Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys head into the 2025 NFL season still reeling from one of the most underwhelming campaigns in recent franchise history.
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As has become the norm of late, the Cowboys started the 2024 season with postseason hopes. Even a long-awaited Super Bowl victory seemed possible. But as it turned out, their campaign ended with Mike McCarthy’s exit and a brutal 2–7 home mark.
Many factors played a part in this poor showing. But one area stood out consistently as a liability: their run game. CeeDee Lamb logged his third straight 100-catch season. Kicker Brandon Aubrey set an NFL record with 14 field goals of 50-plus yards, the Cowboys’ offense lacked balance, and it showed throughout the season.
The unit finished 26th in EPA per rush and relied heavily on a pass-first script, which became increasingly predictable and unsustainable, especially late in games. Unsurprisingly, the Cowboys soon fell out of playoff contention, marking the start of a new chapter under head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Talking about Schottenheimer, he is a coach who comes with years of experience as an offensive coordinator under revered coaches. He has also been someone who’s long leaned on a strong run game, which is why he is now tasked with fixing a backfield that’s being widely panned by analysts.
“They have no running attack, let’s just be real about it,” said NFL analyst Denny Carter on a recent NBC show, referring to the current rotation of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and rookie Jaydon Blue. “Come on, man,” Carter added, clearly unimpressed with the names on paper.
It’s not just Carter expressing doubt. Fellow panelist Kyle Dvorchak also chimed in with tempered expectations. “What do they have this year? One of the worst backfields in the NFL.”
Meanwhile, Dvorchak acknowledged that Dallas still has a competent offensive line and top-tier receiving talent in Lamb and newly acquired George Pickens. This could allow Dak Prescott to rack up fantasy numbers. That said, he also highlighted that it’s hardly a reliable indicator of real-world success.
Jones’ Cowboys lack offensive balance
So, what did Jerry Jones and the Cowboys do to improve their ground game? On the surface, not much. They let Rico Dowdle — their only 1,000-yard rusher in 2024 — walk in free agency to the Panthers along with Ezekiel Elliott, who had returned on a one-year deal.
In their place, Dallas signed Williams and Sanders, both of whom have failed to recapture past form. Williams posted a 64.6 PFF rushing grade over his last three seasons in Denver. Sanders has been in steady decline since his peak 2022 season in Philadelphia.
As for the draft, the Cowboys added Jaydon Blue in the fifth round. He’s a speedster with receiving upside but not someone built to carry a full NFL workload. The former Longhorn also can’t serve as a between-the-tackles threat. Something, a PFF report made it clear too: “He’s never been a workhorse type of back.”
These factors leave Dallas in the same spot as in 2024 — a team with passing firepower but a glaring weakness in offensive balance.
Whether or not Jerry Jones should have traded up and gone all in for Ashton Jeanty at the draft is worth a thought. But the roster holes seem too many. The revamped offensive line and new coaching staff may inject some efficiency. But without a reliable run game, it’s hard to see them as a top-10 scoring offense.
That’s the concern shared across analyst desks — and one Schottenheimer must solve if this team is to avoid another lost season.
Until then, as Carter bluntly put it, “They’re not going to run the ball at all.” And if that is true, any comeback for Jerry Jones’ Cowboys may be more of a fantasy than reality.
