The Dallas Cowboys have kicked off their 2024 season with unexpected twists and turns, featuring both notable victories and painful losses. This early performance has left fans with mixed feelings as the team navigates through a season filled with potential and pitfalls.
Early Struggles and Turnaround Victories
The Cowboys' season began on a less-than-ideal note, suffering two consecutive home defeats. In the opening weeks, they were outplayed by the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens with significant margins of 44-19 and 28-25, respectively. These losses raised concerns about the team's consistency and ability to secure home-field advantage.
However, Week 4 brought a glimmer of hope. The Cowboys managed to turn things around with a tight victory against the New York Giants on "Thursday Night Football," emerging victorious with a 20-15 scoreline. This win was crucial, not only for its immediate impact on their season record, which now stands at 2-2, but also for the confidence it instilled in the team and its supporters.
Prescott's Streak and Offensive Highlights
Dak Prescott continued to assert his dominance over the Giants, extending his winning streak against them to 13 games. This impressive run ties the second-longest winning streak by a quarterback versus a single opponent since at least 1950, underscoring Prescott's stellar form against the Giants.
In this latest victory, Prescott showcased his precision, throwing for 221 yards and completing 22 out of 21 passes. Among his notable connections were a 15-yard touchdown pass to running back Rico Dowdle and an impressive 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Brandon Aubrey also contributed with field goals from 60 and 40 yards, although he did miss a 51-yard attempt, ending his perfect streak from 50-plus yards. Aubrey's outstanding performance still stands, with 16 out of 17 successful attempts from distances of 50 or more yards, a record in NFL history.
Defensive Dynamics and Key Injuries
On the defensive front, the Cowboys have shown mixed results. The Week 3 clash with the Baltimore Ravens spotlighted a worrying vulnerability as the defense allowed 274 rushing yards. However, the team redeemed itself against the Giants, restricting them to just 26 rushing yards on 24 carries. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith played a pivotal role in quelling the Giants' rushing attempts, highlighting the potential of the Cowboys' defense when functioning at its best.
Despite the victory, the game against the Giants was not without its setbacks. Injuries to key players like Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence posed significant concerns. Lawrence, who was sidelined after the third quarter due to a foot injury, voiced the need for accountability on the field, saying, "Be credible, f---ing accountable every single play," and urged the team to "get out of playing little league football." Meanwhile, Parsons, whose X-ray results were negative, reassured fans by stating, "I'll be good." The defense also had to deal with other injuries, as DaRon Bland is suffering from a stress fracture in his foot and Caelen Carson has a shoulder injury.
The defense sealed the game against the Giants with a clutch play by Amani Oruwariye, who intercepted a pass with just 15 seconds left, ensuring the Cowboys' win. This moment marked a crucial point in the game, solidifying the team's defensive efforts.
Rushing Woes
While the defense and passing game have had their moments, the Cowboys' rushing offense is an area of concern. The team is currently averaging 75.3 rushing yards per game, ranking third-worst in the NFL. Their 3.5 yards per carry is the fourth-worst in the league. CeeDee Lamb's longest rush of the season stands at just 12 yards, highlighting the struggles in the ground game.
As the Cowboys prepare for their upcoming matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions, the emphasis will be on building consistency and overcoming the injuries that have plagued the lineup. Micah Parsons aptly summarized the team's need for unity, saying, "We don't need any Supermans at all. We just need 11 guys playing together. Right now, it's just not in unison."
The season is still in its early stages, and while the Cowboys have faced both highs and lows, the journey ahead offers ample opportunities for redemption and growth. The resilience and adaptability of the team will be critical as they aim to turn their fortunes around and make a strong run in the weeks to come.