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A lot of those struggles had to do with the fact the Cowboys had for years employed a pass-heavy offensive attack. Each year between 2008 and 2013, they threw on at least 57 percent of their offensive plays, which always ranked above the league average. And between 2009 and 2013, only the Arizona Cardinals ran the ball fewer times than Dallas.
It's hard to grind out games in cold weather with a one-dimensional offense, especially late in the season when opposing defenses have had a chance to become acclimated to your style.
But the Cowboys are a different team this year, and they proved it with an impressive road victory over a talented Chicago Bears team to kick off the final month of the season. And that's because it was their running back, not their quarterback, who carried them.
Those wondering if DeMarco Murray would begin to slow down after receiving a league-leading 288 carries in September, October and November got an emphatic answer as Murray had 228 yards from scrimmage in an effort that included a career-high nine catches as the Cowboys dominated Chicago 41-28.
Thursday night, Murray became the first non-quarterback in eight years to touch the football more than 40 times in one game.
"People just don't understand the kind of hits, the beating that that takes on your body," said quarterback Tony Romo on NFL Network after the game. "And for him to be able to continue to get up and just go produce and have the kind of production he has, it's really special."
Murray now leads the NFL in rushing by a ridiculous 560-yard margin and is on pace to compile 2,459 yards from scrimmage, which would be the second-highest single-season total in league history.
Of course, it's not just Murray. A back will only go as far as his offensive line will allow, and a jacked-up Dallas line that features 23-year-old stud first-round picks at center, right guard and left tackle tore apart the Chicago front seven Thursday night.
The holes were massive from start to finish. One such example from early in the fourth quarter:
It wasn't the first time, and it won't be the last.
Hell, even when that sometimes-shaky defense started to falter in the fourth quarter, it was the ground game that forced the Bears into hibernation. With the Cowboys' lead (once as high as 28) down to 10 with six minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Murray zapped every ounce of momentum from Chicago with a 26-yard first-down run.
The hole on that run:
Dallas never looked back.
It's not as though the Cowboys don't need Romo, who still had an error-free game while throwing only five incomplete passes and tossing three touchdown strikes on 26 attempts, but they no longer need their franchise quarterback to play Superman.
Considering that the 34-year-old suffered two fractures in his back less than six weeks ago, that could be the difference between a Super Bowl run and another January at home.
By finally committing to a balanced attack with new play-caller Scott Linehan, the Cowboys have already guaranteed themselves their first winning season since 2009. Now, with Murray only picking up steam entering the final three weeks of the year, they've got a chance to do something special.
Brad Gagnon has covered the NFC East for Bleacher Report since 2012.
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