For the third consecutive year, we gathered responses from Cowboys fans to some of the biggest questions facing the franchise. This year’s fan survey consisted of 25 questions. Over the past few days, 1,972 responses were collected. Here are the results.
1. How many games will the Cowboys win this season?
10 or 11 | 66.2% |
8 or 9 | 18.1% |
12 or 13 | 13.8% |
Less than 8 | 1.2% |
More than 13 | 0.8% |
The Cowboys won 12 games a year ago, and it appears that fans think they’ll be around that number again this season. BetMGM currently has Dallas as the favorite to win the NFC East for the second consecutive season. Double-digit wins should be the expectation, even with the Cowboys roster not looking as strong on paper as it did at this time last year.
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2. How far will the Cowboys go this season?
Lose in the first round of the playoffs | 37.4% | ||
Lose in the divisional round of the playoffs | 36.5% | ||
Lose in the NFC Championship Game | 13.7% | ||
Miss the playoffs | 7.9% | ||
Win the Super Bowl | 3.7% | ||
Lose in the Super Bowl | 0.7% |
Dallas’ 2021 season ended with a home loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round of the playoffs. The majority of fans see the Cowboys getting back to the postseason, something they haven’t done in consecutive years since 2007. From 1991 to 1999, the Cowboys only missed the playoffs once. In the 22 seasons since, they’ve missed the playoffs 14 times.
3. How do you feel about the current state of the franchise?
I feel the same as I have the last 25 years. | 68.2% | ||
I'm excited about the future. | 18.6% | ||
This is the most frustrated I've been. | 13.2% |
As frustrated as Cowboys fans are about their team not reaching the Super Bowl since 1995, they’ve gotten used to the results. Since 2010, 13 of the NFC’s 16 teams have played at least once in the conference championship game. The Cowboys, Lions and Commanders are the only teams that have not.
4. What grade do you give Mike McCarthy entering his third season as Cowboys head coach?
C | 51.4% |
B | 37.3% |
D | 8.5% |
F | 2.1% |
A | 0.8% |
This is a big year for McCarthy. If the Cowboys fall short of any postseason success, Jerry Jones could look to go in another direction with his coaching staff. McCarthy went to the playoffs once in his first three seasons in Green Bay. He then led the Packers to eight consecutive playoff appearances, which included three trips to the NFC Championship Game and a Super Bowl win at AT&T Stadium.
5. What grade do you give Jerry Jones the GM since replacing Jason Garrett with McCarthy?
C | 39.7% |
B | 26.9% |
D | 20.6% |
F | 10.5% |
A | 2.3% |
A somewhat surprising result. Nearly 70 percent of fans gave Jones a C or better grade as the team’s general manager over the last two and a half years.
6. How many games do you plan to attend this season?
None | 74.9% |
At least one | 20.4% |
2 or 3 | 2.6% |
More than three | 2.1% |
The Cowboys are unlikely to have problems filling up AT&T Stadium this fall, but it was interesting to see 75 percent of fans in this survey say they have no plans to attend a single game this season. Is it more of a sign of disappointment in the franchise or an unwillingness to spend the increasing costs (tickets, parking, concessions, etc.) to attend an NFL game?
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7. Who will win the NFC East?
Cowboys | 76.9% |
Eagles | 21.5% |
Commanders | 1.0% |
Giants | 0.6% |
The Cowboys are the favorites, but the Eagles certainly closed the gap this offseason. Dallas is trying to be the first team to win the NFC East in back-to-back seasons since 2004.
8. The Cowboys haven’t been to the NFC Championship Game in 26 years. Will they end that streak in the next three years?
No | 54.5% |
Yes | 45.5% |
The law of averages would say that it has to happen eventually, especially in a league with so much parity.
9. Who is the Cowboys’ most valuable player?
Dak Prescott | 64.9% |
Micah Parsons | 29.9% |
Zack Martin | 3.8% |
Trevon Diggs | 0.4% |
CeeDee Lamb | 0.4% |
DeMarcus Lawrence | 0.4% |
Other | 0.3% |
It’s hard to argue with the results. The Cowboys will only go as far as their franchise quarterback takes them. But Micah Parsons showed flashes last season of being the type of defensive game-wrecker that could one day become Dallas’ MVP.
10. Which rookie will make the biggest impact this season?
Tyler Smith, OL | 43.3% |
Jalen Tolbert, WR | 25.5% |
Jonathan Garibay, K | 15.5% |
Sam Williams, DE | 12.6% |
Jake Ferguson, TE | 2.1% |
Other | 1% |
The Cowboys need something from all of them. Roster changes have opened the door for each one to play a significant role. But judging by the questions along the offensive line, they need Tyler Smith to step in immediately and play like a veteran the most.
11. Which player’s departure will be the toughest to replace?
Amari Cooper | 49.7% |
Randy Gregory | 26.8% |
La'el Collins | 15.9% |
Cedrick Wilson | 6.4% |
Other | 1.1% |
Dallas isn’t going to be able to replace Amari Cooper with one player, especially with Michael Gallup expected to be out the first few games of the season. Jalen Tolbert, James Washington and at least one more wide receiver are going to have to show in training camp that they’re ready for significant roles alongside CeeDee Lamb. Replacing Randy Gregory probably won’t be easy, but a combination of Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler and Sam Williams should be able to cause enough problems with offenses focused on Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
12. Which position group concerns you most?
Offensive line | 65.6% |
Wide receiver | 16.4% |
Defensive line | 14.1% |
Other | 3.9% |
The offensive line needs Tyler Smith to pick things up quickly, Tyler Biadasz to show improvement and Tyron Smith to stay healthy. All that seems like a lot to ask.
