It has been a winding road to land squarely in the middle of the pack for the Dallas Cowboys.
With a win Sunday, Dallas will finish 8-8-1. Another season with Dak Prescott at the helm. Another year where the postseason ceiling remains unchanged, with just two Wild Card victories on Prescott’s résumé, the 2019 win over Seattle and the 2023 win against Tampa Bay.
As the offseason approaches, one certainty already exists. Prescott will remain the Cowboys’ quarterback for at least two more seasons under his current contract. As he goes, so does the franchise.
Former Cowboys quarterback Steve Beuerlein, now part of Compass Media Network’s Cowboys radio broadcasts, offered his assessment of where Dallas stands.
SN: What’s your overall assessment of the season?
Beuerlein: “You have to remember that last year Dak only played eight games. The expectations inside the organization were much higher. Playoffs at a minimum, probably 10 or 11 wins, would have been considered a solid season. So it’s a disappointment for sure. I don’t think anyone is remotely satisfied.”
SN: Even with the inconsistency, were there positives you saw?
Beuerlein: “I would start with the play of Javonte Williams. He’s established himself as a starting running back, along with the development of Malik Davis. If those two can come back as a one-two punch, their styles really work well together.”
SN: What about the passing game?
Beuerlein: “George Pickens was a tremendous pickup. I loved that move when it happened in the offseason. I really thought it would open things up for the offense. Unfortunately, CeeDee was injured off and on, so they weren’t on the field together for about half the season. But you can see how potent that combination can be.”
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SN: Would re-signing Pickens be your top offensive priority this offseason?
Beuerlein: “That’s a great question, because Javonte is going to be in that same boat. So offensively, which is your priority? Long term, I’d probably say George. But when you zoom out and look at the entire team, the biggest issues are on defense.”
SN: Where does that concern start defensively?
Beuerlein: “The secondary, the linebackers, the pass rush. Where do you want to start? They have to find pressure on the outside. The secondary has been a disaster with busted coverages. I’ve been harping on that all year on the broadcasts. Those mistakes are inexcusable. It’s been very poor from start to finish.”
SN: When the draft arrives and Dallas is holding first-round picks from the Parsons trade, where do you expect them to look?
Beuerlein: “I would imagine they address the secondary and an edge rusher. They still have other questions and you can always upgrade and add depth at linebacker.”
SN: Let’s finish with Dak. How do you feel overall about number four?
Beuerlein: “I’ve watched him closely for each of the past two years since joining the broadcasts. I’ve been really impressed for the most part. The Cowboys go as Dak goes. There were losses, like Carolina and the Chargers, where even though they lost, Dak played very well and had a QBR over 100.”
SN: What does that mean for the bigger picture?
Beuerlein: “If he’s not playing at a really high level, it obviously shows up in wins and losses. We’re looking at a window now of only a few years left. There has to be an urgency to get this figured out quickly.”
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