The 2026 NFL (and Cowboys) Reset

[ShiningStar]

Each summer, during training camp and pre-season game time, fans and sports pundits look at the draft, FA signings, previous season performance, and upcoming season schedules then confidently predict how the NFL season will play out. It’s a tradition we all usually participate in.

Then the season starts and reality sets in.

After nearly 25% of the season - surprise!! - we have some surprises. Who had the giants leading the NFCE at 3-1? Who had the raiders at 3-1 after 4 games? Who had Cle at 3-1 and leading the AFC North? Who had the Texans and that (supposed) “great” defense starting 0-4? Who had the “mighty” rams fighting to be 2-2? The e-girls looking bad at 2-2? The list goes on….

I know - It’s way too early to say these surprise teams or trends are a lock. Things will change. But it’s not too early to recognize the NFL is always in a state of flux.

Truth is the NFL resets itself every year. And the Cowboys are also certainly also in a reset. Especially on defense.

The Cowboys defense is full of young players who will take some time to develop and learn the scheme that their 34 year old rookie DC is trying to implement. After 4 games it’s obvious this defense is still (to put it kindly) a long way from being good. But it can get better because the talent level is better than last year. But it may take weeks.

Here are the simple truths about what the Cowboys are so far:

• This is a team with a very good offense that needs to score 30 every week to win.
• This is team with a very young defense trying to find itself.
• Right now, this team is exactly what its record says it is - mediocre.

The NFL is in a reset like it does every year. And the Cowboys are certainly in one too. Our 2-2 record says exactly who we are so far. Good on offense, bad on defense. If the defense can improve as we go, we might be a playoff team. If not, the reset continues into 2027.

This is a horrible, horrible horrible take, but it does prove 1 thing, People that pay attention and people who dont.

lets start wtih the obvious, Never take strength of schedule serious, thats just a talking point. it means nothing. In football, beause the season is short, you play whos in front of you, thats it. you play their attrition vs your attrition, than it goes into the steps. Good luck.

next and this one is important. No one, no one with brain cell 1 is shocked by the Giants, you are you, you re going to be shocked the sun will be there tomorrow. just prepare yourself now. Harbaugh said to your face, like Jerry Jones has said his message for 30 years, and some fans are still shocked, Jim Harbaugh told every camera, "im going to pick my matches, im going to win what i can and lose what will be" but the odds are in his favor to win and win better than we do. he has an established staff that doesnt do what the Cowboys do. They are on board with his message and what he wants, "Dart to Scatterbo, if they cant stop it, we ll keep doing it" "Dart to an open reciever, if they cant stop it, we ll keep doing it"

Its SIMPLE but effective and that works in the NFL.

Anyone shocked by this, checkers is your game. Head on over.

Raiders, Cleveland, they have their up and down years, no one pays attention to them they do their thing. Have been doing it for a long time.

Coming right back to the Cowboys to keep this post simple. Jerry Jones told everyone, "I am taking the inexepericenced guy" he KNOWS WHAT THE other teams are about, but for 30 years, the man has told you the game plan and you still try to be confused about it. at this point, nothing is helping you.

Harbaugh came in, put his staff together, told them what he wants to do, their job is to make it happen. Plain and simple, wrapped up nice and tight.

Jerry Jones: im sticking to my decades long plan, everything else is sell, sell sell, you keep buying, i keep selling, THe Cowboys are NOT a football team, they are a marketing team. I do the PR, the people sell the merch. I do NOT care if you understand that or not. That is my plan.

Commanders, they know what they have in Dan Quinn, Dan Quinn is who DQ is, only his team can make the up and down, nothing else he can do.

Eagles, very simple, they are riding thier high and win or lose on that and go and do it again next year.


There, nothing hard about this. Very simple, crayons are over, find a book, keep it ON THE PAPER.

 

[LouBrown]

See, this is why you don't rely on the internet to teach you what the rules are. Our friend Skywalker left out some words from the rule that's pertinent to what happened here.

