One alarming trend the Cowboys need to change in 2022
The Dallas Cowboys bring plenty of sizzle to the NFL. While the glitz and glamour have their place in the game of football, the bottom line is winning, and with five Super Bowl championships, the Cowboys have a history of rising to the occasion. That hasn't been the case since the 1990s. Dallas has not […]
The Dallas Cowboys bring plenty of sizzle to the NFL. While the glitz and glamour have their place in the game of football, the bottom line is winning, and with five Super Bowl championships, the Cowboys have a history of rising to the occasion.
That hasn't been the case since the 1990s. Dallas has not only not won a Super Bowl since that time, but over the last decade and a half, they have shown consistency in one area, and it's not in a good way.
Dallas has made the playoffs just five times since the 2007 season, which is frustrating in itself. What has been truly alarming is the fact that over that span, the Cowboys haven't made back-to-back playoff appearances. Granted, things like injuries have played a factor, but the Cowboys are rarely deprived of talent, if ever. So, the inconsistency they have displayed for quite some time when it comes to making the postseason isn't acceptable.
That certainly won't fly with what the Cowboys currently have on their roster. The offensive line issues have been highlighted, but hopefully, the signing of veteran tackle Jason Peters can put a bandaid on the unit for 2022. However, the Cowboys do have one of the better quarterbacks in Dak Prescott, an effective running game with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, plus a rising star at wide receiver in CeeDee Lamb which should make them tough to deal with for opposing defenses.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys are in great shape. They have the ultimate swiss army knife in All-Pro Micah Parsons who can wreck a game from the linebacker or edge rusher positions. DeMarcus Lawrence may not put up the sack numbers he used to, but he's the Cowboys' best run defender and one of the best in the NFL in that area. The Cowboys' secondary features All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs who led the league in interceptions last season and a deep pool of talent at safety headlined by Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker.
This trend of not making consecutive playoff appearances needs to end especially for one man, head coach Mike McCarthy. Yes, team owner Jerry Jones has publicly given him a vote of confidence this offseason, but not making the postseason in 2022 would give McCarthy two seasons without a playoff appearance in three seasons in Dallas, which could mean the end, especially with the Sean Payton cloud hovering over the team.
Winning 12 games again won't be easy for the Cowboys. However, they have more than enough to be one of the seven NFC teams in the playoffs in 2022 and break this cycle of success followed immediately by failure in Dallas that's been the norm for far too long.
Feature image via Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
