Why the Dallas Cowboys will make the playoffs in 2021

The Dallas Cowboys always seem to have a good enough roster to compete for a playoff spot. However, in recent years they have underperformed. They haven’t made the postseason since 2018 and have missed out on the playoffs in three of the past four seasons.

The Cowboys always feel as if they have the roster to compete for a Super Bowl. Even last year, many people believed that Dallas could make a deep playoff run. Nonetheless, they finished 6-10 and third in the NFC East.

However, for obvious reasons, the Cowboys didn’t have a chance to even make a wild card spot. Their roster suffered many injuries including quarterback Dak Prescott, guard Zack Martin, tackle Tyron Smith, and tackle La’el Collins to name a few.

Additionally, Dallas’s defense was considered one of the worst in the league. They ranked in the bottom half of the league in points against per game (29.6), rush yards against per game (158.8), and opponent’s passing yards per attempt (7.1).

As a result, it appears that this team is not even close to being a top tier in the NFC. Their star quarterback is coming back from a gruesome injury in which he dislocated his right ankle and their defense didn’t get a whole lot better through free agency.

Can the Dallas Cowboys compete in 2021?

However, the Cowboys still have a solid shot at making the playoffs in 2021. Prescott is considered to be ready to go by training camp and is progressing well from his injury, according to sports.yahoo.com. They should also have Martin, Smith, and Collins all healthy by the start of the season.

They also have 10 total picks in the 2021 NFL Draft including a first-round pick in the top ten. They currently own the 10th overall pick and have the opportunity to select one of the best defensive players in the draft.

If the Cowboys do select cornerback Patrick Surtain II of Alabama, this would be a huge win for this team. Surtain can almost instantly improve the Cowboys’ secondary and would replace cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who signed a three-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. 

The Dallas Cowboys can also select plenty of other defensive players in the draft with their nine remaining picks including an early second-round pick and two third-round picks. The full list of the Cowboys’ draft picks can be seen at draftkings.com.

Hopefully, the Cowboys’ defense can improve with their plethora of draft picks and their free agency signings of safety Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee. However, even if this defense only improves a little, it appears that the Cowboys could still compete for a division title.

The Cowboys arguably play in the worst division in the NFL, the NFC East. Last season, NFC East teams had a combined record of 23-40-1, which was the worst win percentage amongst all the other divisions in the NFL. The Washington Football Team had the best record at 7-9.

This can absolutely play in Dallas’ favor in 2021. Playing in a weak division means a better chance for the Cowboys to win the NFC East.

Additionally, Dallas has the second easiest schedule in the NFL next season, according to eatdrinkandsleepfootball.com. Their opponents in 2021 went just 122-148-2 last season which means their strength of schedule is at .452. Only the Philadelphia Eagles have an easier schedule.

If the Cowboys can stay healthy through the season, they likely have a good shot at making it back to the postseason. Furthermore, if Dallas can draft superstar players on defense in this year’s draft, this team can be scary in 2021.