Dallas Cowboys will be in the NFL playoffs in 2014 if…

Dec 22, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) is congratulated by Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams (83) after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

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If: Quarterback Tony Romo gets a little help from the running game. We all know what the former undrafted free agent can do when it comes to throwing the football. Far from perfect and inclined to make the inopportune mistake, the positives have still far outweighed the negatives when it comes to the Dallas signal-caller.

Over the past three seasons, Romo has thrown a combined 90 touchdown passes compared to only 39 interceptions. Conversely, the Cowboys have finished 18th, 31st and 24th in the league in rushing, respectively, over those three seasons.

In 2013, running back DeMarco Murray wound up in the Pro Bowl but may have totaled the quietest 1,121 rushing yards in league annals. All kidding aside, the lack of commitment to the ground attack, whether the team is ahead or behind, is mystifying. This past season, the Cowboys totaled fewer than 100 yards rushing in 11 out of 16 games and in eight of those 16 contests, the team totaled fewer than 20 rushing attempts.

With a little more balance, which would also keep a troubled defensive unit off the field, could you actually see bigger numbers from wide receivers Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams, as well as ageless tight end Jason Witten?

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