It’s about time we all stop tip-toeing around the truth about the Dallas Cowboys. They’re going downhill fast.
That concerning trend continued Thursday when Tyron Smith was ruled out for at least several months with an avulsion fracture in his knee. His absence adds to a growing list of players who had big roles in Dallas’ past success but won’t be wearing the star when they open the season against the Bucs.
The team that went 12-5 last season before making an early playoff exit in the Wild Card Round has only gotten worse since that disappointing loss to the 49ers. And I contend they weren’t as good as their record suggested to begin with.
So, +210 odds for Dallas to miss the playoffs, you say? Yeah, I’ll bite.
#Cowboys standout LT Tyron Smith actually suffered an avulsion fracture of the knee, meaning the hamstring tendon that sits at the back of the knee pulled off the bone and he needs surgery, sources say. If he’s back at all, it’ll be December. A tough loss.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 25, 2022
The Cowboys defense ranked 20th in yards allowed last season. Their saving grace was an offense that led the league in scoring and a league-best turnover margin. Even if they were returning the same exact team in 2022, that type of luck was bound to run out. They aren’t recording a league-best 26 interceptions again because Trevon Diggs isn’t intercepting 11 passes again. But alas, they aren’t returning the same team.
Dallas allowed its second-leader in sacks and QB hits, Randy Gregory, to leave for Denver and replaced him with someone who has fewer hits on the quarterback in the past two seasons combined.
And that league-leading offense might be where the Cowboys see the biggest decline. They traded top wideout Amari Cooper to the Cleveland, forcing CeeDee Lamb into a new role as the unquestioned focal point of their passing attack. Maybe he’s up to it, maybe not. But new No. 2 Michael Gallup continues to rehab a torn ACL, and the depth chart after those two is quite honestly bleak. Not to mention, Ezekiel Elliott has declined over the last several years.
Are you willing to put money on Mike McCarthy, who had three straight losing seasons before last year, to get the most out of a less talented roster?
The Dallas Cowboys purposefully, willfully, and consciously:
– Traded Amari Cooper
– Then didn't add serious receiver help
– Cut La'el Collins
– Knowing Tyron Smith's injury history
– Then didn't add serious tackle helpIt is football malpractice.
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) August 25, 2022
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If none of that was a reason to sound the alarm in Dallas, Smith’s injury news is. His absence weakens an already shaky offensive line after the team also let La’el Collins walk in the off-season, and it adds stress to Dak Prescott to be a savior he’s not equipped to be.
This all leads me back to Dallas’ odds to miss the playoffs. Though I believe the Eagles are destined to win the NFC East, it’s reasonable to think the Cowboys are still at least in the discussion — and recent history would tell you there aren’t seven teams in the conference better than them. But as they decline, other teams will inevitably improve. They could very easily fall out of the playoff picture.
This is the ideal situation to get great odds on a team primed to fall short of expectations.
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