Thanks to an abysmal offseason, the Dallas Cowboys will be the laughing stock of the NFL.

With the offseason over and the NFL season underway, the Cowboys went into a tough matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Going into the game, I had high hopes to see exactly how the organizations’ offseason decisions would pan out. My concerns were confirmed when, just an hour before kickoff, the Cowboys made quarterback Dak Prescott the highest paid player in NFL history. Signing him to a record-breaking, four-year, $240 million deal, which saw him receive an $80 million dollar signing bonus, the largest in NFL history. It was a bizarre decision that made me question even more what the organization was doing in the offseason. 

Thanks to them being indecisive and nonchalant in free agency, the Cowboys gave other teams time to pay their own players and caused an increase in the market value for Prescott and wide receiver Ceedee Lamb. 

If the two star offensive players were paid at the beginning of the offseason, the team would have paid a significantly smaller amount. Their contract situation puts the team in a financial chokehold for the future. With star players on the defensive side, like Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs, still yet to receive new deals, I’m concerned if the Cowboys will even be able to keep their best players, let alone sign new ones.

With the news of Prescotts’ contract extension, it was time for the Cowboys 2024-25 season to kick off. The team was off to a strong start, dominating the Browns in Cleveland. The defense showed why they are one of the best in the league.

The defense forced two interceptions and six sacks; even the special teams unit contributed a touchdown off of a Kavonte Turpin punt return. The offense struggled to produce much off of the run game thanks to not having a decent running back. Prescott also struggled passing, as he was only able to muster a single touchdown through the air. The best player on the field was unequivocally kicker Brandon Aubrey, who hit two 50+ yard field goals and almost single-handedly out scored the Browns. 

Following their great first week performance against the Browns, the Cowboys went back home to face the New Orleans Saints. I was hopeful that even with clear signs of struggle and weakness against the Browns, the Cowboys would be able to pull out a victory at home. I was dead wrong. 

The Cowboys continued their horrid home play from their last game at AT&T stadium against the Green Bay Packers in last year’s playoffs. Suffering an embarrassing blowout to the Saints, the Cowboys lost the game 44-19, a humiliating loss that pointed out most of the team’s flaws. The defense, which looked strong in week one, was shredded by the Saints’ offense and running back Alivn Kamara, who scored four touchdowns himself. The game was difficult to watch because of the lack of urgency. They didn’t appear to want to win in front of their home crowd. In some good news from the game, Aubrey had another spectacular game and remained perfect on field goals for the year; at least one person on the team seemed to want to win. 

After their embarrassing game against the Saints, the Cowboys then had to play a tough opponent in the Baltimore Ravens for week three. I did not have high hopes going into this game, as the Ravens were one of the more dominant run teams in the league, a key area where the Cowboys struggled against the Saints. 

My concerns came to fruition when the Ravens started with an early 21-6 lead to end the first half. They continued to run away with the game — literally — as they dominated in the run game and extended their lead going into the fourth quarter. However, the Cowboys did have a late surge of energy, but it was too little too late and they failed to pull out a win. The same problems from the game against the Saints were just as prevalent against the Ravens, with the team struggling to get the ball moving in the run game. Aubrey proved why he is not only the best player on the Cowboys, but also the best kicker in the NFL, as he made a 65-yard field goal. He was just one yard shy of tying the NFL record for longest made field goal — a record he is sure to eventually break. 

With the Cowboys’ woeful 1-2 start to the season, they headed to New York to face the Giants in a divisional matchup. The game went about as I expected it to, with the Cowboys once again struggling in the run game. Though the Giants are one of the weaker teams in the league, the game was closer than it should have been. The Cowboys barely squeaked out a 20-15 win. Part of the reason the game was closer than it should have been is that star defensive players Parsons, Diggs and Demarcus Lawrence all exited the game with injuries. Prescott appeared to play well, but, in reality, his performance was average compared to quarterbacks who are paid as much as he is. 

The Cowboys’ awful start to the season has left me with questions and even more concerns as to where the team will be by the end of the season. If the Cowboys are to even make the playoffs this year, they will need to step up and start playing like they want to win. The Cowboys will face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers for their upcoming week five matchup. I am weary about where the team will go from here. If the Cowboys continue their recent run of form, then I don’t see a world where they can make the playoffs.