The Dallas Cowboys often appear poised to conquer the NFL, yet they frequently trip over their laces right out of the gate, especially during the early playoff rounds. Considering this, what could be the missing piece in this team that prevents it from achieving glory?
Could it be the front office, a single player, or a winning mentality?
Examining the potential issues could reveal what’s preventing the Dallas Cowboys from securing a Super Bowl ring.
The Front Office
The Jones family garners both adoration and hatred from NFL enthusiasts, and the sentiment within the Dallas Cowboys’ fanbase mirrors this division.
Jerry Jones and his family have contributed to the franchise’s golden years, boasting Super Bowl victories, making pivotal coaching changes, and discovering standout talents.
Jerry has turned the Dallas Cowboys into a global brand, transforming the franchise into a billion-dollar enterprise.
The last sentence may be the issue.
Jerry and his family have turned the franchise into a billion-dollar enterprise. The business savvy of this family is almost unmatched, yet…
The team has gone through coach after coach. Throughout the fanbase, Jerry wants a puppet as a head coach. Someone to control and not let call the shots.
This could be the team’s most significant issue. Year after year, we watch the Jones family undermining personnel decisions.
Having an owner masquerade as a general manager leads to problems no coach can overcome. This can be seen throughout the history of the Jones’ ownership of the team.
Is this the problem or the missing piece?
Players
The Cowboys have their share of superstar players. These players range from Dak Prescott, and Micah Parsons, to Ceedee Lamb.
We have major players in nearly every unit on the field, but could we be missing that one true leader who commands respect and expects superior play?
Dak Prescott is a great leader, but does he command the locker room and demand greatness?
Micah Parsons seems to be on his way to being the best defensive player in the NFL, but does his podcast mean more than focusing on the game?
Ceedee Lamb is a top-five wide receiver in the league, but we do not hear much about him from the locker room.
Seems like the team is missing a standout leader like Tom Brady, and that could be the problem.
Is a player with this mentality the missing piece the team needs?
Winning Mentality
As talked about above having a player with the right mentality in the locker room bodes well for the entire team.
We are aware that the Cowboys perform well during the regular season. However, their performance in the playoffs tells a different story.
Winning during the regular season is needed to make it to the playoffs, we all know this, but what happens in the playoffs?
A winning mentality is needed throughout the entire year, not just the regular season.
Does the team have a mentality, it is hard to find one being on the outside looking in.
We frequently hear players discussing their skills and their desire to win, yet they consistently falter when it matters most.
It is difficult for the team to have a cohesive mentality when the coach is in the final year of their contract. The players need a coach whom they know will be there for them, and unfortunately, this team does not have that stability at the moment.
We have several players who are winners dating back to their college days. It’s a team sport, and one person cannot be blamed. However, one person could step up and lead this team.
A winning mentality must be cultivated before the start of the season, and we will soon discover if the Dallas Cowboys possess that mindset.
Is a winning mentality the missing piece?
The Cycle
We explored several areas that could be the issue. Are the Dallas Cowboys in trouble from the top down?
The owner wants to be involved in every aspect, the players appear to only care about their next paycheck, and there seems to be no team mentality.
As a lifelong Cowboys fan, it’s difficult to watch the team falter in the playoffs year after year, after raising my hopes so high throughout the season.
The cycle is brutal for us fans, and if the team cannot find the missing piece, it could repeat for years to come.