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Can Cowboys Overcome No Tony Romo & Dez Bryant This Time?

This season is eerily similar in many cases to what happened last season, can the Cowboys make sure they don't fall to the same fate?

By Michael Sisemore
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

No Tony Romo. No Dez Bryant, perhaps? This is starting to feel eerily similar to 2015. So, why do we still have confidence in the Cowboys stable of receivers? Maybe Dak Prescott has something to do with it? Last season, there were many things in disarray other than missing out on Tony Romo and Dez Bryant. Any confidence would be dashed not only by terrible quarterback play but also by off the field things were taking place.

Now, depending on which source you read, we're looking at 1-3 weeks without Dez Bryant due to a hairline fracture in his knee. Same story as last season, how will the receivers respond? They did absolutely no favors for Brandon Weeden or Matt Cassel last season. People forget that Weeden was completing over 70% of his passes, he had a 92.1 QB rating, he threw for 7.5 yards per clip. However, nobody stepped in and helped win games. Terrance Williams never stepped up, Cole Beasley didn't come along, Brice Butler got injured, and just forget about Devin Street.

So, if the All-Pro receiver Dez Bryant misses three games, can Dak count on his guys to make plays and deliver? That's what will be of the utmost importance. Dak has done a great job at getting the ball to the open man and he believes that his offense will be just fine.

"I don't really pay attention to who I'm throwing to," Prescott said. "I just go out there and go through my reads. Whoever is open gets the ball. I hope Dez gets well or is well really, really soon. But it doesn't really affect this offense."

He's not the only one showing confidence either, it seems as though this team is not waiting for anyone to walk through the door. Butler, who will likely play the X receiver with any absence of 88, also seems quite confident.

Hmmm...well we heard all of this type of talk before but there is a difference in talk and making it happen on the field. In the last two years, without Tony Romo and Dez Bryant; the Cowboys are 0-6. That's not very encouraging but there is something a bit different about this team. They have confidence in their 2016 season, last year they just couldn't wait for a savior. That comes with having confidence in the signal-caller.

Dak Prescott is having an outstanding start to his rookie season. He's got a 93 passer rating, 87.2 QBR, 67% completion percentage, and almost eight yards per pass. He's only got one touchdown pass but he's leading the league in third down percentage. In fact, the Cowboys are 52.5% on third down and that bodes well for the team. After struggling in week one, Dallas is also among the best teams in the red zone with a 66.7% conversion rate.

Dak is finding his guys and allowing them to make plays. That doesn't excuse them from their performances in 2015 but that confidence in their quarterback cannot be overlooked. Cole Beasley is a third-down monster, much like he was in 2014. Dak has Beasley on pace to surpass 1,000 receiving yards and over 100 receptions on the season.

What also has the Dallas Cowboys in good shape, their sixth-rated rushing offense. Last season, Dallas didn't find their starting running back until six weeks in. They had eight rushing touchdowns all year in 2015; Mickey Spagnola has shown us all that Dallas needs 10 or more to have a winning season. They already have seven rushing touchdowns in three games. They have Ezekiel Elliott putting 140 yards on the Chicago Bears, and now face a worse rush defense in the next game.

You see, this offense isn't all about Dak Prescott carrying the team like it has been with Romo in the past. The reason the Cowboys are getting better with each week is because their players are making plays. Dez Bryant has 11 receptions, 150 yards, and one touchdown. Other guys have been stepping up and making plays with Beasley having 20 receptions and 213 yards, Jason Witten has 142 yards, and Terrance Williams has 122 yards. This is the type of continuity they are building here and they need for their receivers to continue to help Dak Prescott. Dak is not just developing his receivers, they are helping him. Yes, he's talented but he's a rookie sensation because he's being put in the right position by his coaches and fellow players.

They let everything slip through their fingers last season by waiting on an absolution that wasn't coming. This year, nobody is hanging their heads or treading water. This ship has to stay afloat because we're in a peculiar year where we're living in the moment while envisioning our future. These receivers and running backs will be as instrumental in weeks 4, 5, 6 as they will be in 14,15.16. They know that there aren't excuses that will save them all this coming offseason. They're trying to play winning football and the hope is that now they have some more adversity, they won't crawl into their shells like they did last season. They have too much to be excited about and a lot to play for.
"It’s kinda this motto, don’t blink, just come in and keep pushing as if the 11 we initially put out there are out there," Prescott said. "It doesn’t really matter who's out there, we’re going to run this game plan and we’re all going to prepare as we’re No. 1s and we’re the starters and be ready for our moments."

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