On paper, the Dallas Cowboys had a successful 2022 campaign. They finished the year with a 12-5 record and blew out Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in the Wild Card round. In the Divisional round, the Cowboys were matched up with their nemesis the San Francisco 49ers. They were once again bounced from the playoffs by Kyle Shanahan’s team leaving Cowboys fans wanting more. The Cowboys haven’t reached the NFC Championship game since 1996. Dallas will once again try to break that streak heading into next season. Did they do enough this offseason to improve their chances? Find out below as we offer a record prediction for the 2023-2024 season.
The Good
Coming out of Penn State we knew Micah Parsons had all the tools to be successful. What we didn’t know was how good he would be this early on. Parsons has 26.5 sacks in the first two years of his NFL career and is currently the 2023 favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. Parsons has the rare ability to line up all over the defensive backfield causing matchup nightmares for opposing offenses.
Dallas has also solidified the cornerback position by bringing in Stephon Gilmore this offseason. Pairing him with the recently extended Trevon Diggs will give Dallas two lock-down corners going forward. If they can stay healthy the Cowboys should have a top 5 defense next year.
The Bad
The Cowboys had one of the best offensive units under former OC Kellan Moore. That’s why it was a bit perplexing that Dallas decided to let him walk this offseason. Play calling wasn’t the issue for the Cowboys offense, it was more of a combination of shrinking in big games and turnovers. Speaking of turnovers, Dak Prescott had a career-high 15 interceptions in 2022. It’s a cause for concern, so much so that head coach Mike McCarthy vows to run the ball more in 2023. McCarthy will take over the play-calling duties for Dallas and with that comes added pressure. If McCarthy doesn’t make the playoffs he could be out of a job.
The Prediction
When you break down all the factors going into next season it’s hard to see the Dallas Cowboys making a run. The offense will take a step back this year and if Tony Pollard goes down they are in trouble at the running back position. This may end up being McCarthy’s last year in Dallas.
2023 Record: 9-8 (3rd in the Division)
Leave a comment