Cowboys, and the elusive key playoff win

The doubts on offense are greater than on defense led by Micah Parsons. That’s unusual for a franchise that has counted Prescott and Tony Romo as stalwarts, as well as two-time carries leader Ezekiel Elliott.

Prescott prefers to focus on the return of receiver CeeDee Lamb and tackle Terence Steele, rather than the departures of Amari Cooper and La’el Collins.

“You’ll never see anything in my life that looks like a step backward,” Prescott said. “You have the opportunity to move forward. You have the opportunity to grow. If you don’t you’re in trouble and you’ve already lost.”

Failure to advance in the postseason could put coach Mike McCarthy in trouble. This is his third year at the helm of Dallas, but it’s been six seasons since he won in the playoffs with Green Bay in the 2016 campaign.

The only Super Bowl McCarthy won with the Packers occurred 12 years ago at the home of the Cowboys.

Dallas has not played in the National Conference Championship Game since winning its last Super Bowl in the 1995 season, the sixth-longest active drought in the NFL.

Prescott is ready to move the ball on the ground with Elliot, Lamb and tight end Dalton Schultz, as well as an offensive line that continues to be led by guard Zack Martin. Receiver Michael Gallup could return this season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament last year.

PARSONS AND COMPANY

Parsons racked up 13 catches and the linebacker ended up being enshrined as the Defensive Rookie of the Year. In his second season, corner Trevon Diggs grabbed 11 interceptions to tie a franchise record that stood for 40 years.

DeMarcus Lawrence leads a potent defensive unit that led the NFL with 34 fumbles recovered last season. The preseason made it clear that the Dallas defense has everything to shine.

HIS MOMENT
KaVontae Turpin returned a kickoff and another punt for touchdowns in the preseason win over the Chargers, virtually securing his spot in the lineup.

ROOKIES TO WATCH
Tyler Smith, the 24th pick in the 2021 Draft out of Tulsa, has a chance to be the starter at left guard after the Cowboys let Connor Williams go in free agency. Defensive wing Sam Williams, a second-round pick out of Mississippi, has shown enough in the preseason to have a chance to excel alongside Lawrence.