The Dallas Cowboys boast one of the NFL’s most explosive sets of offensive weapons and a revamped defense, but their success in 2021 could hinge on Dak Prescott
Best-case scenario
Dak Prescott returns from last season’s debilitating ankle injury, returns to form, and leads the Dallas Cowboys to the franchise’s first NFC East division championship since 2018.
Prior to getting hurt in Week 5 last season, Prescott was one of the most prolific passers in the league, producing 1,856 yards with nine touchdowns to just four interceptions. If Prescott can push for 4,000-plus yards in an offense with running back Ezekiel Elliott, wide receivers CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, Michal Gallup, behind one of the NFL’s premier offensive lines, this will be a tough team to beat.
Drafting All-America linebacker Micah Parsons out of Penn State in the first round and adding safeties Malik Hooker, Devontae Kazee, Tarell Basham and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn might finally give the Cowboys a defense that’s a worthy complement to their offensive fireworks.
The Cowboys’ ceiling is as a sleeper NFC Championship Game contender.
Worst-case scenario
If Prescott suffers another injury, he’s already undergone a “precautionary” MRI during training camp, and the Cowboys are forced to play backups Garrett Gilbert or Cooper Rush in any meaningful snaps, Dallas’ season could once again fall off the rails for the second year in a row.
Despite all of the talent, if injuries take their toll once again, the Cowboys could find themselves struggling to win six games.
X-factor
After finishing last season as the NFL’s 23rd rank defense, as opponents averaged 386 yards per game, including 158 rushing yards and 227 passing yards per game, it was evident that the Cowboys’ defense from the top-down needed to be rebuilt.
Signing linebacker Keanu Neal has the chance to be a transformative move for the Cowboys’ defense. Neal follows Quinn from the Falcons and is coming off a career-high 100 tackles and one interception last season.
Pairing Neal alongside Micah Parsons and Leighton Vander Esch gives the Cowboys a formidable — and versatile — potentially dominant linebacking corps.
Biggest game – Week 10 at Kansas City
The Cowboys’ rebuilt defense won’t face are more tasking challenge than trying to contain Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and the Kansas City Chiefs. By this point in the season, it will be apparent just how healthy and effective Prescott is coming off of last season’s ankle injury. If Prescott is firing on all cylinders, the Cowboys have the weapons to go toe-to-toe with the defending AFC Champions and establish themselves as legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the process.
Bold prediction
If Prescott can stay on the field for 17 games and the significant investments through free agency and the NFL Draft pay immediate dividends on defense, the Cowboys are talented, explosive, and deep enough to make a run to at least the NFC Championship Game. And they will.