The 2024 season has been a turbulent ride for the Dallas Cowboys, featuring pivotal wins and challenging losses. The season opener left fans disheartened as the Cowboys dropped consecutive home games, first to the New Orleans Saints with a lopsided 44-19 score, and then narrowly to the Baltimore Ravens, 28-25. However, a glimmer of hope emerged when Dallas clinched a Thursday Night Football victory against the New York Giants, 20-15, improving their overall record to 2-2.
Dak Prescott has proven to be a cornerstone for the Cowboys, particularly against the Giants. The recent win marked Prescott's 13th consecutive triumph over the Giants, tying him for the second-longest quarterback winning streak against a single opponent since at least 1950. In this game, Prescott delivered an efficient performance, amassing 221 yards and completing 22 of his 21 passes – a remarkable feat. Highlighting his poise and precision, Prescott connected with running back Rico Dowdle for a 15-yard touchdown and later launched a 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Another standout performance came from kicker Brandon Aubrey, who nailed field goals from 60 and 40 yards but narrowly missed a 51-yard attempt, breaking his previously flawless record from 50-plus yards. Despite the miss, Aubrey remains impressive, making 16 of 17 attempts from such distances and holding the longest consecutive streak of field goals of 50 or more yards in NFL history.
On the defensive front, the Cowboys' defense showed significant improvement. After conceding a staggering 274 rushing yards to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3, they tightened up considerably against the Giants, allowing a mere 26 rushing yards on 24 carries. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith was particularly instrumental in neutralizing the Giants' run game. However, the victory was marred by injuries to key players Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. Parsons' X-ray results were negative, and he reassured fans, "I'll be good." Conversely, Lawrence's foot injury sidelined him after the third quarter.
The defense also showcased its playmaking abilities with Amani Oruwariye's critical interception in the dying seconds, clinching the win for the Cowboys. Despite this, rising concerns loom over additional injuries, with DaRon Bland suffering from a stress fracture in his foot and Caelen Carson dealing with a shoulder injury.
Offensively, the Cowboys are grappling with their ground game. Averaging just 75.3 rushing yards per game, they rank third-worst in the league. Their struggles are further highlighted by their 3.5 yards per carry average, placing them fourth-worst in the NFL. The longest rush this season, remarkably, is a mere 12 yards, courtesy of CeeDee Lamb. These statistics underline the need for improvement in the rushing attack for Dallas to become a more balanced team.
Despite the challenges, the Cowboys exhibit resilience. "We don't need any Supermans at all. We just need 11 guys playing together. Right now, it's just not in unison," said Parsons, emphasizing the importance of team cohesion. DeMarcus Lawrence echoed similar sentiments, urging his team to "Be credible, f---ing accountable every single play" and to "Get out of playing little league football."
As the Cowboys prepare for their upcoming games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions, the focus will undoubtedly be on maintaining momentum and addressing any shortcomings. The journey to solidify their standing this season will be challenging but achievable with team unity and consistent execution.