The actual rule:
RULE 12 PLAYER CONDUCT
SECTION 1 BLOCKING, USE OF HANDS AND ARMS
ARTICLE 3 ILLEGAL BLOCK BY AN OFFENSIVE PLAYER
(c)

Blocking Notes:​

(1) When a defensive player is held by an offensive player during the following situations, Offensive holding will not be called:​

(a) if the runner is being tackled simultaneously by any defensive player;​

(b) if the runner simultaneously goes out of bounds;​

(c) if a fair catch is made simultaneously;​

(d) if the action clearly occurs after a forward pass has been thrown to a receiver beyond the line of scrimmage;​

(e) if the action occurs away from the point of attack and not within close-line play;​

(f) if a free kick results in a touchback;​

(g) if a scrimmage kick simultaneously becomes a touchback;​

(h) if the action is part of a double team block, unless the defender splits the double team, gets to the outside of either​

blocker, or is taken to the ground; or​

(i) if, during a defensive charge, a defensive player uses a “rip” technique that puts an offensive player in a position​

that would normally be holding, unless and until the defender’s feet are taken away from him by the blocker’s action.​

If you see the red above and watch the video, after the rip, Steele blocks the defender until his knee hits the turf. The ref is watching all this the entire way and it's only when the defender's knee goes down that he reaches for his flag (twice because he missed at first). What he's calling is the defender's feet being taken away from him by the blocker's action. By definition (the complete definition), a hold.

Any questions?

Nah

 

[TheMightyVanHalen]

While true, Dak hit Pickens at the end of the Baltimore game and we are 3-2. Really changes your perspective.

Realistically we could be 4-0, and my 17-0 prediction would be looking really good.

I don't normally like to do the would've/could've/should've thing, because that thinking can go both ways, but there's an argument for 4-0.

 

[rambo2]

Each summer, during training camp and pre-season game time, fans and sports pundits look at the draft, FA signings, previous season performance, and upcoming season schedules then confidently predict how the NFL season will play out. It’s a tradition we all usually participate in.

Then the season starts and reality sets in.

After nearly 25% of the season - surprise!! - we have some surprises. Who had the giants leading the NFCE at 3-1? Who had the raiders at 3-1 after 4 games? Who had Cle at 3-1 and leading the AFC North? Who had the Texans and that (supposed) “great” defense starting 0-4? Who had the “mighty” rams fighting to be 2-2? The e-girls looking bad at 2-2? The list goes on….

I know - It’s way too early to say these surprise teams or trends are a lock. Things will change. But it’s not too early to recognize the NFL is always in a state of flux.

Truth is the NFL resets itself every year. And the Cowboys are also certainly also in a reset. Especially on defense.

The Cowboys defense is full of young players who will take some time to develop and learn the scheme that their 34 year old rookie DC is trying to implement. After 4 games it’s obvious this defense is still (to put it kindly) a long way from being good. But it can get better because the talent level is better than last year. But it may take weeks.

Here are the simple truths about what the Cowboys are so far:

• This is a team with a very good offense that needs to score 30 every week to win.
• This is team with a very young defense trying to find itself.
• Right now, this team is exactly what its record says it is - mediocre.

The NFL is in a reset like it does every year. And the Cowboys are certainly in one too. Our 2-2 record says exactly who we are so far. Good on offense, bad on defense. If the defense can improve as we go, we might be a playoff team. If not, the reset continues into 2027.

It's looking more and more like the Cowboys will win the division.

 

[MarcusRock]

Nah

Come on now, Lou. You fell for the rage bait, dint'cha? Lol.

 

[LouBrown]

Come on now, Lou. You fell for the rage bait, dint'cha? Lol.

I don't know what this means

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Realistically we could be 4-0, and my 17-0 prediction would be looking really good.

I don't normally like to do the would've/could've/should've thing, because that thinking can go both ways, but there's an argument for 4-0.

There are legit arguments for 4-0 and 0-4. So at 2-2 the Cowboys are probably exactly what they should be right now.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

It's looking more and more like the Cowboys will win the division.

Well since two of the teams don't have starting qbs and the Eagles are imploding then yes. Go Cowboys.

 

[MarcusRock]

I don't know what this means

It means Cowboys fans who wanted to believe we were "wronged" in some way were fed something by an online personality to engage their rage knowing they wouldn't vet what was presented so long as it "sounded good" because rage overrules investigation. Basically, clickbait for those who are ready to kneejerk react.

 

[cald0d30s0]

Right on point with the word “reset”. Fantastic.

You actually have your reset to try again from the start, most of the times that doesn’t work in any team sport.

A team may not reset if they do have a philosophy and a plan, which can fail, but you have a different starting point.

Cowboys are a annual reset of just try and error.

 

[Diehardblues]

Each summer, during training camp and pre-season game time, fans and sports pundits look at the draft, FA signings, previous season performance, and upcoming season schedules then confidently predict how the NFL season will play out. It’s a tradition we all usually participate in.

Then the season starts and reality sets in.

