NFL Power Rankings 2021: Dallas Cowboys, No.10 ahead of training camp
Although the Dallas Cowboys were put into a position where they had to start the fourth string quarterback, the team wasn’t officially eliminated from the playoffs until Week 17. With prescott" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dak Prescott suffering a gruesome ankle injury in Week 5 and running back Ezekiel Elliott is not able to reach his perennial numbers.
This offseason, the Cowboys finally signed Prescott to a contract extension. Veteran linebacker Sean Lee also retired just days before the draft in which the Cowboys drafted his successor, linebacker Micah Parsons, out of Penn State.
The Cowboys will now enter their second season with head coach Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott will look to pick up where he left off early in the 2020 season and once again compete for the NFC East title.
Dallas Cowboys 2020 record, offensive and defensive stats
2020 Record (6-10)
2020 Offensive and Defensive stats and rankings
The Dallas Cowboys offense is ranked towards the middle of the pack at 14th. The Cowboys averaged just 24.7 points per game. The offense also only averaged 260 passing yards a game.
The Cowboys defense is listed as the 23rd among defenses. The Cowboys defense allowed their opponents to score 29.6 points on average.
What areas do the Dallas Cowboys need to improve on?
Offensive Improvements
Before Prescott’s injury, he had some of the best stats in the National Football League. But once he went down and the Cowboys struggled to keep a quarterback under center, the offense struggled greatly, which included the ground game. Ezekiel Elliott will need to get back to the numbers he had in his first few seasons.
Wide receivers Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb should all have standout seasons. The Cowboys will also have to get more of a tight end presence in their offense, something that they’ve lacked since the departure of Jason Witten.
fensive Improvements
The Cowboys defense has a new defensive coordinator in Dan Quinn, who was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons until last season. Quinn should be able to give the defense the boost and refresh that it needs. Dallas also went heavy on defense in the 2021 NFL Draft selecting 8 defensive players out of 11 draft picks.
How can the Dallas Cowboys make a run at the Super Bowl?
Key players that can help Dallas Cowboys make a Super Bowl run
The 2020 season proved that the Dallas Cowboys need Dak Prescott to go the distance. Which is mainly one of the reasons the Cowboys locked him up in a long-term extension. With their quarterback back and healthy and the defense improving, the Cowboys could once again be a contender.