Dallas Cowboys legend Troy Aikman believes that the present-day players must perform at their peak when it matters most, much like how his team did in the 90s.
Despite still holding the title of "America's Team," as evidenced by television ratings and attendance figures, the Cowboys have been unable to secure a championship since 1995. Marking a significant milestone, the Cowboys had achieved back-to-back 12-win seasons, a feat last accomplished between 1992 and 1995 when they consistently secured at least 12 victories per season, despite playing one fewer game each year.
However, their recent achievements have yielded little tangible success, with only a single wild-card win for their efforts. Since their last Lombardi Trophy triumph, the Cowboys have seen 24 different starting quarterbacks, excluding Aikman.
Dak Prescott is the latest addition to this list, who boasts an impressive regular season record of 61 wins and 36 losses. However, his postseason performance has been less favourable, with a record of only two wins and four losses.
"They are really good, and they've got really good players," Aikman told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "The organization has done a fantastic job. I think the coaches have done a great job. The players. All of it. They have won a lot of games. The problem for them, and they don't need me to tell them this, they just have not played their best football when the games have mattered the most."
Aikman, revered as a legend in franchise history, demonstrated a keen ability to identify the underlying issue that, in his view, hindered the team's success. However, he admitted needing definitive answers to rectify the Cowboys' challenges when performing under pressure.
"You say, 'How do you change that?' No one has the answer to that," Aikman said. "I don't have the answer to that. For our teams [in the '90s], the reason we succeeded and did what we were able to do, the reason teams all win Super Bowls, is they play their best football in the biggest games. That's the challenge for each and every one of those players."
Aikman secured three impressive Super Bowl victories, surpassing the accomplished Roger Staubach with two championship wins.
As the Cowboys strive to reclaim their championship glory, Aikman's previous recognition of Prescott's abilities highlights the confidence in Prescott's capabilities. In a "make or break" season, Aikman further explained that Prescott would be the reason that the Cowboys reach the Super Bowl, indicating how important his command of the offense is.
Cowboys fans hope to witness the team again hoist the Lombardi Trophy. The Cowboys' journey to the Super Bowl during the 1995-1996 season remains the benchmark for the most recent success in the team's history.
Their path to the championship game was paved with intense competition and memorable victories, setting the previous standard for performing at maximum capacity on football's grandest stage.