After nearly 25% of the season - surprise!! - we have some surprises. Who had the giants leading the NFCE at 3-1? Who had the raiders at 3-1 after 4 games? Who had Cle at 3-1 and leading the AFC North? Who had the Texans and that (supposed) “great” defense starting 0-4? Who had the “mighty” rams fighting to be 2-2? The e-girls looking bad at 2-2? The list goes on….

I know - It’s way too early to say these surprise teams or trends are a lock. Things will change. But it’s not too early to recognize the NFL is always in a state of flux.

Truth is the NFL resets itself every year. And the Cowboys are also certainly also in a reset. Especially on defense.

The Cowboys defense is full of young players who will take some time to develop and learn the scheme that their 34 year old rookie DC is trying to implement. After 4 games it’s obvious this defense is still (to put it kindly) a long way from being good. But it can get better because the talent level is better than last year. But it may take weeks.

Here are the simple truths about what the Cowboys are so far:

• This is a team with a very good offense that needs to score 30 every week to win.
• This is team with a very young defense trying to find itself.
• Right now, this team is exactly what its record says it is - mediocre.

The NFL is in a reset like it does every year. And the Cowboys are certainly in one too. Our 2-2 record says exactly who we are so far. Good on offense, bad on defense. If the defense can improve as we go, we might be a playoff team. If not, the reset continues into 2027.

I’d argue thus far really not much surprise for Cowboys.

We knew we had a good offense and a bad defense which we had hoped would be improved but needed to see.

And we warned all of this hype was overblown heading into season.

Good news there’s still time for the defense to develop into more enabling the Cowboys to become a playoff contender.

 

[ShiningStar]

I’d argue thus far really not much surprise for Cowboys.

We knew we had a good offense and a bad defense which we had hoped would be improved but needed to see.

And we warned all of this hype was overblown heading into season.

Good news is there is still time for the defense to develop into more enabling the Cowboys to become a playoff contender.

no,

but like every year we ll say "theres always next year"

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Each summer, during training camp and pre-season game time, fans and sports pundits look at the draft, FA signings, previous season performance, and upcoming season schedules then confidently predict how the NFL season will play out. It’s a tradition we all usually participate in.

Then the season starts and reality sets in.

After nearly 25% of the season - surprise!! - we have some surprises. Who had the giants leading the NFCE at 3-1? Who had the raiders at 3-1 after 4 games? Who had Cle at 3-1 and leading the AFC North? Who had the Texans and that (supposed) “great” defense starting 0-4? Who had the “mighty” rams fighting to be 2-2? The e-girls looking bad at 2-2? The list goes on….

I know - It’s way too early to say these surprise teams or trends are a lock. Things will change. But it’s not too early to recognize the NFL is always in a state of flux.

Truth is the NFL resets itself every year. And the Cowboys are also certainly also in a reset. Especially on defense.

The Cowboys defense is full of young players who will take some time to develop and learn the scheme that their 34 year old rookie DC is trying to implement. After 4 games it’s obvious this defense is still (to put it kindly) a long way from being good. But it can get better because the talent level is better than last year. But it may take weeks.

Here are the simple truths about what the Cowboys are so far:

• This is a team with a very good offense that needs to score 30 every week to win.
• This is team with a very young defense trying to find itself.
• Right now, this team is exactly what its record says it is - mediocre.

The NFL is in a reset like it does every year. And the Cowboys are certainly in one too. Our 2-2 record says exactly who we are so far. Good on offense, bad on defense. If the defense can improve as we go, we might be a playoff team. If not, the reset continues into 2027.

Excellent post. I would add that I think our special teams play has been pretty good so far.

The Texans being at 0 and 4 is definitely a big surprise. I think their defense actually did look quite good, especially their D-line. They're the best 0 and 4 team I've ever seen. They're a whole lot better than the 0 and 4 1976 Bucs. I think they'll rebound and have a shot at a comeback. I can't say for sure that will be enough to get into the playoffs, but I do think it will be enough to start winning a lot of games. They've got a really steep hill to climb, but I do think they're talented.

I'm honestly not surprised by the success (so far) of the Giants. It's a John Harbaugh-coached team. I'd be surprised if a team didn't get good under him. I still wish Jerry had hired him.

 

[Diehardblues]

Much of the early surprises are often dictated by easier or harder opening schedules.

And or injuries to them or their opponents. Then throw in them or their opponents were over or under hyped .

No doubt there are still some surprises outside these parameters . But some of these like NYG and LV I think will balance out as season unfolds.we should have expected with Harbaugh they’d be better if Dart could stay healthy.

