To say the Dallas Cowboys had a disappointing 2024 would be a massive understatement.
After three consecutive 12-5 campaigns, Sunday's embarrassing 41-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles guarantees America's Team its first losing season since 2020 and just its second in the last decade.
To be fair, injuries played a factor in this colossal failure of a campaign, but that excuse only goes so far. Perhaps had Jerry Jones done anything to improve this team in the offseason, the injuries that did occur wouldn't have made such an impact, as the depth chart would've looked a little better, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
As far as the other issues the Cowboys faced, one could point to questionable coaching decisions from Mike McCarthy and his entire staff, atrocious offensive line play, a poor rushing attack (Rico Dowdle has at least helped with that in recent weeks), an even worse run defense, and just overall inconsistency.
If one were looking for an easy explanation, the fact of the matter is that the Cowboys simply didn't score enough touchdowns. And when you allow the second-most points in the NFL, that's kind of important if you want to win football games.
A season ago, the Dallas offense produced 57 total touchdowns, the fourth-most in the league, en route to becoming the highest-scoring team in the NFL.
Through 16 games this year, however, the Cowboys have found the end zone just 32 times, tied for the fifth-fewest in the league. And do you know who has scored the most TDs for Dallas this season?
That honor would belong to none other than Jalen Tolbert. Yes, you read that correctly. Jalen Tolbert leads the Dallas Cowboys in touchdowns in 2024.
Jalen Tolbert will end the 2024 season leading the Dallas Cowboys in touchdowns
For those wondering, the only teams to score fewer touchdowns than Dallas has in 2024 are the New England Patriots (28), the Cleveland Browns (28), the Las Vegas Raiders (28), and the New York Giants (29).
Now, as far as Tolbert is concerned, the fact that he's leading the Cowboys in touchdowns this season with seven is nothing but a good thing from an individual standpoint.
The third-year wideout is having the best season of his young career, and with one year remaining on his rookie deal, it's good to know that he'll be around for 2025, as he's proven he can step up when called upon.
From an overall standpoint, however, the fact that Tolbert leads the team in touchdowns speaks to the problem that the Cowboys simply don't have enough offensive weapons.
They have CeeDee Lamb, of course, but even with 101 receptions for 1,194 yards, he only scored six touchdowns in 2024, which is only half the number he hit a season ago.
After Tolbert and Lamb, next up on the list is Dowdle with four, and then it's Brandin Cooks and Ezekiel Elliott, each of whom has three. With those last two undoubtedly out the door at season's end, the Cowboys will have to find more help.
But that could be applied to almost every aspect of this team, couldn't it?