Why we should be very optimistic about the Dallas Cowboys chances in 2024

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When a season ends in the manner the Dallas Cowboys‘ one did, it’s perfectly natural to feel hopeless.

It’s also fair to say bringing back Mike McCarthy doesn’t make fans feel good about their Super Bowl chances next season.

While there’s a lot of pessimism surrounding this team right now, there’s a lot of upside to this team in 2024.

The Competition

The criticism surrounding the Cowboys during the most recent regular season was that they didn’t often face a formidable opponent.

Indeed, only six of their 2023 opponents made the postseason, and just seven ended with winning records.

Dallas beat four of those winning teams including a 1-1 versus Philly.

One of their other victories came against a team vying for a place in the Super Bowl this weekend, the Detroit Lions.

They might not have shown it in the playoffs, but Dallas has some elite players with plenty of incentives to play well in 2024.

We don’t know when their games will occur, but we know their opponents and it seems their matchups will be tougher next season.

At home, they’ll face Houston and rookie of the year shoe-in C.J. Stroud, plus the #1 seed in the AFC and likely league MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, along with the Bucs, Lions, Bengals, Commanders, Giants and Eagles.

There are the Browns, Steelers, Panthers, Falcons, 49ers, Eagles, Commanders and Giants on the road.

That’s nine games against 2023 playoff teams counting both matchups with Philly.

There’s a good chance some of those opponents with losing records last season may be better in 2024.

Another year in Carolina for Bryce Young might be promising for them.

If the Falcons get Bill Belichick, there’ll be a lot of hype around them, plus the Bengals will have Joe Burrow back, and perhaps a new coach bump will elevate Washington.

Onward and Upward

The season might have ended on a sour note, but this team should be highly motivated in 2024.

First, I don’t foresee quite as many gimme games, and though we won’t know who’s weak or strong until the season plays out, these players know their competition is stiffer and that they’ll need to up their game.

Then there’s making a statement and shutting up the naysayers, and you can bet the Skip Bayless’ and Stephen A. Smiths‘ of the world will be cutting them down at every turn.

As discouraging as the loss to Green Bay was, let’s remember many key Cowboy players are just reaching their peak.

In 2024 Micah Parsons is entering year four, CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs five, while DaRon Bland and Jake Ferguson will enter their third seasons.

Dak Prescott needs to get over his playoff mental block, but he shone brightly in the 2023 regular season.

All those players put up incredible numbers, but many I believe will only get better because of their ages and many are just starting to hit their prime.

Winning a title, more often than not, takes time; case in point, Peyton and Eli Manning, among others.

Also, not to scare you, but McCarthy, Prescott, Lamb, Parsons, Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence are all out of contract at the end of 2024.

The positive about that is there’s plenty of motivation for them to do well and earn the big bucks.

No matter how you slice it, there’s more to look forward to than we might think right now.