Describing this Cowboys team approximately 29% into the season

[nobody]

They're an enigma right now. What they really need to show is the ability to be resilient after getting punched in the mouth. They're struggling both offensively and defensively, but they are showing at least some fight. The lack of discipline though is going to keep costing them since they seem incapable of cleaning up the penalties.

 

[rambo2]

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?

I'm looking forward to your revisions. Detroit game is a tossup. 4th win would be huge.

 

[rambo2]

They're an enigma right now. What they really need to show is the ability to be resilient after getting punched in the mouth. They're struggling both offensively and defensively, but they are showing at least some fight. The lack of discipline though is going to keep costing them since they seem incapable of cleaning up the penalties.

2 of the 15 yard penalties were iffy.

 

[blueblood70]

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?

easier IN Flux improving and looking UP.. Just get these players back they're finding an identity we haven't lost anyone for the season that I know of so we can make a run on the back end... Sometimes y'all make this way too difficult I like to take it one week at a time but I think slowly and I don't know why this team does this but Mike McCarthy seems to wait till week 5 or week 6 to open up the offense start to find an identity and his play calling starts to find a really good rhythm and I also think Mike Zimmer is finally finding out what he has on this roster and what he can and can't do with them and I think going forward we have a shot we'll see how they show up in the lions and San Francisco game after the bye when they have plenty of time to prepare for San Francisco team that does not look as dangerous as they have in the past it better not be a blowout it better not be an embarrassment because I'll change this at that point...

But I feel this team is finding their way and has a shot to do something at least for the second wild card..

 

[HungryLion]

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.

Everybody is lining up for the right to lose to Mahomes in the Super Bowl.

 

[Bobhaze]

I'm looking forward to your revisions. Detroit game is a tossup. 4th win would be huge.

Revisions of what?

 

[Bobhaze]

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.

 

[rambo2]

Revisions of what?

You have a revision each week. You have gone from they aren't good to they are average. You will revise again next week.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

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.

Yep. They are a work in progress. Can't be anything else given the youth and injuries we have faced. On offense we have missed Ferguson for almost 3 games and now Cooks. The OL is a work in progress with two rookies and now possibly another change at LT moving forward. Biggest disappointment thus far has been the play of Steele. Guyton has struggled but he is a rookie and they really haven't been able to help him much.

Defensively we have played 2 games now with a corner that would normally be 5th or 6th on the depth chart. Missing a pro bowl talent there has hurt and Carson had been a player on the uptick. Losing Tank and Parsons hurts but I think we saw the defense playing a little more assignment focused football and it was effective. The run defense was much better than it was and Pittsburgh still doesn't have much of a passing game. Hopefully Kneeland injury isn't bad, last news I saw said it looked positive moving forward.

Detroit is going to be a huge challenge. They have playmakers across the board on offense and a big play defense with excellent pass rushers. Dallas will have to be on their "A" game to have a chance.

 

[Bobhaze]

Yep. They are a work in progress. Can't be anything else given the youth and injuries we have faced. On offense we have missed Ferguson for almost 3 games and now Cooks. The OL is a work in progress with two rookies and now possibly another change at LT moving forward. Biggest disappointment thus far has been the play of Steele. Guyton has struggled but he is a rookie and they really haven't been able to help him much.

Defensively we have played 2 games now with a corner that would normally be 5th or 6th on the depth chart. Missing a pro bowl talent there has hurt and Carson had been a player on the uptick. Losing Tank and Parsons hurts but I think we saw the defense playing a little more assignment focused football and it was effective. The run defense was much better than it was and Pittsburgh still doesn't have much of a passing game. Hopefully Kneeland injury isn't bad, last news I saw said it looked positive moving forward.

Detroit is going to be a huge challenge. They have playmakers across the board on offense and a big play defense with excellent pass rushers. Dallas will have to be on their "A" game to have a chance.

It’s good we are playing Detroit this week. They will measure our progress.

It‘s interesting that the last time we won a home game was when we beat the lions last December 30th. It’s been nearly ten months since we saw a home win. This week will tell us a lot about our team’s ongoing development.

 

[rambo2]

It’s good we are playing Detroit this week. They will measure our progress.

It‘s interesting that the last time we won a home game was when we beat the lions last December 30th. It’s been nearly ten months since we saw a home win. This week will tell us a lot about our team’s ongoing development.

Winning 3 straight on the road tells us a lot. Bad teams don't do that and average teams don't do that either.

 

[Whirlwin]

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.

I don’t see a team. That’s really better out there except for maybe one or two. We’re more than capable of competing because no one‘s good.

 

[Whirlwin]

I think the entire league this season , anyone capable of beating anyone it’ll be interesting come, December

 

[starfan1]

Winning 3 straight on the road tells us a lot. Bad teams don't do that and average teams don't do that either.

I agree but to be fair good teams don’t lose at home the way we do either

I’m optimistic we’ll continue to improve

 

[rambo2]

I agree but to be fair good teams don’t lose at home the way we do either

I’m optimistic we’ll continue to improve

When was the last time that the Cowboys lost 3 in a row at home? Has to be in the same year.

 

[ChronicCowboy]

Going as I expected so far. I think 9-8 is inevitable. Next 6 games are the tough part of the schedule and I see us going 2-4. Final 6 games are easier and I expect 4-2 there. 50/50 shot of making playoffs at 9-8.

 

[diamonddelts]

Same ol' ish. Will bend the knee to any above .500 team with a formidable QB

 

[75boyz]

Going as I expected so far. I think 9-8 is inevitable. Next 6 games are the tough part of the schedule and I see us going 2-4. Final 6 games are easier and I expect 4-2 there. 50/50 shot of making playoffs at 9-8.

Yep, I see it pretty much the same.

 

[G2]

They're Meh

 

[HungryLion]

I don’t see a team. That’s really better out there except for maybe one or two. We’re more than capable of competing because no one‘s good.

Call me
When the cowboys actually beat a good team.

Because they got spanked by the two ok teams they’ve played so far.