Dallas Cowboys: How the ’21 unit resembles the overachieving ’14 team
By Dink Kearney
Before the start of the 2014 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys were predicted to finish last in the NFC East, and then head coach-Jason Garrett– was expected to be fired because the Cowboys were coming off three-consecutive 8-8 seasons. So basically, the 2014 campaign was expected to be much of the same.
During those three consecutive 8-8 seasons, the Cowboys had the prime opportunity to make the playoffs in the season finale of the “win and get in” scenario. As fate would have it, the Cowboys lost all three games to their divisional rivals in dramatic fashion- New York Giants, Washington Football Team, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
There’s a striking similarity between the ’21 Dallas Cowboys and that team from 2014
The Achilles Heel for the Cowboys then-and now-was their anemic defense. In 2013, the Cowboys defense gave up an NFL record 40 first downs to the Drew Brees led New Orleans Saints in a Monday Night football game. Critics expected that poor play to continue into 2014 – hence the low expectations.
What ties these two teams together more than anything is the low expectations of the defenses and how awful those defenses played the previous year. Dallas’ defense of 2013 ranked 26th and last year’s defense ranked 28th. In the eyes of the critics then and now, the defensive woes far outweigh the eliteness of their powerful offenses.
However, the Cowboys of 2014 shocked the entire league by going 12-4, winning the NFC East and winning their first playoff game in over two decades. Since the 2014 Cowboys are eerily similar to this team, can the Cowboys replicate the success of the 2014 team as underdogs?
I pose this question because the optics are the same. Firstly, just like that team, this defense is viewed as the weakest link. The defense from 2014 was expected to be nonexistent with no play makers in sight, even though they drafted a rookie edge rusher named DeMarcus Lawrence in the second round.
Although this current defense has a few former Pro Bowlers and drafted some elite defensive rookies, the critics still view those former Pro Bowlers and draftees as average at best. In other words, Dallas’ defense didn’t upgrade enough to be an asset to make them a favorite to win at least their division.
Dallas’ defense from 2014 ranked 15th in the league and upset then defending Super Bowl champions, Seattle Seahawks, during the regular season on the road to prove they were the real deal. Just like that Dallas defense, this one can do the same thing because not only does it have more talent to do it, but it has a scheme to fit its defensive personnel, and there are a ton of sleepers that can rise up and make a difference.
Secondly, Dallas’ offense is top-notch like the one from 2014. That 2014 team ranked 5th in the league by scoring nearly 30 points a game. The offense had a top-10 quarterback in Romo, All Pros in wide receiver Dez Bryant and running back DeMarco Murray, with the reliable Jason Witten picking up the slack.
Further, it boasted the best offensive line in the league, and that’s the same for the this current Dallas offense. After an injury-plagued season, the offensive line returns All Pro left tackle Tyron Smith, All Pro guard Zack Martin, and the more than reliable Conner Williams and La’el Collins.
We already know Dak Prescott is expected to make a full recovery from an ankle injury and return to Pro Bowl form, and Dak has the best trio of receivers in the league at his disposal with Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb, followed by tight ends Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz.
In addition, Dallas has Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard to lean on in the running game, similarly to how Dallas leaned on Murray during the 2014 season. And even the coaching draws parallels, too. Garrett was seen as a mediocre coach who couldn’t quite get Dallas over the top, similar to how the media are saying head coach Mike McCarthy might get the axe if he doesn’t at least make a playoff appearance.
Besides, Coach Mac is loaded with offensive weapons. There are no excuses for Dallas not to make the playoffs, regardless of the efficiency of the defense.
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In conclusion,
What ties these two teams together more than anything is the low expectations of the defenses and how awful those defenses played the previous year. Dallas’ defense of 2013 ranked 26th and last year’s defense ranked 28th. In the eyes of the critics then and now, the defensive woes far outweigh the eliteness of their powerful offenses.
Then there are the similarities of the high powered offenses, starting with the franchise quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and highly touted offensive lines. The media plays a major role in that the majority of the talking heads are predicting Dallas will only win seven or eight games at best, while one their divisional rivals (notably the Washington Football Team) win the NFC East.
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Sounds eerily similar to the team of 2014. I can see this current Dallas team replicating the same success as its predecessor and going much further in the playoffs. But let’s hope it doesn’t end on a tragically, controversial, non-touchdown reception in Lambeau Field on a cold, windy day Green Bay.
Now that would be a successful season for the Dallas Cowboys of 2021!