There is little question that the 2026 Dallas Cowboys have improved their overall talent, especially on defense. That’s exciting of at the time of year when optimism is highest. And it’s not un-reasonable to expect improvement in the upcoming 2026 season.
But here’s the one key element that mini-camps, training camp, and pre-season games cannot show us yet: How will this team handle adversity?
When the real bullets begin to fly on September 13th, we will begin to see what this team is truly made of, and how strong the revitalized culture that so many have talked about. And it will take more than a game or two to see what this team is. It may be November before we really know what this team can be.
Adversity is something that measures every football team every season. The question is not whether or not you will face adversity. The real question is, “How well will our team handle the adversity that will come its way?
So I’m glad to see the glowing reports I’ve heard all summer saying, “This team is different.” Do we know that yet? No. Not yet.
But we will begin seeing this team’s potential when they are faced with rebounding from a tough loss, overcome an injury, or stick together through all adversity.
Adversity is what measures all great football teams. We haven’t seen any adversity yet. But when we do, how this team responds will decide its ultimate fate.
will be a true test of this team’s resilience.
For the defense, we haven’t yet seen this group play together with Christian Parker, calling plays and adjusting under pressure.
Our offense, on the other hand, has already faced adversity multiple times last year and shown they can overcome it—like the big comeback against the Eagles. The veteran offensive group, along with the experienced coaching staff, provides stability despite some apparent weaknesses.
The real question mark remains on the defensive side. From 2016 to the present, we’ve had three historically weak defenses, and even when the units were strong, they often struggled under pressure. Dan Quinn’s defenses, in particular, have historically faltered in high-stakes situations, regardless of regular-season rankings.
While the offense has repeatedly battled through challenges, the defense has often failed to respond when scored upon early. Will that change this year? That’s the uncertainty we can’t see yet. Additionally, special teams could see improvement with a healthy, deeper roster, potentially providing scoring opportunities beyond the offense.
I realize the offense didn’t play perfectly in some games, but this veteran group has already battled through adversity numerous times. Ideally, they would only need to score around 20 points per game to secure 10 wins this season without facing constant challenges, which speaks to how much they’ve endured. The struggles often get attributed to the quarterback, whether #9 or #4, but the bigger issue has consistently been the defense.
The defense has been the most glaring weakness, struggling to respond when scored upon early and often failing to fight back.
when scored upon early and often struggling to recover.
Whether this will improve remains to be seen, but the defensive side of the ball is where most uncertainty lies.
As for special teams, with a healthy roster and greater depth, they could contribute more effectively, creating additional scoring opportunities beyond the offense.
