NFL Analysis
9/22/24
4 min read
Who's To Blame for Dallas Cowboys' Poor Start to 2024 Season?
The Dallas Cowboys came into this season as Super Bowl hopefuls. They'll be lucky to get into the playoffs if the last two games are any indication.
Despite a spirited comeback attempt, the Cowboys fell 28-25 to the Baltimore Ravens, making them 1-2 on the season. The Cowboys were originally down 28-6 but scored 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter while attempting an improbable comeback.
At 1-2, the Cowboys are already behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East race, and based on some of their biggest weaknesses, it will be an uphill battle to make the playoffs.
What's Wrong with the Cowboys?
The Cowboys may have capped off the preseason with extensions for two of their biggest stars, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, but that didn't address the team's serious issue in the trenches.
There were key losses up front on offense and defense that went unaddressed this offseason. The Cowboys lost two starting offensive linemen, Tyler Biadasz and five-time All-Pro Tyron Smith, and tried to replace them with a pair of rookies in Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe.
Those moves aren't upgrades. Prior to Sunday's game, Guyton had been Pro Football Focus's second-lowest-graded player on the offense, allowing nine pressures and three sacks.
Along with pressure on Prescott, the new-look offensive line has struggled to get the run game going. In the last two games, they've run for just 119 yards while averaging 3.2 yards per carry.
The defensive line was also gutted, with key contributors Dorance Armstrong, Neville Gallimore, and Johnathan Hankins leaving in free agency. That lack of depth up front has led to the Cowboys being bullied against the run during the last two games.
Between the Ravens and New Orleans Saints, the Cowboys have given up a combined 464 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Those two opponents averaged a combined 5.5 yards per carry, carving up the Cowboys' front seven.
Playing against running backs like Derrick Henry and Alvin Kamara didn't help, but the Cowboys still gave up massive rushing lanes up front.
🚨 @KingHenry_2 STIFF ARM!!!!! 🚨
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 22, 2024
Tune in on FOX!!! pic.twitter.com/xgl4hASBel
Micah Parsons has been a dominant edge rusher, but the Cowboys lack any kind of impact player at off-ball linebacker.
The Cowboys opted not to shore up the defensive line while leaning on rookies on the offensive line. That strategy hasn't paid off so far and could be a lingering issue throughout the 2024 season.
Is Mike McCarthy on the Hot Seat?
If things get much worse for the Cowboys, Jerry Jones could quickly pull the plug on coach Mike McCarthy.
Jones brought in the former Green Bay Packers head coach in 2020. After a slow start in his first year, McCarthy helped turn the Cowboys around with two NFC East titles over the last three seasons. He has a strong 43-26 record in the regular season, but the lack of postseason success has McCarthy on the hot seat.
Despite three straight trips to the playoffs, the Cowboys have a disappointing 1-3 postseason record. Last year was supposed to be the year that Dallas made a deep playoff run behind a high-flying offense, but a 48-32 blowout loss to the Packers ended those dreams before they began.
The Cowboys could move on from McCarthy after this season with some interesting names available to them. Legendary head coach Bill Belichick is spending this season heavily involved with multiple media outlets, but Jones has previously stated that he'd love to work with the former New England Patriots head coach.
Mike Vrabel would also be an exciting option for Cowboys fans. Despite working with an average roster with the Tennessee Titans, he led the team to back-to-back division titles and a 54-45 record in the regular season in his first time operating as a head coach.
Other potentially available coaches could include up-and-coming coordinators like Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson and Carolina Panthers DC Ejiro Evero.
Jones defended McCarthy after the team's playoff loss to Green Bay, justifying bringing the head coach back for 2024. However, if the Cowboys can't even get to the playoffs in 2024, then McCarthy will have his bags packed for him on the way out.