LV has added much talent with high draft picks in recent years just needed a QB. Houston is only team in NFL to begin season 0-3 and still make playoffs so they have started slow before . But after the way they lost in playoffs last year I expected a downturn .

My biggest surprise is the Chargers at 0-4. And their schedule isn’t it with losses to AZ and LV. But with Den, KC and LAR coming up could be 0-7.

 

[ghst187]

I don’t think the NYGs hold first long since Winston will be the qb for the foreseeable.
Grossest thing is SF at 4-0. I think we all would’ve had the NFC central exactly backwards of what it sits at now. If our defense can improve even to early 20s ranking we could do something…but will that happen who knows?

 

[GMO415]

Each summer, during training camp and pre-season game time, fans and sports pundits look at the draft, FA signings, previous season performance, and upcoming season schedules then confidently predict how the NFL season will play out. It’s a tradition we all usually participate in.

Then the season starts and reality sets in.

After nearly 25% of the season - surprise!! - we have some surprises. Who had the giants leading the NFCE at 3-1? Who had the raiders at 3-1 after 4 games? Who had Cle at 3-1 and leading the AFC North? Who had the Texans and that (supposed) “great” defense starting 0-4? Who had the “mighty” rams fighting to be 2-2? The e-girls looking bad at 2-2? The list goes on….

I know - It’s way too early to say these surprise teams or trends are a lock. Things will change. But it’s not too early to recognize the NFL is always in a state of flux.

Truth is the NFL resets itself every year. And the Cowboys are also certainly also in a reset. Especially on defense.

The Cowboys defense is full of young players who will take some time to develop and learn the scheme that their 34 year old rookie DC is trying to implement. After 4 games it’s obvious this defense is still (to put it kindly) a long way from being good. But it can get better because the talent level is better than last year. But it may take weeks.

Here are the simple truths about what the Cowboys are so far:

• This is a team with a very good offense that needs to score 30 every week to win.
• This is team with a very young defense trying to find itself.
• Right now, this team is exactly what its record says it is - mediocre.

The NFL is in a reset like it does every year. And the Cowboys are certainly in one too. Our 2-2 record says exactly who we are so far. Good on offense, bad on defense. If the defense can improve as we go, we might be a playoff team. If not, the reset continues into 2027.

BULLET!!!!
Spot on, but I agree with Nate Newton that the offense must score 35 points to solidify a win. Could that change? Sure, they may have to go to 40, but let's hope it goes in the opposite direction.

 

[Chuck 54]

While true, Dak hit Pickens at the end of the Baltimore game and we are 3-2. Really changes your perspective.

Say we beat TB and GB (as we should) over the next two games. Then we’d be 4-2. Does that suddenly mean we’ve turned things around and are now a much better team? No. But we’d be 4-2!!! And at the end of the day, that’s what matters. The season isn’t over, and a couple of wins can completely change the way things look. Right now we are in the middle of it and how you finish is more important.

Our early record really is not important. The only things that will determine playoffs and possible success in the playoffs, besides injury, is points allowed. Right now, despite some improvement, our defense is hot garbage. Unless they get to the point of holding teams to 20-24 points, we are just in it for giggles.

Getting a few stops in a game is a starting point for one of the worst defenses in the NFL, but it is fool’s gold to expect perfection or 30 points per game vs good teams or in the playoffs. There is no sustainable success unless the defense can hold opponents in the 20-24 range most of the time.

 

[gimmesix]

It means Cowboys fans who wanted to believe we were "wronged" in some way were fed something by an online personality to engage their rage knowing they wouldn't vet what was presented so long as it "sounded good" because rage overrules investigation. Basically, clickbait for those who are ready to kneejerk react.

The pass interference call against Bland in that game was a terrible call. You seem to be deadset on pointing out only when there is a bad call against one of our opponents. I don't know why you feel that is your duty.

 

[rambo2]

Well since two of the teams don't have starting qbs and the Eagles are imploding then yes. Go Cowboys.

They play the teams on the schedule just like everybody else.

 

[Diehardblues]

no,

but like every year we ll say "theres always next year"

Too many times some of us shoot down the over hype heading into a season and are bashed as being negative instead of being more realistic .

And these overly optimistic fans keep on coming even acknowledging there is no accountability for being too big of homer . But I say there is .

There is always room for all types of fans. But if we are looking for sound evaluation and discussions of football operations we’d usually look more to the analyst in the booth than the cheerleaders on the sidelines .