The Cowboys are the new “Greatest Show on Turf”

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Over the years, many memorable nicknames have defined NFL teams.

Among the most well-known of recent days, there’s the Denver Broncos’ “No Fly Zone”, the Seattle Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom”, and the YAC Bros in San Francisco (Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle).

Perhaps the biggest in the late 20th and early 21st century was the St. Louis Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf.

The Rams offense, led by Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, lit up opposing defenses.

In 2023, the same can be said about the Dallas Cowboys.

The current edition of America’s Team isn’t just winning games on turf; they’re smashing their opponents in those contests.

There are several parallels between the 2023 Cowboys and the Rams during the Kurt Warner era.

Surf and Turf

During their Super Bowl-winning season in 1999, the St. Louis offense under coordinator Mike Martz was a sight to see.

PT Barnum put together a circus act he called “The Greatest Show on Earth”, and Martz’s group were an offensive show that was hard to rival.

In 99, they set a team record by scoring 526 points, leading the league in passing (4,580 yards), yards per pass attempt (8.64), passing TDs (41) and total offensive yards (6,639) lifting the Lombardi Trophy that season.

They scored 540 and 503 points in the 2000 and 2001 campaigns, winning the NFC title in that latter season.

Warner, Faulk and offensive lineman Orlando Pace all played a big part of the Rams in those days and they’ve all since been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

With Mike McCarthy calling the offensive plays in Dallas, the Cowboys have been spectacular.

After 12 games this season, they have scored a league-high 2888 points.

If they can maintain their 32.3 points-per-game average between now and the end of the season, Dallas will have scored more than the Rams during those glory years.

The Cowboys’ 26 passing touchdowns this year are slightly above two per game, close to the Rams’ totals in 99, 2000 and 01.

Dallas is currently averaging 7.8 yards passing per game; the Rams in the late 90s and early 2000s averaged 8.64, 9.36 and 8.90, respectively.

Cowboys’ offense artificially unstoppable

As much criticism as artificial turf receives, the Cowboys have thrived on those fields.

Coming into game #13 of this season, the Cowboys have 3,161 net passing yards, averaging 264.4 per contest.

If they can maintain that pace over the next five weeks, Dallas would end with 4,478, slightly below the Rams’ Super Bowl team of 99.

Of their remaining games, only the Washington Commanders are in the bottom half of the NFL’s defensive statistics.

Not since a 25-22 defeat versus the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 have the Cowboys lost on artificial turf.

That was additionally the last time Dallas suffered a defeat on their home field.

This season, the three Cowboys’ losses came on grass surfaces in Glendale, Santa Clara and Philly.

All nine of their wins in 2023 came on artificial turf, with Dallas outscoring their opponents 339-122 over that stretch, an average of over 37 points per game.

Two of their final five games will take place on grass, versus the Miami Dolphins on Christmas Eve and at FedEx Field in the regular season finale.