Have the Cowboys improved enough to make the playoffs?

they should

They wouldve made the playoffs last year if they fielded an actual NFL defense
 
Probably about the same. They took steps to bolster their secondary. Unfortunately they have a solid front 7. Then it comes down to the offense which is a giant question of whether their OLine is healthy or not. Adding one 3rd round T for depth does not change that question.
Ok.

I consider them worse.

The coordinator changes and losses will have a negative impact on the team and I think the soon-to-be loss of AJ Brown will also have a detrimental impact on the offense.

And I think they’ll really miss Stoutland.

I rank them third in the division right now.
 
The Eagles will fall off this year they will be worse as a team this season. They appear to have lost team chemistry; I look for Dallas to sweep Philadelphia this season. Caleb Downs will hit like Roy Williams and resemble Darren Woodson with his quality of overall play. The Eagles receivers will be spooked and taken out of their game, because of them getting mashed early and often. Caleb Downs will have this same effect on opposing offensive players throughout league. The results will be receivers developing a big case of alligator arms resulting in a bunch of drops, and fumbles and interceptions.
It’s funny. The Cowboys should have swept the Eagles last year. They outplayed them in both games.

And the Cowboys should have been swept by the Giants last year. They were outplayed in both games as well.

Instead, we somehow ended up splitting with both. Go figure!
 
This is why I think 2025 will be a freeby for Schotty. Remember, this is Jerry we are talking about. I don't see him firing Schotty and paying off the final 2 years of his contract unless we hit rock bottom with only just a few wins. The 2025 defense was on Jerry ( hiring Eberflus and trading Parsons)

As mentioned in another thread, I personally think we have done enough during the off-season to contend but you have to do it on the field.
I agree about last year but will Shotty get 4 years to make the playoffs?
 
Yes we have improved enough, but injuries are always a factor, depending on how severe, how long they persist, and what position.

Will we make the playoffs? IDK. I think unless we are decimated by injuries I would think we should contend for a playoff spot.
 
Ok.

I consider them worse.

The coordinator changes and losses will have a negative impact on the team and I think the soon-to-be loss of AJ Brown will also have a detrimental impact on the offense.

And I think they’ll really miss Stoutland.

I rank them third in the division right now.
So, if you currently rank Phi 3rd in division , curious what your other rankings in division are. Is it Dallas 1st or Wash, NY. And who is 2nd?

I can’t imagine anyone going into season ranking two NFCE teams ahead of Phi.
 
They've clearly improved on paper. Does that mean they'll make the playoffs? No one can say for certain.
Exactly and so many things can impact that. Injuries, ours or other teams we play, is always an impact. But I think the defense can be at least avg and had we had avg last year we could have won a few more. Playoffs is a reasonable possibility but SB I think we gonna need more.
 
If there were no such thing as injuries and if the defense wasn't ambushed with the news that they were not going to have their best player a week before the season, then the Cowboys would have certainly made the playoffs last year.

The same circumstances apply this season. They will make it to the playoffs barring excessive injuries and/or debilitating distractions.
 
Unless the players don't buy in to CP's scheme, or CP is completely incompetent, it will be a much better defense than Eberflushed put on the field. So barring significant injuries, the Cowboys will most likely make the playoffs.
 
Disappointed in humanity that nobody posted this.

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Would you consider the 2026 Eagles better or worse than the 2025 team?
Good question. I thought they were down last year . The bigger question might be , has the rest of division caught up.

It’s probably arguable that rest of division had better drafts and upgraded roster more. Will that be enough. We shall see. But I think they are still the favs to win division.
 
Going into 2026 we are facing potentially 3 consecutive losing seasons . Which hasn’t happened since the Campo era 5-11 futility in consecutive seasons.

This of course would have followed 3 consecutive 12 win playoff seasons. Amazing how far we’ve fallen. It’s already cost one HC, will it cost another.

Is Shotty on the hot seat? Would 2 consecutive losing seasons spur on another HC change ?

No doubt we’ve improved our defensive roster. And hopefully a first time DC scheme will compliment a big turnover on defensive roster. I like our chances of finishing above .500. Playoffs IDK.

But it will still all hinge on offense having as big of year as 2025. And keeping Dak healthy. We wasted a full healthy season last year. Defense just needs to be closer to average than worst. And this is all assuming the rest of division and NFC hasn’t improved as well .

Will there be 7 teams in NFC better. Could be. Sea, SF, LA, Det, GB, Chi and Phi I’d argue all go in as more likely to get in. 9 or 10 wins might not be enough. Should be interesting. But much riding on not having another losing and non playoff season.
Absofrickinlutely beyond any doubt whatsoever.
 
Eberflus had at least a decent defensive reputation prior to Dallas. As a head coach at Chicago not so much.

But I just find it hard to say what that side of the ball looked like last year was a result of him totally forgetting how to coach dee.

How bout I man up and say if the 49ers dee looks totally like a dumpster fire, 30th to 32nd say, I'll definitely come on here and say Flus is clueless.
But who's gonna be here if Flus has the 49ers dee looking top 10ish?

I'd be willing to bet not many at all.
 
Yes, we dont need the defense to be stellar in Sept, we need to gel and just get it push back a little bit and delay a little longer on the drives. We re not talking a massive big step. Jerry did some correct decisions this off season. Its up to the coaches to see where the season falls.
 
will Shotty get 4 years to make the playoffs?
If you count this year, he only has 2 more years before his contract ends after the 2028 season.

Do you think it's a coincidence that Dak's contract also ends after the 2028 season? I don't....this IMO all calculated and planned by Jerry. But the answer to your question.......if we miss the playoffs this year with a healthy Dak, yeah, I think he's on the hot seat 2027 season.
 
I think there is some truth to that, but I also struggle to give Schottenheimer a full pass on the defense. He’s the HC, not the OC.
If Brian Schottenheimer was involved in the signing of Abram Elam and Kenneth Murray and If it was Schottenheimer who refused to take Donovan Wilson out of deep coverage, when he was getting burned deep repeatedly game after game then he should be held responsible as well then. Those 3 players were not good last season to say it mildly.
 

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