Are things about to get messy in Dallas?

There is no more divisive team in all American Sports than the Dallas Cowboys.

Rightly or wrongly identified as ‘America’s Team’, the Cowboys have a huge fan base all over the world and it isn’t surprising that they are routinely named as the world’s most valuable sporting franchise.

Despite all the off-field notoriety that the Cowboys have been able to garner over the last few decades, on the field it is a different matter entirely.

Having last tasted Super Bowl success all the way back in 1995, the Cowboys haven’t come close to reaching the NFC Championship since, and with their Super Bowl drought approaching 30 years, the long wait to finally get their hands back on the Lombardi Trophy doesn’t seem likely to end anytime soon.

After being blown out by the Saints and the Ravens, tricky games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers are likely to define the direction the 2024 Cowboys are heading. With the national media abuzz with talks of the Cowboys demise, does this season have the capacity to fall apart? Here are some of the key talking points.

Poor offseason could come back to haunt the Cowboys

Once upon a time Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had no issue with splashing the cash in free agency. However, in recent years the Cowboys have been reluctant to spend and this year it seems to have come back to bite them.

Preferring to build their team through the draft, obvious needs at Defensive Tackle and Running back were left unchecked and the decision to not bring back Cornerback Stephon Gilmore looks ill-judged.

Preferring to rely on inexperienced Rookies or on players that have been acquired in the second and third waves of free agency, the Cowboys look out of sync and unable to compete with the best teams in the League.

Couple their inactivity in the offseason with their slow approach to renewing the contracts of both Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, it isn’t surprising that the Cowboys have come out of the blocks slowly.

Despite Jerry Jones repeatedly stating that he is happy with his roster, the pressure is starting to rise. The Dallas fan base is growing tired of mediocrity and is desperate for success. If this season doesn’t turn out how Jones and Co hope, his frugal approach to free agency may have to change.

A lack of weapons on offense and a porous defense doesn’t inspire confidence

Seen as an outside contender for Super Bowl success by betting sites such as Bodog Sportsbook, through the first month of the new season, there isn’t anything to suggest that this will finally be the year where the Cowboys and Jerry Jones finally taste Super Bowl success.

Offensively, the offensive line is holding up but there are growing pains with both Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebee. There are also huge concerns over the form of Right Tackle Terrence Steele who doesn’t seem to be the same player since coming back from his knee injury.

Although Dalvin Cook still resides on the Practice Squad, the Cowboys are opting to run the ball by committee, but the problem is that neither Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle nor Deuce Vaughan are running the ball with any authority. The Cowboys currently sit bottom of the charts when it comes to explosive running plays and with all three of their starting backs proving to be average at best so far this season, it’s hard to see that stat changing anytime soon.

Star wide-out CeeDee Lamb looks rusty having missed all of training camp and his tantrums on the sidelines following the Cowboys defeat to the Ravens doesn’t inspire a great deal of confidence moving forward. With opposition defenses opting to double team 88, there appears to be few other options for Prescott to throw the ball to. Jake Ferguson is battling injury whilst Brandin Cooks isn’t enough of a difference maker. With Mike McCarthy’s offensive scheme coming under early fire, this stuttering Cowboys offense needs a spark and it needs it quickly.

On the other side of the ball things aren’t too much better. 

Whilst the decision to bring Mike Zimmer back into the league looked inspired after their Week 1 defeat of the Cleveland Browns, it’s been heavy sledding since.

Unable to stop the run, the Cowboys D has been ran all over and simply running the ball seems an easy and effective way to stop the likes of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence from making an impact.

With many across the American media calling into question the Cowboys effort, the defense seems to be teetering on the brink and if Zimmer can’t find a quick fix, the Cowboys season may be over before it really begins.