The Dallas Cowboys' Tumultuous 2024 Season: A Struggle for Identity
With a 3-3 start to their 2024 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves in a familiar yet frustrating position. Over the last few years, the team enjoyed back-to-back 12-win seasons from 2021 to 2023. However, the departure of key players like Tyron Smith to the New York Jets, Tyler Biadasz to the Washington Commanders, and Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans has left noticeable voids that the Cowboys aim to fill with rookies and players yet untested on the big stage.
In an ambitious but risky move, owner Jerry Jones has been focusing on integrating new talents into the team's lineup. Prominent among them are Tyler Guyton, a promising first-round pick offensive tackle, and Cooper Beebe, a center expected to anchor the Cowboys' offensive line. Both are pivotal to the team’s strategy this season, but challenges remain, as the Cowboys rank last in rushing yards per game at 77.2—an embarrassing reality not seen since 1989.
Despite the concerning start, optimism is percolating within the team. The season is still young, and if there's one thing the Cowboys strive for, it's improvement in crucial areas. "I'd say I've played average, and average isn't good enough right now," quarterback Dak Prescott admitted candidly. "It's never been good enough for me. I can't say that I've been happy or excited after any of these games that I've played. I can play better. For sure. And I expect to."
Prescott’s leadership on and off the field remains essential for the Cowboys. Last season, he led the league in passing touchdowns with 36, while star receiver CeeDee Lamb, who recently signed a four-year, $136 million contract extension, led the league with 135 receptions. Their chemistry on the field had defenses doubling up on Lamb, forcing the rest of the offense to pivot strategically. "Other guys got to win," Prescott noted. "They've got to seek that opportunity to go make those plays and give obviously myself with them and this whole offense more confidence."
The bye week offers a critical junction for Dallas. Head coach Mike McCarthy emphasized the importance of consistency and communication—elements disrupted by a myriad of offseason changes. "Obviously you have to look at camp, and you can call it an excuse or whatever, but it just goes into right, as I said, being consistent," Prescott explained. "When you haven't had that time in camp, you've got to be able to communicate through things."
CeeDee Lamb echoed Prescott’s sentiments about the value of the bye week. "We love a bye week, we take advantage of it," Lamb said. "Anything we feel like we missed out on together as a unit, as a duo, we hopped on it, just got right to work."
Yet, the uphill battle persists, encapsulated by a series of stinging defeats against the San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys have succumbed to them in three consecutive games, including postseason encounters in 2021 and 2022, and a sobering 42-10 regular season loss in Week 5 of last year. These losses illustrate the gap between the Cowboys' current form and their potential.
Still, the team remains hopeful as they forge ahead, anchored in part by veterans and new faces alike. Rico Dowdle, an undrafted veteran running back, will also play a key role, stepping into the spotlight with hopes of reigniting the Cowboys' flailing run game. This reflects the theme of the Cowboys' season thus far: a blend of promise and pressure as they seek to redefine themselves.
As the Cowboys regroup, their fans will hope they've learned from the setbacks and are ready for a turnaround that mirrors the resilience Dallas has been known for. The path ahead is fraught with challenges, but with clear communication and renewed determination, the Cowboys aim to rekindle their offensive spark and surpass their average struggles thus far.