Dallas Cowboys: A Roller-Coaster Start to 2024
The Dallas Cowboys have experienced a tumultuous beginning to their 2024 NFL season, characterized by significant victories and painful defeats. A team with high potential and equally high expectations, the Cowboys' journey so far has been marked by both promise and inconsistency.
Early Season Struggles
The Cowboys stumbled out of the gate in their first three weeks, enduring consecutive home losses against the New Orleans Saints (44-19) and the Baltimore Ravens (28-25). These losses exposed early vulnerabilities in both offense and defense, raising concerns among fans and analysts alike.
Turning the Tide
However, the tide began to turn when the Cowboys secured a critical win against the New York Giants on “Thursday Night Football.” The 20-15 victory was hard-fought and demonstrated the team’s resilience. This win brought the Cowboys' record to an even 2-2.
Dak Prescott's Dominance
Quarterback Dak Prescott was a standout performer, notching his 13th consecutive win against the Giants. This streak ties the second-longest winning streak by a quarterback against a single opponent since at least 1950. Prescott completed an impressive 22 of 21 passes for 221 yards, connecting with running back Rico Dowdle for a 15-yard touchdown and delivering a 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Special Teams and Defense
In addition to Prescott's heroics, kicker Brandon Aubrey contributed significantly, making field goals from 60 and 40 yards. Although Aubrey missed a 51-yard attempt, ending his perfect streak from 50-plus yards, he remains a formidable weapon, having made 16 of 17 from such distances. Impressively, Aubrey holds the longest consecutive streak of field goals of 50 or more yards in NFL history.
Defensively, the Cowboys showed marked improvement. After allowing a staggering 274 rushing yards against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3, the team tightened up considerably, conceding only 26 rushing yards on 24 carries against the Giants. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith played a crucial role in clamping down on the run game, illustrating the potential of the Cowboys’ defense when firing on all cylinders.
Injuries and Setbacks
Despite these successes, the Cowboys have not been without their setbacks. Pass-rusher Micah Parsons and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence both sustained injuries during the second half against the Giants. Lawrence's foot injury sidelined him after the third quarter, while X-rays for Parsons came back negative. Parsons, remaining optimistic, stated, "I'll be good." His reassuring words hint at his intent to continue being a crucial defensive presence.
Further compounding the team's injury woes, cornerback DaRon Bland is dealing with a stress fracture in his foot, and cornerback Caelen Carson has a shoulder injury. With these key players out, the Cowboys' depth will be tested in the weeks to come.
Nevertheless, the defensive unit delivered when it mattered most. Amani Oruwariye's late-game interception, with just 15 seconds left on the clock, sealed the victory against the Giants and underscored the team's potential to perform under pressure.
Offensive Struggles
Offensively, the Cowboys have room for improvement, particularly in the ground game. The team is averaging 75.3 rushing yards per game, ranking third-worst in the NFL this season. Additionally, their average of 3.5 yards per carry is the fourth-worst in the league. Highlighting these struggles, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb holds the Cowboys' longest rush of the season at a meager 12 yards.
The team’s senior players have vocalized their frustrations and called for greater consistency. DeMarcus Lawrence stated, "Be credible, f---ing accountable every single play," emphasizing the need for reliability and effort. He also charged his teammates to "get out of playing little league football," pushing for a higher level of play. Echoing this sentiment, Parsons remarked, "We don’t need any Supermans at all. We just need 11 guys playing together. Right now, it’s just not in unison."
Upcoming Challenges
Looking forward, the Cowboys face challenging matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions. These games will provide further opportunities for the team to prove their mettle and address the inconsistencies that have plagued their season thus far.
The Cowboys’ fans and analysts will be watching closely as the team strives to turn promise into performance and deliver on the high expectations set out at the beginning of the year.