The Dallas Cowboys suffered their third straight loss in Week 9, falling 27-21 to the Atlanta Falcons. The Cowboys are 3-5 — a season with high expectations is rapidly disintegrating. How has Dallas’ season gone so wrong so quickly, and is there any hope of a turnaround?
Can the Cowboys Still Make the Playoffs After Loss to the Falcons?
Quarterback Dak Prescott left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. While watching the end of the game from the sidelines, Prescott was caught on camera delivering a blunt assessment of his team’s season.
Dak knows…. pic.twitter.com/xq5g4NAC2j
— Shan Shariff (@1053SS) November 3, 2024
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, the data supports Prescott’s assessment. PFN’s Playoff Predictor projects the Cowboys with a 6.0% chance to reach the playoffs, pending the Sunday night result.
While the pass rush will improve with Micah Parsons’ imminent return, the Cowboys allowed 26.0 points per game in four games that Parsons played, which ranked 27th. As impactful as a superstar edge rusher can be, the Cowboys have performed like a team that’s years away from true contention again.
Entering the week, the Cowboys ranked 25th in PFN’s Power Rankings. Those rankings combine PFN’s Offense+ and Defense+ metrics, which take a variety of situational EPA and success rate factors into account.
Dallas ranked 22nd in offense and 26th in defense entering Week 9, and neither is likely to improve after the dispiriting loss to Atlanta. For context, only two other teams are ranked 20th or worse in both categories entering the week:
- The Carolina Panthers (27th in offense, 32nd in defense)
- The New England Patriots (30th in offense, 28th in defense)
- The Las Vegas Raiders (28th in offense, 21st in defense)
All of those are clear rebuilding teams. This isn’t a case of poor luck for the Cowboys, whose minus-54 point differential ranks 25th. There’s simply no evidence that the 2024 Cowboys bear any resemblance to the Dallas teams that posted three straight 12-win seasons.
What Will the Cowboys Do at the NFL Trade Deadline?
Despite the discouraging picture, owner Jerry Jones sounds resolute on trying to contend in 2024. Speaking after the game, Jones suggested the Cowboys would make a move to improve the team by Tuesday’s trade deadline.
“We’ll probably do a couple things this week,” Jones said. “I’m a long way from being dismayed about this team this year.”
But as illustrated above, it’s difficult to pinpoint where Dallas should even start. The wide receiver market has been active, and the Cowboys could certainly use help for CeeDee Lamb. However, that would do nothing to address the team’s 31st-ranked rushing offense (3.8 yards per carry).
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the team “has some things in the mix” ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, indicating Dallas could be buyers at the deadline.
“We’ll probably do a couple things this week..I’m a long way from being dismayed about this team this year.”#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/wUCHwchnR9
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) November 3, 2024
Jones’ tone matches what his son Stephen said prior to Week 9. The Cowboys director of player personnel said, “If the right deal pops itself up, then we’ll certainly look at that,” per The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
Given that truly big names such as Maxx Crosby and Cooper Kupp don’t seem to be on the table, it’s not even clear that a season-changing acquisition is on the table. If the Cowboys are truly “all-in” now after proclaiming they would be during the offseason, it’s far too little, too late.