Are Your Dallas Cowboys The NFL's Luckiest Team?

Sure, Brian Schottenheimer could have managed the final 23 seconds better in the excruciating loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil. But, all things considered, the 2-2 Dallas Cowboys don’t have much to complain about.

In fact, all things considered, the Cowboys might be the NFL's luckiest team.

The offense is revving up near GOTI gear, scoring 31+ points the last three games. Quarterback Dak Prescott is on pace for his career-best completion percentage at 70, and has thrown only one interception in 150 attempts. CeeDee Lamb leads the NFL in catches (37), yards (498) and receiving first downs (28). Running back Javonte Williams is second in the league with six touchdowns.

More positive vibes could be on the way Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith eyes his season debut after starting on injured reserve.

Defensively, rookie coordinator Christian Parker’s unit has severely bent but, as of yet, isn’t totally broken.

The Cowboys are ranked 30th, coughing up 389 yards and 28 points per game. But Quinnen Williams showed signs of life in last week’s comeback win over the Houston Texans, and the calvary will soon arrive in the form of the injured DeMarvion Overshown, Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant. Newcomer Joey Porter will also likely have his snap count increased from last week’s 24, as he gets more comfortable in Parker’s system.

Are there issues to address? Absolutely.

*The run defense has been abysmal, allowing the league’s second-most yards at 601.

*Conversely, Dallas’ running game has been plodding at best. On 94 runs, it has produced only one of 20+ yards (Williams’ 22-yarder vs. the Ravens).

*As fast as Lamb has started, partner George Pickens is still hitting the snooze button. After catching 93 passes and nine touchdowns last season, he has only 18 in four games without finding the end zone.

*And what’s with the kicking-game woes? Brandon Aubrey has missed an extra point and is only 2 of 5 on field goals from 50+ yards. Two of those, of course, were blocked, including last week in Houston when offensive lineman Broderick Jones totally whiffed his assignment to allow Aubrey’s 62-yarder to be gravely re-routed. It’s great to have one of the NFL’s strongest legs as a weapon, but considering the field position surrendered and the extended ranges of kickers in today’s NFL missed 60+-yard field goals are at least six-point swings.

Despite those warts, the Cowboys are staring an attractive 3-2 record in the face partially because of their cakewalk schedule. Their two wins are over opponents (Texans and Washington Commanders) with a combined record of 1-7. And now here come the bruised-and-battered Bucs.

Last week Dallas faced a team that was 0-3. Thursday night it plays one that’s 0-4.

Even juicier, Tampa Bay will trot out an undrafted rookie quarterback in Jalon Daniels. The Cowboys beat the Bucs’ Tom Brady in his last NFL start, surely they can beat Daniels in only his second.

In last week’s 17-14 home loss to the Green Bay Packers, Daniels threw two interceptions and was sacked three times. His backups? Easton Stick and Brett Rypien. With Baker Mayfield sidelined with a thumb injury, the Bucs have scored only 76 points (sixth-fewest in the league) in four games. The Cowboys have already put up 122.

Lucky much?

Not surprisingly, the Cowboys are 9-point favorites.

After a 10-day rest they will play a struggling Packers’ offense that has scored even fewer points than the Bucs, with 73. (Oh, and Micah Parsons might not be ready to roll.) Parker’s ailing defense should get healthy against two of the NFL’s most inept offenses.

A win Thursday and the Cowboys will be back in the thick of the NFC East, where both the Commanders and New York Giants have lost their starting quarterbacks and the Philadelphia Eagles have lost their identity after two ugly losses including a fourth-quarter choke job last week against the Los Angeles Rams and a sudden retirement of All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson.

Last week’s crunch-time rally in Houston saved Dallas’ season. And because of some decent play and better fortune, it just might be a season worth saving.