What’s up, Cowboys fans? Finally, the regular season is right around the corner so we wanted to thank you for reading and supporting our coverage at The Athletic. Between Saad Yousuf and Jon Machota, The Athletic will have you covered with everything you need this season — on the field and off it. As we all know with the Cowboys, both of those aspects are always in play.
This is shaping up to be one of the most interesting seasons in recent memory. Mike McCarthy is a Super Bowl-winning head coach who has led this organization to three consecutive 12-win seasons, yet he’s in the final year of his contract. Mike Zimmer is tasked with fixing up a leaky run defense while maintaining the good parts of quality Cowboys defense in recent years. And of course, Dak Prescott is under the brightest spotlight in his ninth season.
Our goal is to not only be plugged in with the games, news conferences and locker room but to help expand on what you see and what you hear. Not much is guaranteed in life, but the Cowboys being interesting is a sure bet.
When you want to go beyond the Cowboys, The Athletic will still have you covered. Get The Pulse delivered to your inbox for a quick, fun read on the biggest storylines in the NFL and all of sports. Check the app daily – available on iOS and Google – to get personalized news on the teams that matter the most to you. And go deep on the NFL with Scoop City as insider Dianna Russini and our NFL reporters bring you the inside information.
We’re going to have fun tracking, informing and explaining things along the way and we sincerely appreciate you joining us!
Week 1: at Browns, Sunday, 3:25 p.m. CT (FOX)
Here are a few stories to get you ready for the season:
Cowboys must-reads:
What I’m seeing: Rico Dowdle to get bigger load and more observations
Dallas wants Ezekiel Elliott fresh late in the season, the receiver who emerges as the No. 4 pass catcher and Zack Martin’s future.
Dak Prescott wins, Cowboys lose if quarterback reaches free agency
It’ll be unprecedented if a QB of Prescott’s stature hits the free-agent market and Jerry Jones takes a big risk if he does.
Troy Aikman ‘never lost at anything.’ He’s just now starting to enjoy it.
‘God’s Quarterback’ was the archetype American success story, but the triumphs everyone saw masked the inner turmoil no one knew about.
Will McClay breaks down Cowboys’ top rookies, more
McClay doesn’t want to be anywhere but Dallas. “Football has been my life, and I want to win a Super Bowl. I want to win a Super Bowl here.”
10 bold (some very) Cowboys predictions
Dak Prescott on top? A postseason to remember? These might feel far-fetched but they are grounded in some reality.
Why isn’t a Dak Prescott extension done?
Prescott was last season’s MVP runner-up, but the Cowboys were embarrassed in the postseason. What’s next for the Cowboys’ QB?
Cowboys, WR CeeDee Lamb agree to multi-year extension
Lamb’s deal makes him the NFL’s second-highest-paid wide receiver, trailing only Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson.
Trey Lance just needs to play: ‘I think he’ll play in this league for a long time’
Lance threw for 323 yards and ran for 90. But he showed that he’s not ready to be Dak Prescott’s backup yet.
Cowboys expectations: 7 players who could be Week 1 difference-makers
It looks like several 2024 draft picks will get the opportunity to contribute early for the Cowboys.
Cowboys 53-man roster: Strength at LB, what’s the plan at RB
The WRs could have a say as the team’s top position or the development of the rookies could point to the O-line.
AT&T Stadium guide guide
(Chris Unger, Ryan Kang, Kevin C. Cox, Perry Knotts / Getty Images)
NFL rankings and insights:
Week 1 Power Rankings
It’s time for a vibe check for every team heading into the season.
Quarterback Tiers 2024: Only 2 join Mahomes in Tier 1
Aaron Rodgers missed Tier 1 for the first time in the 11th annual survey of 50 NFL coaches and execs. His successor in Green Bay surged.
How NFL GMs, coaches really feel about the new kickoff rule
More returns? Fewer injuries? The NFL thinks so, but, even after seeing it the preseason, some coaches and GMs aren’t sold yet.
NFL agents dish on best (and worst) franchise, Mahomes’ value and Dak’s next deal
In our sixth annual agent survey, reps offered thoughts on everything from QB contracts to top talent evaluators to ways to improve the NFL.
Intel on all 32 NFL teams, Russ skepticism, Davante Adams trade talk and more
Dozens of NFL executives and coaches weigh in with thoughts on how the 2024 season will unfold for each team.
Ten bold predictions: Packers win NFC North, but Caleb Williams for MVP?
Plus: Kyler Murray breaks out, the 49ers suffer a Super Bowl hangover and Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs make history (again).
Hope-O-Meter results: Ranking fans’ optimism for all 32 teams
Optimism in the NFL tends to be closely tied to a team’s starting quarterback. So which fan bases are most optimistic heading into 2024?
Win total projections | Week 1 schedule
(Photo of Mike Mccarthy: Jonathan Hui / USA Today)
