The Dallas Cowboys, often referred to as “America’s Team,” have long been a staple of NFL excitement and drama. However, despite their illustrious name and the high hopes of their ardent fans, the Cowboys have recently been tagged as one of the most overrated teams in the NFL. This designation comes amidst their surprisingly high odds (+700) to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl—a sentiment that paints a stark contrast to their actual performances when the stakes are highest.
Dallas Cowboys- Regular Season Heroes, Playoff Zeroes?
Under the stewardship of Mike McCarthy and the leadership of stars like Dak Prescott and Jerry Jones, the Cowboys have not shied away from dominating the regular season. Dak Prescott’s league-leading 36 touchdown passes and CeeDee Lamb’s standout performances as one of the NFL’s top receivers paint the picture of a team that should be a playoff juggernaut. Yet, the reality is much more sobering.
David Kenyon of Bleacher Report categorizes the Cowboys firmly in the “overrated” camp. Despite predicting another NFC East division title for Dallas, Kenyon is skeptical about their potential to make a significant impact in the postseason. “The Cowboys have registered three straight 12-win campaigns, nailing down a couple of division crowns during that span. However, they have won just one playoff game these last three years,” Kenyon points out.
If Dak Prescott did this the world would end pic.twitter.com/QH2XkaBNth
— Ernie The Cowboys Fan (@es3_09) January 28, 2024
A Tale of Repeated Disappointments
The crux of the Cowboys’ recent narrative has been their inability to translate regular season success into postseason victories. The vivid memory of their 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round back in January serves as a painful reminder. Despite entering the playoffs as purported Super Bowl contenders, the Cowboys’ aspirations were dismantled swiftly, with the Packers overwhelming them early on, essentially sealing the game by halftime.
The history of postseason underachievement stretches back even further, with the team failing to advance past the Divisional Round since January 1996. Over the decades, Dallas has amassed just four playoff wins, a record that stands in embarrassing contrast to their high-profile image.
Looking Ahead: Modest Expectations for 2024
As the 2024 season approaches, the expectations for the Cowboys seem to be tempered. While some analysts still hold out hope for a strong showing, there is a growing sentiment that Dallas might even miss the playoffs entirely. This skepticism might be what the Cowboys need to recalibrate and focus on breaking their playoff curse, rather than merely excelling in the regular season.
For the Cowboys and their legion of fans, the upcoming season is yet another opportunity to shake off the “overrated” label and finally fulfill the promise that their regular-season performances suggest. Whether they will rise to the occasion or add another chapter to their history of playoff disappointments remains one of the intriguing storylines of the NFL.
