Is Jason Garrett the Dallas Cowboys weakest link?

Despite choosing the Dallas Cowboys are the NFC’s best team, the Stacking the Box podcast crew still have some concerns about head coach Jason Garrett.

It seems like at the start of every new season, fans of the Dallas Cowboys always believe America’s Team can make it all the way to the Super Bowl. And for the past 23 years, they’ve been disappointed. But through two games of the NFL’s 100th regular season, the Cowboys have looked very impressive. And now it’s more than just Dallas’ fans who are pondering the team’s Super Bowl chances.

Most of the buzz about the 2-0 Cowboys circles their offense, which currently rank third in the NFL averaging 333.0 passing yards per game and ranks fifth in scoring (33.0 points per). Fielding a very balanced offense, Dallas has also managed to rush for a total of 302 yards on the ground in convincing wins over divisional rivals, the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins.

Yet, despite the quality of their opponents being in question, the Cowboys are still considered as one of the top teams in the NFL right now. In the most recent power rankings appearing on the league’s official website, NFL.com, Dallas was able to crack the top-five coming in fourth following their 31-21 road win over Washington.

The guys over at FanSided’s Stacking the Box podcast echoed those sentiments, recently nominating the Cowboys as the best team in the entire NFC. Although Matt Verderame, National NFL reporter for FanSided, did express one concern. And that’s the looming presence of head coach Jason Garrett.

"“The only question I have about the Cowboys, and it will loom all the way into and through January, is Jason Garrett. I know Kellen Moore is the offensive coordinator now and they look great … I do worry though like Jason Garrett, that thing is just looming over the season. If they play the Rams in a playoff game is he out coaching Sean McVay?”"

Garrett entered his tenth season as the head coach of America’s Team in the final year of his current contract in Dallas, presumably placing the 53-year old on the hot seat. That’s despite the Cowboys posting three straight-winning records in Dallas and being crowned divisional champions for two of those seasons.

But the Cowboys have struggled to win in the playoffs during Garrett’s tenure, making the postseason just three times in nine seasons and only winning twice. Dallas hasn’t been able to get past the Divisional round in the postseason and would presumably need to do so this year in order for Garrett to keep his job.

Although new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is in charge of the offense and receiving the bulk of the credit, the Cowboys made it clear in the offseason that the new gameplan in Big D would be a collaboration between Jason Garrett, Moore, and others. So in these eyes of the Cowboys’ brass, Garrett is likely viewed as a major reason why Dallas has had early success.

Still, there is a sense that Jason Garrett might be the weakest link in the Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl equation. And be assured every decision he makes this season will be heavily scrutinized. In the end though, it’s likely playoff success that will ultimately determine Garrett’s fate in Dallas. And he’s certainly had more chances than most to get the job done considering there are only five other current NFL head coaches with longer tenures.