The good news: the Dallas Cowboys lead the NFC East with a 2-0 record by virtue of two wins against divisional opponents, meaning that they also hold a couple of early tiebreakers. The bad news: almost everything else.
When the Cowboys stormed the gates towards a 12-4 record and a rare playoff win, the health of its offensive corps stood front and center as one of the top reasons for the unlikely renaissance. Outside of a back injury that kept QB Tony Romo out for a home game, the Cowboys were remarkably steady regarding their 11 offensive starters, which included Romo, the league’s best offensive line, RB DeMarco Murray, and WR Dez Bryant. Even as Dallas’ defense was certainly better than expected, the offense was the team’s calling card.
After two weeks in the 2015 NFL season, the Cowboys are sixth in total offense, but things are bound to change drastically as early as Week 3. The first game of the season brought a dramatic comeback against the Giants, but it also yielded a foot injury to Bryant, who was scheduled to miss at least 8 games. While Bryant’s absence could be manageable, the loss of Tony Romo in Week 2 represents a much bigger blow.
Romo, who broke his collarbone for the second time in his career, has certainly become one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Even as he can’t be considered in the same tier as megastars Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, or Andrew Luck, Romo is probably just a step below them. While his detractors can always point out to his well-remembered foibles, it is hard to argue against Romo’s progress and what he means to the Dallas franchise.
With Romo’s injury set to keep him inactive for the next 8 weeks, the Cowboys are without their top 3 performers from last season, counting that Murray left in free agency. It also means that the immediate future has change drastically for the Cowboys. Their odds to win the NFC dropped from 8/1 to 10/1 overnight, while they stand as 20-to-1 favorites to win the Super Bowl. Sports books now have them with the same odds of winning the NFC East as the Eagles, who started with the dreaded 0-2.
Even as it all seems bleak, the Cowboys have those two wins in the bank, and own a roster that seems prepared to face this contingency and fight for a playoff spot. How can they get by while their injured stars nurse their injuries? Today we take a look at three key factors that will determine if Dallas can withstand these turbulent circumstances and fight for a playoff spot.
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