The Current State of the Cowboys
The Cowboys aren’t so much America’s Team these days as they are the Royal Family of the United States. People roll out the red carpets wherever they go, no matter what they may or may not have done to deserve them. They are the team everyone talks about even if their strengths and qualities are rarely part of any discussion in the final weeks of the playoffs. They will go at least two months from mid-October to mid-December without playing a single noon Sunday kickoff because their performances are deemed worthy of so much more attention.
Actually, the Cowboys are Netflix’s Team as much as anything else. The rookies on their cheerleading squad are more nationally recognized than most of their 2025 draft picks thanks to one show. Now, the streaming service is set to provide a platform for the football team — and, one would guess, mostly for Owner-President-General Manager-Custodian Jerry Jones — but based on the ads with the powerful voiceovers and poetic words, it will be more about the exploits of Troy, Michael and Emmitt 30 years ago than those of Dak, CeeDee and … and … Javonte?
The Two Versions of the Cowboys
There are really two versions of the Cowboys. There is the one that exists in the minds of those with extended memories of greatness, reflections that cause every two-game winning streak to serve as springboard for Super Bowl contender discussion. And there is the one that exists in reality with an uneven roster and a rookie head coach and the betting status of a middle-of-the-pack club that would be doing great to just get to 10-7 and a first-round playoff elimination.
The Upcoming Season
Whatever the Cowboys are, they land in Oxnard, Calif., this weekend where they will be subject to 24-hour-a-day scrutiny for the next month by those who remain unconvinced that we need to be at every Rangers game in order to get our playoff preview columns composed in our heads. At the center of the storm will be Brian Schottenheimer, a reasonably young man (at least by my standards) of exceptional enthusiasm and one who probably even now can’t imagine exactly what it means to hold down that spot with the omnipresent Jones Family gazing down from the midfield tower.
Related: Want to know more about Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer? Start with his five tattoos
Coaching and Roster
I don’t tend to view the Schottenheimer choice as one that’s anything more than outside the box. It’s entirely possible he will bring a fresh offensive approach to Dak Prescott’s offense after working alongside Mike McCarthy the last few seasons, but it seems that the franchise blessed with the ability to “out-revenue” every team in the league should also be prepared to outspend its rivals in the nonsalary capped portion of the game. And Jones has rarely been inclined to go that route, certainly not since Bill Parcells left the building almost two decades ago.
Maybe the head coaching position wouldn’t matter so much if the cupboard was better stocked. But uncertainties about the Cowboys running the ball and stopping the run will remain in place until the club gets to Philadelphia Sept. 4.
And quite possibly after.
Roster Concerns
No one loves to fill an offensive line with first-round picks quite like Jones, but aside from protecting Dak, who or whom are they opening holes for? Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders sport something of the journeyman’s look with their recent histories and rookies Jaydon Blue of Texas and Phil Mafah of Clemson aren’t the sort of first-year backs you anticipate climbing right into the rushing category’s top 10. It took about half a season last fall for coaches to recognize Rico Dowdle should be the team’s featured back, and he’s in Carolina now, likely as a backup to Chuba Hubbard.
The club has made more serious changes at defensive tackle to try to fix an issue that has plagued the team for years, and I’d say it’s a better bet the Cowboys stop the run effectively than they worry opposing defenses with their ground game.
Betting Odds
Speaking of bets, I checked my Draft Kings Sportsbook and Casino app that is used strictly for research purposes, of course (I do live in one of the 12 states where sports betting remains a crime, you know) and there was no good news to be had for the Cowboys. These people don’t make money by just giving it away, you understand, and Dallas’ Super Bowl odds are 50-1. I don’t remember the Cowboys being regarded that much of a long shot since the Dave Campo years.
There are 17 NFL teams ranked with better Super Bowl odds than the Cowboys. And for what it’s worth, the Cowboys’ schedule includes 11 games against those clubs from the Eagles at the very top down to the Chicago Bears at 40-1. In fact, Dallas’ only two home games against teams with longer Super Bowl odds are the New York Giants and Arizona.
And you probably know this club’s history against the Cardinals and Kyler Murray’s record at AT&T Stadium.
Conclusion
So it’s with holes to fill and doubts to erase that the Cowboys head to cool, sunny Southern California. Celebrities eager to rub shoulders with the rich and famous will make the long trip north and west from LA to Oxnard. Who knows? If they pick the right day, they might even run into a cheerleader made famous on Netflix.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is the head coach of the Cowboys?
A: Brian Schottenheimer is the head coach of the Cowboys.
Q: What are the Cowboys’ Super Bowl odds?
A: The Cowboys’ Super Bowl odds are 50-1.
Q: How many games do the Cowboys have against teams with better Super Bowl odds?
A: The Cowboys have 11 games against teams with better Super Bowl odds.
Q: Who are the Cowboys’ running backs?
A: The Cowboys’ running backs include Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Jaydon Blue, and Phil Mafah.
