Through four weeks, the Dallas Cowboys are sitting at 1-2-1, good for third place in the NFC East and currently holding the fourth-lowest playoff odds in the NFC.
Count me among Cowboys fans that believe Jerry and Stephen Jones are hurting the team more than they are helping. If trading Micah Parsons days before the start of the season was the only negative blemish on the roster heading into the season that would be one thing, because you can talk yourself into that trade working out in the long-term for the team. But there are other things, and the Cowboys are currently wasting a fantastic start from quarterback Dak Prescott to the season.
Through four weeks, Prescott currently ranks first in total plays, second in adjusted EPA/play, fifth in actual EPA, and first in adjusted EPA (accounting for drops, sacks, turnovers, strength of schedule, and weather). Prescott is currently playing the best football of his career with less than ideal support – with CeeDee Lamb inured, Tyler Booker injured, Cooper Beebe injured, and Tyler Smith and KaVontae Turpin’s availability now uncertain for week five.
Prescott is currently putting on his cape and trying his best to be Superman for a team that is dealing with injuries to multiple difference makers on offense. To make matters worse, the defensive side of the ball is playing about as poorly as you can play defense in the NFL.
After allowing DeMarcus Lawrence, Chauncey Golston, Jourdan Lewis, and Erik Kendricks to walk in free agency, the Jones’ replaced them with Dante Fowler, Kaiir Elam, Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray. All four of the key acquisitions have been major disappointments in the Cowboys first four games, and have played a hand in the Cowboys defense being ranked 32nd in EPA/play, 31st in success rate, 32nd in dropback EPA, 31st in dropback success rate, 25th in rush EPA, and 23rd in rush success rate. Jerry has stated multiple times how he thought the trade of Micah Parsons would make the defense better in 2025, and through four games that could not be further from the truth.
Maybe, just maybe, trading a generational pass rusher in his prime, during the key offensive pieces prime was a really poor idea.
For Prescott, the cape will need to stay on, and he will need to continue to play at a MVP level to give the Cowboys any chance of winning, no matter the opponent. There’s hope that the defense is making somewhat of a turn, and with CeeDee Lamb and Tyler Booker working their way back things should start to get better before they get worse.
We’re not asking for much. A below average defense would likely have the Dallas Cowboys at a 3-1 or 4-0 record, but this is the bed the Jones’ made, and it’s just unfortunate that were witnessing this prime start from Dak Prescott, paired with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, go to waste, with Prescott playing like one of the top quarterbacks in the National Football League.
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