After Dallas’ Week 12 win over the Washington Commanders, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith raised a question about what the Cowboys’ record could have been had injuries not derailed their season.
In Sunday’s 34-26 win over the Jayden Daniels-led Commanders, the Cowboys’ defense came through with three turnovers (two interceptions and one forced fumble) in addition to pressuring the rookie QB all afternoon. Though it is only one game, Smith raised an interesting question about a team that has never been fully healthy at any point this campaign.
What Did Stephen A. Smith Say About the Cowboys?
On his popular First Take show, Smith outlined how the Cowboys have “$100 million in cap space on injured reserve.” Smith continued by highlighting how injuries to stars like Dak Prescott, DeMarcus Lawrence, Brandin Cooks, and Trevon Diggs, as well as earlier-season injuries to Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland, have contributed to the Cowboys’ recent struggles.
While other commentators in the video, namely Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Shannon Sharpe, replied to Smith by detailing how nothing would be different if everyone listed was healthy, it does raise some interesting questions about how bad the state of the Cowboys truly is.
Was Yesterday’s Win a Blip, or Is Dallas Back to Their Winning Ways?
Despite the heroic win yesterday in Washington, it seems difficult to imagine the Cooper Rush-led Cowboys have enough in the tank to make a dramatic late playoff push. Though the defense looked much stronger and dangerous, the Cowboys’ win yesterday only boosted them to 4-7 on the season. To put this in perspective, the Commanders currently occupy the final NFC playoff spot and hold a 7-5 record through 12 weeks.
In addition, the upcoming schedule does not get much easier for the Jerry Jones-owned franchise. The next four games see the Cowboys face the New York Giants on Thanksgiving, the Joe Burrow-led Cincinnati Bengals, a rejuvenated Bryce Young-led Carolina Panthers, and a thriving Tampa Bay Buccaneers team.
However, should the Cowboys succeed during this stretch, the final two games feature divisional opponents in the Philadelphia Eagles and the Commanders once again. While it is not impossible (and much crazier things have happened), the recent victory over Washington was one of the only bright spots in what has been a disappointing season by all accounts.
As a result, though it still remains unlikely that the Cowboys will make the playoffs this season, it is clear that Smith believes things may have been different had the club not dealt with crucial injuries for most of the campaign.