The start of the Dallas Cowboys season seemed like it was going to turn into another disaster after Tony Romo went down with an injury in the preseason. The Cowboys of 2016 turned out to be even better then they thought they were going to be with Romo, thanks to one Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.
These young Cowboys, particularly Prescott, Elliott, and Dez Bryant were so impressive at times that they hearkened back to the teams of the 1990s with another famous trio Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. They finished 13-3 for just the second time in franchise history won the AFC East and had people believing that they could get back to the Super Bowl.
But in the NFC Divisional round, the Cowboys ran up against the Green Bay Packers and a red-hot Aaron Rodgers. They held their own and it took one of the greatest throws in NFL history by Rodgers to win the game. It was a bitter end to a fantastic season.
The next step for the Cowboys is to advance in the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. How can they do that?
Here are some questions to answer to achieve that goal.
What Do You Do With Tony Romo?
Dak Prescott played his rookie season with the presence of a 13-year veteran and gained the trust of his coaches and teammates along the way. But, then comes the giant elephant in the room: what to do with Tony Romo. The charitable act for the Cowboys is to let Romo go on his own. They could also get value if they trade him to another team in search of a quarterback.
However, there are significant benefits to keeping him in Dallas. He would be one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league. If Prescott gets injured, he could step right in without much of a drop in production. Furthermore, although Prescott shows no signs of regression, he’s not guaranteed to have success next year. It’s still not definitive that Prescott is the starter for 2017.
Can The Cowboys Get A Pass Rusher?
One could argue that the Cowboys are one player away. They have all the units filled except for a pass rushing specialist. The defense has adequate defensive linemen, it just lacks anybody who can get after the quarterback. With the edge position now having a place on the All-Pro team, the Cowboys could use somebody like Khalil Mack, Vic Beasley, Jadaveon Clowney, Brandon Graham, Cameron Wake or Olivier Vernon. Those guys aren’t available, but they could add somebody like that in free agency or in the NFL Draft.
How Will The Cowboys Prepare For An Improved Division?
The biggest hurdle to the Cowboys repeating the success of 2016 won’t be deficiencies on their own roster, but the myriad of quality teams within the NFC. They don’t have to look any further than the teams in the NFC East. The Washington Redskins should still be competitive, but the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles all could take big steps next year as well. If the Giants get a running back or the Eagles get a wide receiver, they could both become Super Bowl contenders.
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Without a doubt, the Cowboys will have a solid team upcoming, but the competition is sure to be stiff with the teams you mentioned. Can’t wait to see how it plays out!