Cowboys winless preseason might be playoff good luck charm

The Dallas Cowboys ended their 2021 preseason schedule winless on Sunday, but the last two times that happened the Cowboys made the playoffs. As The Athletic’s Jon Machota reminded fans, the Cowboys were winless after preseason play in 2014 and 2018 as well. Both years saw the Cowboys make the playoffs.

Last two times the Cowboys went winless in the preseason: 2018 and 2014. Made the playoffs both seasons

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 29, 2021

Winless preseason means Cowboys playoffs?

In an offseason marred by injury talk about their star quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys failed to win a preseason game for the third time since 2014, despite having one more opportunity than the rest of the league. The Cowboys played the Pittsburgh Steelers one week before preseason began for every other team, allowing the Cowboys to reach their 0-4 record.

More optimistic followers of the Cowboys are viewing this as a positive however, as the last two seasons that it happened saw the Cowboys make the playoffs.

The most valuable franchise in the NFL has struggled of late. The Cowboys have only made the playoffs three times since 2010, and each playoff appearance ended with a divisional-round loss. Head coach Mike McCarthy’s first season in Dallas ended in a disappointing third-place NFC East finish.

McCarthy’s goal for the Cowboys this season isn’t to settle for just the playoffs however. Owner Jerry Jones is pressing for his team to win their first championship since 1995. Despite their struggles, McCarthy and the Cowboys have reasons to be optimistic again.

After a 2020 season derailed by major injuries to multiple offensive linemen and Dak Prescott, the Cowboys were still in contention for the division late into the season. With their offense returning to full strength and the impressive training camp of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys have had their eyes on the regular season from the beginning.

Taking the preseason off

When the Dallas Cowboys signed Dak Prescott to a four-year contract worth $160 million, they made an investment for their team’s future. After losing significant time with that investment in 2020 to a season-ending ankle injury, they have been working to reintroduce Prescott to the playing field.

“I am not surprised head coach Mike McCarthy is taking every precaution to ensure his QB1 will make it to the starting line ready to go in 2021,” wrote NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks about their decision.

Coming into the 2021 Cowboys training camp, Prescott and the Cowboys were cautiously planning to bring him back to full action by ramping up his activity. Their plans changed when Prescott left an early offseason practice with soreness in his throwing shoulder.

Their decision to keep him off the preseason playing field since has been made at a great potential cost. If Prescott is unable to see live game action before the season begins, it could severely limit his ability to develop chemistry with his offense. Prescott is no stranger to the NFL or the speed of the game, so their choice has been influenced by his record so far.