Ryan Clark identifies why Dallas Cowboys hype is down: 'Every time we're up on them, they let us down'

Ryan Clark believes it’s time to put some respect on the Cowboys entering the 2025 season. The ESPN analyst is thinking Dallas is a bit underrated by the media at the moment.

Perhaps it’s because Dallas underwent an offseason of change after missing the playoffs in 2024 with a 7-10 record. Brian Schottenheimer and Matt Eberflus are the new head coach and defensive coordinator, respectively. They’re hoping to turn this ship around.

There’s reason for optimism — the franchise traded for wide receiver George Pickens,  Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders headline a transformed running back room, and Dak Prescott is back after undergoing season-ending surgery last year. That has Clark wondering if we’re selling the Cowboys short at the moment.

“I think we get into this thing where we are so down on the Dallas Cowboys right now, because every time we’re up on them, they let us down,” Clark stated, via Get Up. “I think we have to look at this team, and some of the changes they’ve made. I also think getting a guy like a Matt Eberflus is a huge thing. Someone who understands defense, someone who understands how to make it tough and physical in the front-line, which is something that they have been lacking.

“You add Kenneth Murray to the linebacking corps, now Micah Parsons doesn’t have to get off the ball, you can utilize him in the best way possible. I think this team is going to be more competitive than we’ve given them credit for throughout this offseason.”

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Clark certainly makes some good points, and history is on his side. The Cowboys have not put together multiple losing seasons in a row since a three-year streak of 5-11 finishes from 2000-02. In fact, Dallas has just five seasons of below .500 finishes over the last 22 years.

Playoff failures have been the story for this franchise though. It’s well documented that the Cowboys have not been to the NFC Championship Game in three decades, and that’s been eating away at their fans over that time.

Expecting Dallas to break that curse in year one under Schottenheimer seems like a big ask. The good news is that Prescott, who finished second in MVP voting in 2023, is healthy. Obviously, the Cowboys need him to be close to that level to have a chance to compete. 

“I’ll be full go for camp,” Prescott said last week. “I’m healthy. I think soon here I’ll probably get an official sign-off from doc, but I’m healthy.”

The Cowboys open the 2025 season on Sept. 4 against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. All eyes will be on the season-opening matchup between NFC East rivals.

— On3’s Nick Geddes contributed to this article.