For decades the success or failure of a Dallas Cowboys season was determined by the Super Bowl. They were constant title contenders, and any lack of playoff success would be looked at as a step back. The standards were high but they performed to them time and time again.
Now, though, things are quite different in Dallas. I mean, some may consider 2020 successful if we even have a season at all. But given there is a full 16 game season this Fall, what would make it a successful one for these Cowboys?
Bleacher Report deemed that a trip to the NFC Championship game is what would make 2020 a success for America’s Team. And, of course, it would certainly be an accomplishment we haven’t seen out of the Cowboys for over two decades.
“The team has far too much high-priced talent to miss the playoffs, but even a short postseason run might not suffice considering what Dallas is paying its stars.”
But is the NFC Championship game the line between success and failure this season?
When you look down the Cowboys roster you see stars. Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper – just to name a few. But the vast majority of these stars are on the offensive side of the ball. The Cowboys lost two top defensive contributors this offseason in Byron Jones and Robert Quinn, and despite drafting well on both sides of the ball they will be relying on some unproven (or formerly underperforming) talent to get the job done both in the defensive backfield and opposite DeMarcus Lawrence.
For the Cowboys to reach this successful mark, their defensive stars will need to play to their 2018 levels. Leighton Vander Esch will have to remain healthy, Jaylon Smith will need a bounce back year he is certainly capable of, and DeMarcus Lawrence must continue to play to his dominant form.
All of this can happen of course. But one move would make it a whole lot easier for this defense to perfectly compliment that high powered offense on the other side.
A trade for Jets Safety Jamal Adams.
Given the Cowboys current depth at safety and the question marks which remain at cornerback, Adams is the obvious final piece to a potential championship roster.
It’s true that an NFC Title game appearance may be an achievement which would satisfy fans for the time being in 2020, but adding Jamal Adams would make the Cowboys true Super Bowl contenders.
And considering the dollar amounts being given to players and the win-now moves the front office is looking to make, shouldn’t it be Super Bowl or bust anyway?
