The Dallas Cowboys have not performed well in the postseason for a very long time. Throughout the past quarter-century, “ America’s Team” has won a total of four playoff games. At no point during that period have they strung together two postseason wins.
Will the Cowboys turn things around in 2024?
Recent, Strong Regular-Season Performances
The Cowboys have had impressive 12-5 records in each of the past three regular seasons, winning the NFC East in 2021 and 2023. Dallas has won the NFC East five other times in the 21st century — in 2007, 2009, 2014, 2016, and 2018.
Postseason Failure
The recent success of the Cowboys during the regular season has not translated into postseason success. Dallas only has a 1-3 record in the playoffs over the last three seasons. Their lone playoff win in that period came in a wild-card game against Tampa Bay, but after that victory, they were knocked off in the divisional round by the San Francisco 49ers.
And as noted above, the Cowboys have a total of only four playoff victories in the 21st century. In addition to the wild-card triumph over the Buccaneers following the 2022 season, the other three playoff victories came in wild-card games following the 2009, 2014, and 2018 seasons.
The last Super Bowl the Cowboys won was Super Bowl XXX. That game was played on January 28, 1996, following the 1995 season.
The Prospects of the Dallas Cowboys Going Forward
The Cowboys have suffered significant losses to free agency this offseason:
- 13-year-veteran starting offensive lineman Tyron Smith signed with the New York Jets. Smith was a stand-out tackle for the USC Trojans from 2008 to 2010. The Cowboys selected him with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He started 161 games for Dallas over 13 seasons. He is a two-time first-team All-Pro. Smith is one of the best tackles in the NFL
- Starting center Tyler Biadasz signed with the Washington Commanders. Biadasz was a consensus All-American at Wisconsin. The Cowboys drafted him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He started 53 games over four seasons. In 2023, he was selected to the Pro Bowl.
- 26-year-old Tony Pollard , who had two seasons in which he rushed for over 1,000 yards for the Cowboys, signed with the Tennessee Titans. Pollard was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022.
- Six-year-veteran defensive end Dorance Armstrong signed a three-year $45-million deal with the Washington Commanders this offseason. He started eleven games for the Cowboys in 2023.
- Eleven-year veteran starting nose tackle Johnathan Hankins signed with the Seattle Seahawks. Hankins started 14 games for Dallas last season.
With the losses of Smith and Biadasz, many expect the Cowboys to focus on the offensive line in the 2024 NFL Draft. Here’s a look at the picks the Cowboys have in the upcoming draft:
- Round 1: No. 24
- Round 2: No. 56
- Round 3: No. 87
- Round 5: No. 174
- Round 6: No. 216
- Round 7: No. 233 (from LV)
- Round 7: No. 244
Dallas has made a few acquisitions in free agency this offseason, including the signings of All-Pro LB Eric Kendricks and backup RB Royce Freeman to one-year deals.
QB Dak Prescott is in the final year of his current contract. All-Pro WR CeeDee Lamb, who has been skipping the Cowboys’ voluntary offseason program, while negotiating his contract, is set to play the 2024 season on a one-year $17.2 million deal. Thus, 2024 looks to be a pivotal year for the Cowboys.
If the Cowboys don’t have a successful run in the playoffs this year, many Cowboys observers believe the team will blow things up and commence a rebuild.
More must-reads: