FRISCO — Mathematically, the Dallas Cowboys are in the same spot they started their 2024 season, residing at a .500 winning percentage. The context of their 3-3 record conveys more detail than a 0-0 with a clean sheet would, yet the principle remains the same.
Similar to the start of the season, the Cowboys could teeter either way hen they come out of the bye week. Right now, Dallas appears to be gripping on the edge.
Owner Jerry Jones provided glaring evidence of that during his radio tirade earlier this week. But those sentiments of desperation are faintly echoed within the confines of "the Star" as well.
Our Mike Fisher referred to some of the internal "panic" around the Cowboys' deplorable play of late and the coaching staff's desperation to make the necessary corrections. The fact remains that such changes are a must for this team and its leadership to survive this season.
Making matters worse, Dallas is faced with a gauntlet coming out of the bye week. They travel back to the Bay Area, facing the San Francisco 49ers. Given how the Cowboys looked against the Detroit Lions last week, this matchup is the least ideal opponent and location to exercise their demons of the first six weeks.
The schedule does not let up, remaining on the road against the Atlanta Falcons, returning home against the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans before their annual visit to the DMV to face the Washington Commanders.
It is a brutal stretch for any team, let alone one that has yet to win a home game or score 25 points more than once in the last five weeks. But there will be no reprieve or sympathy through the journey ahead.
That means Mike McCarthy and staff have to pull some magic from their 2023 season and find momentum out of the bye week. Last year, Dallas rattled off wins in six of seven games to move squarely into the playoff picture and eventually win the NFC East.
Those objectives seem a long way off and perhaps not achievable. However, there remain positives for this group. They remain only one game out of first in their division race, already possessing one NFC East win under their belt.
Micah Parsons is anticipated to return after the bye week along with hopeful debut of DaRon Bland, potentially sparking life into a downtrodden defense.
Altogether there remains a glimmer of optimism after this group steps away for a week. But make no mistake, it has become imperative they match the intensity of their gauntlet schedule after the bye week.
