The Seahawks, Eagles and 49ers are among the usual suspects the Los Angeles Rams will contend with in the NFC this season. With the Cowboys and Rams set to clash in a joint training camp practice on Tuesday, could Dallas also pose a legitimate threat in the conference?
No really, could them ‘Boys actually be better than expected in 2026? All signs point to yes.
The team has significantly improved its dreadful defense from a year ago. This offseason, they acquired Rashan Gary from the Packers, extended
Quinnen Williams and selected Malachi Lawrence in the NFL draft to upgrade the pass rush in the post-Micah Parsons era. Dallas signed players like Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke, Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick, and added Caleb Downs in the draft to improve the secondary.
Each was a necessary addition to a Cowboys defense that desperately needed reinforcements. The unit allowed a league-worst 30.1 points per game, including three games in which they gave up at least 40 points. Dallas finished the 2025 campaign with 511 points given up, the sixth-most in NFL history. By the way, they were one touchdown away from surpassing the infamously terrible 2008 Lions for the fifth-worst defense ever.
So, yeah, things were pretty stinkin’ bleak last season. The Cowboys got off to a rough start on defense and never recovered the rest of the way.
A league-average defense led by those additions will get the Cowboys back to the playoffs, even if they cannot win the NFC East. Their offense, led by Dak Prescott, can cover up plenty of holes. The offense was never the issue in ‘25, as they ended the year with the seventh-best scoring offense at 27.7 points per game. Prescott finished with the fourth 30-touchdown season of his career, George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb combined for 2,500 receiving yards and Javonte Williams had the best season of his career.
Even if the offense remains dangerous on paper, it’s understandable to be hesitant about the Cowboys’ chances. They’ve never advanced far with the former MVP runner-up.
Prescott is 2-5 all-time in the playoffs and hasn’t won a postseason game since 2022. Before every season, we hear that it’s the Cowboys’ year until they inevitably disappoint. Despite that, he’s openly embracing Super Bowl or bust expectations as he prepares to enter his second decade in the league, and why not begin the chatter, especially if he believes it’s best for his team.
That Super Bowl or bust mindset will be much needed, considering they have plenty of work to do before their dreams come to fruition.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Cowboys have -108 odds to make the playoffs, which are seventh-best in the NFC, just below the 49ers (-136) and Packers (-112). They also have +2200 odds to win the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium in February. NFL fans have given Dallas a difficult time for not making an NFC Championship appearance in over 30 years, but potentially this could be their year — for real this time!
The Rams and Cowboys will face off in Los Angeles in late December, days before Christmas. If things go right in Dallas this season, this could easily be an NFC Championship preview. That’s not as far-fetched as you would think, so quit your chuckling this instant!
A Cowboys team with similar offensive production and a better defense will make a difference, not only in their playoff chances, but also in their Super Bowl hopes. Dallas will be a stronger team than they were last season, and that should concern NFC teams, especially the Rams. Like L.A., the Cowboys have Super Bowl or bust hopes, and a team like that can be a threat to anyone, especially a superteam.
