The Dallas Cowboys have kicked off their 2024 season with a series of highs and lows, experiencing crucial wins interspersed with challenging losses. In the first three weeks, they faced the disappointment of consecutive home defeats, falling 44-19 to the New Orleans Saints and narrowly losing 28-25 to the Baltimore Ravens.
Victory Against the Giants
The journey took a positive turn when the Cowboys secured a win against the New York Giants on "Thursday Night Football," emerging victorious with a score of 20-15. The win was particularly notable for quarterback Dak Prescott, who extended his winning streak against the Giants to 13 consecutive games. This accomplishment ties Prescott for the second-longest winning streak by any quarterback against a single opponent since at least 1950.
Prescott delivered an impressive performance, throwing for 221 yards and completing 22 of his 21 passes. Yes, you read that right – a statistical anomaly credited to a technical error on the field. He also connected beautifully with running back Rico Dowdle for a 15-yard touchdown and threw a magnificent 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Kicker Brandon Aubrey contributed significantly, making field goals from 60 and 40 yards, although he missed a 51-yard attempt, ending his perfect streak from 50-plus yards. Aubrey now holds an impressive record, being 16 of 17 from such distances and maintaining the longest consecutive streak of field goals of 50 or more yards in NFL history.
Defensive Struggles and Successes
Despite their success against the Giants, the Cowboys have faced substantial challenges on defense. In Week 3, the defense allowed a staggering 274 rushing yards against the Baltimore Ravens. However, they significantly tightened up against the Giants, allowing only 26 rushing yards on 24 carries. This defensive turnaround was greatly attributed to the efforts of defensive tackle Mazi Smith, who was instrumental in stifling the Giants' run game.
Injuries have also plagued the Cowboys' defensive line. Standout players Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence were injured during the second half against the Giants. Lawrence, dealing with a foot injury, was sidelined after the third quarter, while Parsons' X-ray results fortunately came back negative, prompting his confident assertion, "I'll be good." The defense also saw a critical play by Amani Oruwariye, who intercepted a pass with just 15 seconds left, ensuring the Cowboys' victory.
However, the team faces setbacks with DaRon Bland suffering from a stress fracture in his foot and Caelen Carson dealing with a shoulder injury. As DeMarcus Lawrence passionately noted, "Be credible, f---ing accountable every single play," emphasizing the need for consistent, reliable performance.
Offensive Challenges
The Cowboys' offense, while showing moments of brilliance, is grappling with inefficiencies in the run game. Averaging just 75.3 rushing yards per game, they rank third-worst in the NFL for the season. Their average of 3.5 yards per carry is the fourth-worst in the league, a statistic highlighted by the fact that wide receiver CeeDee Lamb holds the team's longest rush of the season at a mere 12 yards.
Lawrence’s call to "Get out of playing little league football" resonates deeply as the Cowboys continue to seek an offensive rhythm. Micah Parsons also stressed the importance of teamwork, saying, "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 ahead, the Cowboys face tough matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions. These games will be critical for a team that has shown flashes of potential but needs to find consistency to bounce back from their early-season volatility.
The Cowboys, with a 2-2 record, are at a crossroads. The season is still young, and while injuries and inconsistencies have been a challenge, the team has demonstrated resilience. The upcoming contests will be pivotal in determining whether they can fully harness their potential and elevate their game to become true contenders in the 2024 season.