Describing this Cowboys team approximately 29% into the season

[Bobhaze]

It always takes at least 4-6 games into a season - maybe more - to start to understand what an NFL team is. The win in Pittsburgh showed grit and the ability to overcome mistakes.The Cowboys have now played 29% of the 2024 season and in my opinion, here are some things that describe this team so far:

OBSERVATIONS OF TEAM SO FAR

• After 5 games, this team has shown that it can bounce back from some adversity after playing two really bad games followed by a couple of gritty wins. But it still has a long way to go IMO be as good as last year’s team.
• This team is very reliant on several rookies who have mostly performed well. Relying on lots of rookies has some ups and downs as they continue to learn the NFL.
• So far this team has looked worse than the 2023 team on offense and are struggling to score more than 20 points per game. A weak running game and a decent passing game make it far less explosive. That has to improve to be a serious playoff contender.
• Mike Zimmer’s new defensive scheme has looked worse than last year too, although injuries have devastated that side of the ball as well. It has improved in the last two games
• Overall this team through 5 games appears to still be struggling to find its identity and IMO lacks offensive firepower to be a playoff contender.

KEY QUESTIONS FOR REST OF SEASON

• Will this team be able to find a running game? (Rico Dowdle has shown some promise)
• Will this team be able to overcome the key injuries that have plagued it early this season?
• Will the front office add some talent on offense? (If not, this offense does not appear to have enough to compete in the playoffs)
• Will the rookies we are relying on develop into reliable starters?
• Will the players continue to play hard for this coaching staff who are all on expiring contracts?

So far the Cowboys have looked like an average NFL team with as many questions as it has strengths. Lots of time to get better but without some additions on offense it will likely continue to struggle to score more than 20.

Other observations?

 

[HungryLion]

They’re a middle of the road team.

Certainly aren’t winning or competing for a superbowl. So for me the season is about player development.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

The team is going to be much better at the end of November and into December than it is today from young players growing and getting healthy (theoretically).

If they're .500 at Thanksgiving, they're a contender in this NFC.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Maybe we make a strong strong push after guys return. Can Rico stay healthy is the question for our running game

 

[JohnsKey19]

So far the Cowboys have looked like an average NFL team with as many questions as it has strengths. Lots of time to get better but without some additions on offense it will likely continue to struggle to score more than 20.

Other observations?

They're your average 8-10 win team that will be fighting for a WC playoff berth late in the year. They just need to hang around .500 as long as possible before the schedule lightens up a bit later in the season, giving them a better shot to string some wins together.

 

[acr731]

I suppose a 'gritty' win against a really sorry opponent is still a win. When you are struggling it always helps to play a team that is a little worse. The next 2 games are going to be brutal, though.

 

[ShortRound]

Unproven, but I like the energy of the last game, lots of fight. Kudos to McCarthy.
Let's see them do it against some playoff teams now.

 

[fivetwos]

I don’t know what to think.

Part of me sees a wide open NFC and some capable players who could have been better with an actual effort from the front office.

I can’t sit here here and root against them, but what if they actually win a couple of playoff games in the same season and get to a CG (probably the very upside of this team)?

Doesn’t that offer reinforcement that what they are doing is working? Remember that we want championships, and they seem to want to stay relevant, and aren’t capable of finding the players they need from other rosters to put them over the top.

This team won’t fall out of contention unless Prescott goes down, but it also has little shot of winning a championship. It’s pure no man’s land, and exactly where you don’t want to be as a fan, but it seems to be where Stephen is most happy. Able to sell hope all year, except January.

 

[Bobhaze]

Lots of football left. There’s still 12 games to go. I still think this team can get better. But I also honestly believe unless we acquire another player on offense that can upgrade the team’s ability to score, this team will struggle to make the playoffs.

 

[75boyz]

Inconsistent Cowboys so far again.

But the penalties remain consistent which is very disturbing.

Going forward I think continued run game improvement and McFraud using motion and more creativity with his receivers could elevate the team offensively.

Zimmer started slow but was better the last 2 games.

But next up is Detroit's o line and skill position players posing a major challenge to an injury depleted Dallas defense.

And then to follow it up with a road game to the 49ers who are our kryptonite.

I'd say the next 2 games will reveal alot about this team.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Lots of football left. There’s still 12 games to go. I still think this team can get better. But I also honestly believe unless we acquire another player on offense that can upgrade the team’s ability to score, this team will struggle to make the playoffs.

If you want the best version of Dak...and I assume you do
If you want the best version CD....and I assume you do
If you want the running game to keep you in favorable down and distances on 2nd down, run out the clock to salt away a win, and/or keep the opposition defense honest....and I assume you do

Then you absolutely need another weapon. Heck, just having someone that puts a little fear in a defense will help the offensive line.

I don't care what Dak or CDs paycheck is...another weapon is needed to bring out the best in the rest of the guys on offense.

I would leverage Trevon Diggs to make this happen. Nothing against him as a player...but he might net someone who would be the difference between us winning 8 games or 10 games....because he himself is not the difference.

 

[RS12]

Nutshell version: Deeply flawed, somewhere around 500 team. The good news is there are no juggernaughts out there right now.

