successful.
The Cowboys will face a lot of adversity as they kick off the 2025 season. The Parsons situation is hanging over the team, as is KaVontae Turpin’s legal trouble. On top of that, key defensive players DeMarvion Overshown and Trevon Diggs are both expected to start the season on injured reserve due to knee issues. Of course, Jones’ constant ill-advised decisions and remarks in the media have only made things worse. The sooner that Jerry Jones, the owner, fires Jerry Jones, the general manager, the better. It wouldn’t hurt if he gave his son, and co-owner, Stephen, the boot as EVP of Player Personnel as well.
I will put all that to the side for now. (Hopefully, the team can do the same.) If Dallas wants to have any chance at a winning record this season, it will need to be successful in the three areas above. The offensive line play will be especially important. Dak Prescott has plenty of weapons to throw to this season. How well the line protects him from injury and blocks in the run game could easily be the difference between 10-7 and 7-10. If Prescott goes down, the season is over. The better the run game is, the fewer shots opposing defenses get at hitting Prescott.
Even if the Cowboys’ offense is hitting on all cylinders, the defensive line could sink their playoff chances. Parsons, Diggs, DaRon Bland, and Overshown rarely remain healthy for a full season. If the team is going to win, it will have to do it in the trenches on offense and defense. That defensive line has to improve against the run and put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The former has not been addressed adequately in the draft for years, and the latter can’t all fall on Parsons. Kneeland, Overshown, Odighizuwa, and Fowler will have to step up so that opponents can’t simply double and triple team Parsons like they have in the past.
If everyone stays healthy for most of the season, this team should easily win ten games. That could already be out the window, depending on how long Diggs and Overshown are out and whether Smith and Guyton are back to 100% by Week One. Getting to ten wins, however, does not guarantee a playoff spot. Dallas will most likely have to pull out at least one win against the Philadelphia Eagles or the Washington Commanders to do that.
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