The Dallas Cowboys have embarked on a tumultuous journey as their 2024 season kicks off, experiencing both pivotal victories and challenging defeats. The early stages of the season were marked by consecutive home losses, shaking the team and their supporters.
Early Season Struggles
In the first three weeks, the Cowboys faced tough opponents and succumbed to back-to-back defeats at AT&T Stadium. The New Orleans Saints stormed through with a commanding 44-19 victory, followed by the Baltimore Ravens edging out the Cowboys in a nail-biting 28-25 finish. These home defeats put the Cowboys in a difficult position early on, raising questions about their defense and overall performance.
A Crucial Win
However, the narrative took a sharp turn during Week 4 as the Cowboys clashed with the New York Giants on "Thursday Night Football." In a tightly contested battle, Dallas emerged victorious with a 20-15 win, balancing their record at 2-2. This victory was notable for quarterback Dak Prescott, who secured his 13th consecutive win against the Giants, tying for the second-longest win streak by a quarterback against a single opponent since at least 1950.
Prescott and Aubrey Shine
Prescott had an impressive performance, throwing for 221 yards and completing 22 of his 21 passes. His precision was on full display as he connected with running back Rico Dowdle for a 15-yard touchdown and orchestrated a 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. This dynamic play helped the Cowboys secure a much-needed win.
On the special teams front, kicker Brandon Aubrey demonstrated his powerful leg, making field goals from 60 and 40 yards. Despite missing a 51-yard attempt that snapped his perfect streak, Aubrey is now 16 of 17 from 50-plus yards, holding the longest consecutive streak of field goals from such distances in NFL history.
Defensive Fortunes
The Cowboys' defense showed signs of recovery after previous struggles. In Week 3, they allowed a staggering 274 rushing yards against the Baltimore Ravens, a performance that underscored their vulnerabilities. However, they rebounded significantly against the Giants, limiting their opponents to just 26 rushing yards on 24 carries. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith played a key role in shutting down the Giants' running game.
Despite the improved defensive performance, the team faced injury setbacks. Defensive stalwarts Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence were both injured in the second half. Lawrence's foot injury sidelined him after the third quarter, while Parsons' X-ray results fortunately came back negative. Expressing his determination, Parsons stated, "I'll be good."
Cornerback Amani Oruwariye delivered a game-sealing interception with 15 seconds left, ensuring the Cowboys' victory. However, the defensive unit remains thin, with both DaRon Bland suffering from a stress fracture in his foot and Caelen Carson dealing with a shoulder injury.
Offensive Challenges
The Cowboys' offense, while showing glimpses of promise, continues to struggle with its running game. Averaging only 75.3 rushing yards per game, they rank third-worst in the NFL this season. Their average of 3.5 yards per carry is the fourth-worst in the league, highlighting an area in dire need of improvement. Notably, CeeDee Lamb's 12-yard rush stands as the longest for the Cowboys this season, a testament to their ground game struggles.
In response to the team's inconsistent play, DeMarcus Lawrence emphasized accountability and unity, saying, "Be credible, f---ing accountable every single play," and "Get out of playing little league football." Parsons echoed the sentiment, urging the team to play cohesively: "We don't need any Supermans at all. We just need 11 guys playing together. Right now, it's just not in unison."
The Cowboys are now looking ahead to their upcoming matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions, where they hope to build on their recent win and address the challenges that have plagued their season thus far. With key players recovering from injuries and the defense showing signs of resilience, Dallas aims to find consistency and steer their season towards a more promising direction.