The blueprint for a Super Bowl run the Dallas Cowboys need to use is simple. No, it’s not hiring a real general manager, but that would be a fantastic start.
The current Dallas Cowboys roster is not too far off, but a few holes must be filled, and we will look at how they should be filled.
As much as I hate to utter these words, I must. The Philadelphia Eagles will be the team to emulate after their utter dominance against the Kansas City Chiefs next season.
Let’s examine what has worked for Super Bowl teams in the past to fix this team and get them ready for a run.
Defense Wins Championships
The old saying, “Defense wins championships,” could not be more accurate after watching the Philadelphia Eagles embarrass Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Defense is a significant factor in the blueprint.
How have other defenses for past Super Bowl champions ranked? We will go back ten years.
2024 Philadelphia Eagles – 2nd in points against (303), 1st in total yards against (4,732), 1st in plays (999), 1st in average yards (4.7)
2023 Kansas City Chiefs – 2nd in points against (294), 2nd in total yards against (4,926), 8th in plays (1,045), 5th in average yards (4.7)
2022 Kansas City Chiefs – 16th in points against (369), 12th in total yards against (5,579), 24th in plays (1,093), 8th in average yards (5.1)
2021 Los Angeles Rams – 15th in points against (372), 17th in total yards against (5,863), 28th in plays (1,118), 10th in average yards (5.2)
2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 8th in points against (355), 6th in total yards against (5,234), 16th in plays (1,023), 6th in average yards (5.1)
If we average these out, the Dallas Cowboys need to be in the ranking range of 8.6 in points against, 7.6 in total yards against, 15.4 in plays, and most importantly, 6th in average yards against.
If the Cowboys can get within these numbers, they have a great shot at reaching the Super Bowl.
Currently, the Cowboys’ defense ranks 31st in points against (468), 28th in total yards against (6,039), 14th in plays (1,046), and 29th in average yards against (5.8).
These numbers will have to drastically improve next year with an entirely new defensive staff.
Sign Big Name Outside Free Agents
The Dallas Cowboys front office is the cheapest when it comes to signing outside free agents, which is a big factor in the blueprint.
The Cowboys front office spent an NFL low on free agents. As the tweet above says, the Cowboys spent $18.85 million in free agency.
Let’s see how that adds up with past Super Bowl Champions.
2024 Philadelphia Eagles – $142, 925,000 (11th)
2023 Kansas City Chiefs – $122, 982, 500 (9th)
2022 Kansas City Chiefs – $84,870,000 (15th)
2021 Los Angeles Rams – $8, 870, 000 (32nd)
2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – $75, 290, 000 (14th)
The average amount spent on free agents for Super Bowl winners is 16.2, a far cry from the Cowboys’ average over the same five-year time span, which is 26.4.
The front office has to step up and sign free agents. Saying they cannot afford outside, big-name free agents is the biggest lie the Jones family can tell.
Several contracts on the Cowboys roster have been built to create cap space, and the Cowboys could get up to $100 million in cap space with three to four moves.
The Running Game is Not a Major Factor
The Dallas Cowboys run game was terrible, really bad, last year, but it is not a major factor in the blueprint.
The Cowboys run game ranked 27th in rushing yards (1,705), 24th in rushing attempts (429), 30th in rushing average (4.0), and 24th in rushing for first downs (98).
The last five Super Bowl winners:
2024 Philadelphia Eagles – 2nd in rushing yards (3,048), 1st in rushing attempts (621), 5th in rushing average (4.9), and 1st in rushing for first downs (164)
2023 Kansas City Chiefs – 19th in rushing yards (1,784), 25th in rushing attempts (417), 13th in rushing average (4.3), and 18th in rushing for first downs (107)
2022 Kansas City Chiefs – 20th in rushing yards (1,970), 24th in rushing attempts (417), 8th in rushing average (4.7), and 19th in rushing for first downs (105)
2021 Los Angeles Rams – 24th in rushing yards (1,683), 23rd in rushing attempts (420), 24th in rushing average (4.0), and 23rd in rushing for first downs (99)
2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 28th in rushing yards (1,519), 29th in rushing attempts (369), 25th in rushing average (4.1), and 30th in rushing for first downs (82)
Just for fun, let’s look at the averages. 18.6 in rushing yards, 20.4 in rushing attempts, 15th in rushing average, and 18.2 in rushing for first downs.
So, basically, they need to be a middle-of-the-pack rushing team.
Getting First Downs is a Good Stat for Super Bowl Teams
Getting first downs is one of the major factors in the blueprint. The last five Super Bowl winners were very good at getting first downs.
2024 Philadelphia Eagles – 6th in first downs (360)
2023 Kansas City Chiefs – 9th in first downs (350)
2022 Kansas City Chiefs – 1st in first downs (408)
2021 Los Angeles Rams – 12th in first downs (355)
2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 10th in first downs (364)
To have a chance at the Super Bowl, the Cowboys should be around 8th in the league in first downs on offense.
This past season, the Cowboys were ranked 17th in first downs on offense, with 327 first downs.
Obviously, many factors contribute to getting to the Super Bowl. These are some of the statistics that could help the Cowboys become a legitimate contender.
Can the Dallas Cowboys use these blueprints? Yes, they can, but the front office must help them. Jerry and Stephen Jones have not been much help in the fee agency realm.
That could stunt the team’s chances of getting to the big game, but as Cowboys fans, we are used to high exceptions being shattered by the Jones family.
The optimist in me wants to believe this is the year, and you know what? I’m going to stick to positivity. The Cowboys will get to the Super Bowl.