If you could measure the level of excitement for the upcoming Dallas Cowboys season, it would be somewhere between 1.20 and 1.22 gigawatts. For those who slept through science class, that’s over a billion watts of excitement. It feels good, and it’s not lost on us that this team is coming off of two straight losing seasons.
One might think, here we go again, typical Cowboys’ optimism despite not even considering if things didn’t go as planned. Not true. We’ve considered it and shared those particular unsettling items with you yesterday.
Today, we bring you happier thoughts as we talk about what could happen if the stars line up just right for our beloved Cowboys. Parker is the real deal
From the moment the defense steps on the field, all eyes will be on Christian Parker’s group. Promises of a new scheme have set high expectations for this unit. Obviously, things will be better, but mediocre is not the benchmark. For the Cowboys to be true contenders, the defense must find its way into the top 10 in efficiency. That means that fancy words like “multiple,” “gap-and-a-half,” and “Star” must deliver on their promises of confusing quarterbacks and creating opportunities for defenders to affect the play.
No one expects things to be magically fixed overnight, but if the defense starts out of the gate with some noticeable improvements, that’s a good sign that things are trending in the right direction. The offense is hyper-efficient
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Being better on defense is crucial, but let’s be real. If this team is going places, it’s going to be because of the offense. In year two of Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams, the offense is poised to continue their excellence.
With a physical rushing attack and the best wide receiving duo in football, the table is set for good stuff. Concerns at tackle make some wonder if the offense has limitations, but the Cowboys’ scheme has already been dealing with that, and it hasn’t held them back. For this offense, the stars will shine as Dak Prescott has never had it this good with two monster playmaking receivers at his disposal. They have an all-hands-on-deck pass-blocking group that features excellent chip blocking from players like Brevyn Spann-Ford, Hunter Luepke, and Javonte Williams, although nobody much talks about that.
The Cowboys have done something crafty. They have increased their floor by having all these security measures in place to protect Prescott, while still having the firepower to be absolutely explosive.
In the end, this offense is poised for big things. The GOTI stuff is silly, but if the Cowboys come out of this season with the greatest offense of 2026, it will surprise no one. They have the tools to pull it off. Difference-making new guys
Never have we had an offseason where fans have praised the Cowboys’ front office so much. All the shrapnel from the Micah Parsons trade has subsided as everyone is focused on all the new cars in the driveway. There is no guarantee that these new faces will deliver good things, but there’s a fair chance some will. Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark are great players.
Any notion that their better days are behind them is completely dismissed, and they should be one of the most talented defensive tackle duos in the league, and that doesn’t even take into account third-wheel Otito Ogbannia, who has done nothing but quietly impress the coaches. But the trio in the back may be equally as impressive as the trio upfront. The new safety team of Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, and incumbent Malik Hooker offers the defense the most dynamic safety group this team has had in decades. And it doesn’t stop there. There’s a new trio of pass rushers added to the group with Rashan Gary, Malachi Lawrence, and Von Miller added to the rotation. New acquisition linebackers Dee Winters and Jaishawn Barham join the fun, and cornerback Cobie Durant is rarely mentioned simply because there are so many other guys to talk about. The Cowboys have thrown so many darts at fixing this defense that if just half of them stick, it’s going to lead to a huge turnaround for this unit.
Schotty effect
The jury is still out on the second-year head coach, but if all this culture stuff turns into something, this could finally be the key factor that helps this squad get over the divisional round hump. Schottenheimer has created the perfect emotional bedrock for a deep playoff run. He brings high levels of enthusiasm with a clear message that mistakes will be corrected, one way or another. He fosters trust and chemistry, insisting on a unified, high-morale football culture. If Schottenheimer is on to something, then just maybe, all the talent the Cowboys have rustled up will finally amount to something in January. It’s what’s held this team back in the past, and if they finally have the right coaches in the right places, this could be the factor that brings the Cowboys back to their championship ways.
Can you think of anything else? What is something that could happen that could help the Cowboys be contenders again?