 

[Rockport]

It always takes at least 4-6 games into a season - maybe more - to start to understand what an NFL team is. The win in Pittsburgh showed grit and the ability to overcome mistakes.The Cowboys have now played 29% of the 2024 season and in my opinion, here are some things that describe this team so far:

OBSERVATIONS OF TEAM SO FAR

• After 5 games, this team has shown that it can bounce back from some adversity after playing two really bad games followed by a couple of gritty wins. But it still has a long way to go IMO be as good as last year’s team.
• This team is very reliant on several rookies who have mostly performed well. Relying on lots of rookies has some ups and downs as they continue to learn the NFL.
• So far this team has looked worse than the 2023 team on offense and are struggling to score more than 20 points per game. A weak running game and a decent passing game make it far less explosive. That has to improve to be a serious playoff contender.
• Mike Zimmer’s new defensive scheme has looked worse than last year too, although injuries have devastated that side of the ball as well. It has improved in the last two games
• Overall this team through 5 games appears to still be struggling to find its identity and IMO lacks offensive firepower to be a playoff contender.

KEY QUESTIONS FOR REST OF SEASON

• Will this team be able to find a running game? (Rico Dowdle has shown some promise)
• Will this team be able to overcome the key injuries that have plagued it early this season?
• Will the front office add some talent on offense? (If not, this offense does not appear to have enough to compete in the playoffs)
• Will the rookies we are relying on develop into reliable starters?
• Will the players continue to play hard for this coaching staff who are all on expiring contracts?

So far the Cowboys have looked like an average NFL team with as many questions as it has strengths. Lots of time to get better but without some additions on offense it will likely continue to struggle to score more than 20.

Other observations?

Good to see one of your threads that actually shows a bit of hope. This after all your doom and gloom threads earlier in the season.

 

[HungryLion]

The team is going to be much better at the end of November and into December than it is today from young players growing and getting healthy (theoretically).

If they're .500 at Thanksgiving, they're a contender in this NFC.

I hope you’re right. I do think there’s a lot of room for improvement on the team given all the youth that is playing.

We also really really really need the injury bug to go away.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

I hope you’re right. I do think there’s a lot of room for improvement on the team given all the youth that is playing.

We also really really really need the injury bug to go away.

I mean, look at what the NFC is. The 9ers are 2-3, the Vikings have Sam Darnold, the Bucs and Falcons are wildly inconsisnent, who knows what the Eagles are.

Other than the Lions - who still have a pretty suspect D - nobody is particularly good.

 

[john van brocklin]

It always takes at least 4-6 games into a season - maybe more - to start to understand what an NFL team is. The win in Pittsburgh showed grit and the ability to overcome mistakes.The Cowboys have now played 29% of the 2024 season and in my opinion, here are some things that describe this team so far:

OBSERVATIONS OF TEAM SO FAR

• After 5 games, this team has shown that it can bounce back from some adversity after playing two really bad games followed by a couple of gritty wins. But it still has a long way to go IMO be as good as last year’s team.
• This team is very reliant on several rookies who have mostly performed well. Relying on lots of rookies has some ups and downs as they continue to learn the NFL.
• So far this team has looked worse than the 2023 team on offense and are struggling to score more than 20 points per game. A weak running game and a decent passing game make it far less explosive. That has to improve to be a serious playoff contender.
• Mike Zimmer’s new defensive scheme has looked worse than last year too, although injuries have devastated that side of the ball as well. It has improved in the last two games
• Overall this team through 5 games appears to still be struggling to find its identity and IMO lacks offensive firepower to be a playoff contender.

KEY QUESTIONS FOR REST OF SEASON

• Will this team be able to find a running game? (Rico Dowdle has shown some promise)
• Will this team be able to overcome the key injuries that have plagued it early this season?
• Will the front office add some talent on offense? (If not, this offense does not appear to have enough to compete in the playoffs)
• Will the rookies we are relying on develop into reliable starters?
• Will the players continue to play hard for this coaching staff who are all on expiring contracts?

So far the Cowboys have looked like an average NFL team with as many questions as it has strengths. Lots of time to get better but without some additions on offense it will likely continue to struggle to score more than 20.

Other observations?

Looks like the ceiling of this team is a wildcard berth and first round exit.
Same ole , same ole.................
Enough to keep us relevant but not enough to make the major changes needed.....
Sigh.....

 

[acr731]

Pittsburg were favorites. Not to mention you yourself predicted a loss. And you were actually rooting for the Cowboys to lose so forgive us if we could care less what you say.

Good luck proving either of those. And for the record, no one cares what you say either. That's why you tend to spew the hate that you do. No one would pay attention to you otherwise.

 

[Havic]

Looks like a .500 team plus or minus a game

 

[jazzcat22]

Taking it one game at a time. I made no assumptions after each of the last 2 wins. Nor will I make one after the Detroit game win or lose.

 

[Diehardblues]

I’m certainly encouraged after this win. I thought we were looking 2-4 square in the face . All the way up to the end .

And I guess why the win was exhilarating for me . I don’t recall when I’ve been so excited about a Cowboys win.

I thought we’d be igniting the dumpster fires during bye. Now 3-3 looks pretty good.

SF at 2-3 doesn’t look quite as daunting as heading into season. It always changes a little from year to year .Just like we aren’t as good of team. There are others. Like Phil looks to be down as well. And Wash def improved.

And who expected Vikings to be 5-0. NFC North looks strong as hell with last place Bears at 3-2. Shoot all of the WC’s could come out of division. I still see Det as my favorite from NFC. But that could change.

I feel much better after Steelers win. With all the injuries and then how we played with turnovers and still finding a way to win. This team usually finds a way to lose.

At least I can get excited for a week. And when you don’t expect to win like again this week against Lions , there’s no place to go but up.

Sometimes we stay too focused on where we are and what we are doing . When I look around the NFC at all of the 3-2 and 2-3 teams Im not really in awe of anyone . We might be able to hang for a WC spot and maybe more if all of the injured guys return.

I still think 9 to 10 wins is possible. At least based on what we have seen thus far.