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The Dallas Cowboys are the most heavily-scrutinized team in the NFL, which comes with the territory when you are labeled “America’s Team.”
The problem for the Cowboys is that for the most popular squad in the sport, they have not been very successful for the better part of the last three decades.
Dallas last won a Super Bowl back in January 1996. Since then, the Cowboys have not even reached the NFC Championship Game and have collected just four playoff wins throughout that span.
No matter who is coaching the team or who is playing quarterback, Dallas just can’t seem to shake those postseason demons.
For example, each of the last three years, the Cowboys have won 12 games, but they have won just one playoff game during that time. This past season, Dallas was routed by the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
Will things change for the Cowboys heading into 2024?
Former NFL wide receiver Greg Jennings isn’t so sure and thinks that the ghosts of years past will always haunt Dallas once January arrives.
SB Champ @GregJennings believes there's a "Dark Cloud" looming over the entire Dallas #Cowboys Franchise…
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 22, 2024️
"When they step on that field in the postseason, they are reminded of what they have YET been able to do… and that starts to weigh on you." @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/SRRwKhKkil
It really is strange how poorly the Cowboys play once the playoffs roll around.
Let’s take this past year for instance.
Dallas went undefeated at home during the regular season and looked absolutely dominant for stretches. Dak Prescott led the league with 36 touchdown passes and won MVP. CeeDee Lamb was a First-Team All-Pro at wide receiver. The defense was fierce.
But then, the upstart Green Bay Packers—who made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth—went into AT&T Stadium and essentially ended the Cowboys’ season by halftime. They were up 27-0 at one point, and ended up winning 48-32. Most of those points Dallas scored came with the game already well in hand.
So what happened to the Cowboys during that contest?
Perhaps all of the pressure got to them, which is exactly what Jennings is talking about.
Especially in today’s social media era, players hear and see a whole lot of what is said about them and their team. Dallas’ players surely knows about the history of the franchise and how the team has barely had any legitimate success for most of the last 30 years. That’s all in front of them.
As a result, they might get a little tight once the calendar hits January.
We’ll see if the Cowboys can finally break through next season, but it feels like we say this every year.
More must-reads:
- Tee Higgins' contract decision adds pressure on Bengals in 2024
- Ravens All-Pro safety undergoes minor surgery
- The 'Multiple seasons with 2000+ scrimmage yards' quiz
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