Dallas Cowboys: 2018 playoff returners show team’s high floor

2018 returning playoff starters show high floor for 2020 Dallas Cowboys

In 2018, the Dallas Cowboys finished the regular season 10-6 and defeated the Seattle Seahawks in their opening playoff game. What should instill fan confidence in 2020’s team is the sheer volume of key returning players from the win.

Documented snap counts from the playoff victory are shown at Pro Football Reference. Without further ado, let’s dive in and see what key players from the 2018 postseason win will suit up again for the 2020 Cowboys and who is missing.

OFFENSE

NOTABLE LOSS:

Cole Beasley (Slot WR)

The entire 2018 starting offensive line against Seattle returns for Dallas. Quarterback Dak Prescott and star runner Ezekiel Elliott are still humming along together. Both tight ends who split snaps, Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz, are back.

The two wideouts, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup are returning. Slot receiver Cole Beasley is the only departed offensive player with more than 10 snaps in the playoff win. Drafting star college receiver CeeDee Lamb erases any deficit.

Dallas could swap Lamb into the 2018 playoff lineup and he could join the same unit in 2020. Significant offensive talent has been added since, yet even gained experience alone makes 2020’s offensive floor above 2018’s ceiling.

DEFENSE

NOTABLE LOSSES:

Maliek Collins (DT)
Damien Wilson (SLB)
Byron Jones (CB)
Jeff Heath (SS)

Defensive tackle Maliek Collins is the only defensive line starter gone from the 2018 playoff game win. Massive veteran defensive tackle additions Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy more than seal that gap with ease.

The lone departed linebacker is SAM backer Damien Wilson. Though SAM is only used in a smaller amount of defensive formations, Sean Lee proved in 2019 he’s still leaps and bounds better than Wilson ever was.

Losing corner Byron Jones will be a key loss. Adding free agents and promising rookies will provide worthy competition, but filling his shoes should take time. 2018 starters Anthony Brown and Chidobe Awuzie do return with an elevated Jourdan Lewis.

At safety, the loss of Jeff Heath removes 55 Seattle playoff win snaps from the 2020 team. New upgrade Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is a much-needed replacement. Clinton-Dix brings seven playoff game starts, four wins, with two victories against Dallas.

The 2020 Cowboys return the vast majority of key starters on both sides from their 2018 playoff victory team. Jones at corner is the sole loss without a guaranteed superior replacement. Even so, the floor on the current Dallas team should match or exceed the 2018 playoff team’s ceiling. And that’s just their floor.