13. Dak Prescott threw for 4,902 yards in 16 games in 2019. He threw for 4,449 yards in 16 games last season. How many will he throw for this season?
Between 4,000 and 4,500 | 47.7% |
Between 4,500 and 5,000 | 43.6% |
More than 5,000 | 5.7% |
Under 4,000 | 3.1% |
Prescott is certainly capable of a 5,000-yard season, but the Cowboys would probably prefer it if they didn’t have to throw it that much. If they can establish the running game with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard and build on what they did defensively a year ago, Prescott shouldn’t have to put up career numbers for them to win games.
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14. CeeDee Lamb is the favorite to lead the Cowboys in receiving yards. Who will finish second?
Dalton Schultz | 49.4% |
Michael Gallup | 35.4% |
Jalen Tolbert | 11.0% |
James Washington | 3.2% |
Other | 1.0% |
Dalton Schultz has to be the favorite, especially with Gallup working his way back from his season-ending knee injury. Last season, Schultz finished tied for second on the team in targets, third in receiving yards and tied for the most receiving touchdowns.
15. If you were the Cowboys GM and you could sign Dalton Schultz to a four-year deal that would pay him around $11 million per season, which is about what he will make this season under the franchise tag, with $22 million guaranteed, would you do it?
No | 53.9% |
Yes | 46.1% |
This was an interesting question because Schultz is expected to get a contract worth more than that, whether it comes from the Cowboys or another team on the open market.
16. Who will finish with more combined rushing and receiving yards?
Tony Pollard | 51.5% |
Ezekiel Elliott | 48.5% |
Elliott is the favorite here, but Pollard’s numbers have steadily increased across the board every year he’s been in Dallas. Maybe Cooper’s departure and some added questions in the passing game open up even more opportunities for him there.
17. Which offensive line position makes you most nervous?
Center | 35.1% |
Left tackle | 24.9% |
Right tackle | 20.5% |
Left guard | 19.2% |
It’s not a surprise that center topped the list. Biadasz has to have a big year in his third NFL season. The Cowboys just don’t have a lot of good options at the position behind him. Left tackle had to be near the top because of Tyron Smith’s health concerns. And with La’el Collins no longer on the roster, Dallas could be forced to use rookie OT Matt Waletzko or second-year OT Josh Ball at left tackle if Tyron Smith is sidelined with an injury.
18. Micah Parsons had 13 sacks in 16 games as a rookie. How many will he have this season?
11 to 14 | 45.8% |
7 to 10 | 28.3% |
15 to 18 | 22.1% |
More than 18 | 2.4% |
Less than 7 | 1.4% |
There’s no reason to think that Parsons can’t improve on his sack total from last season. He should be even more comfortable with the NFL game and Dan Quinn’s defense in Year 2. As long as he stays healthy, Parsons should again be a legitimate NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
19. Trevon Diggs led the NFL with 11 interceptions last season. How many will he have this season?
5 to 7 | 62.9% |
Less than 5 | 19.8% |
8 to 10 | 15.5% |
11 to 13 | 1.4% |
More than 13 | 0.4% |
This one is more difficult to predict than Parsons’ sack total because opposing quarterbacks could decide they just aren’t going to throw anywhere near Diggs. He’ll get some opportunities, but it would be surprising to see him get back near double-digits after the breakout year he had last season.
20. Micah Parsons is the favorite to lead the team in sacks. Who will finish second?
DeMarcus Lawrence | 81.1% |
Dorance Armstrong | 6.0% |
Dante Fowler | 4.8% |
Sam Williams | 3.9% |
Osa Odighizuwa | 2.6% |
Neville Gallimore | 0.9% |
Other | 0.6% |
Most fans were on the same page here. Lawrence expects to compete with Parsons for the team lead. Even if he doesn’t win that battle, double-digits are possible if Lawrence can stay healthy.
21. Trevon Diggs is expected to lead the team in interceptions. Who will finish second?
Anthony Brown | 26.5% |
Jourdan Lewis | 25.0% |
Jayron Kearse | 18.8% |
Malik Hooker | 15.8% |
Kelvin Joseph | 7.8% |
Micah Parsons | 5.2% |
Other | 0.9% |
As it should be, the results were all over the place. There are legitimately at least five players on the roster who have a chance.
22. Which linebacker will play more defensive snaps?
Leighton Vander Esch | 52.7% |
Jabril Cox | 47.3% |
If Jabril Cox was completely healthy, this might be different, but Leighton Vander Esch should be the favorite. He’s healthy, has the experience and is looking to make the most of a bigger workload with Keanu Neal gone.
23. If you could take any one player off another NFL team and put him on the Cowboys, who would it be?
Aaron Donald, DT, Rams | 667 |
T.J. Watt, OLB, Steelers | 140 |
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs | 137 |
Josh Allen, QB, Bills | 46 |
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers | 35 |
Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers | 31 |
Trent Williams, OT, 49ers | 30 |
Davante Adams, WR, Raiders | 29 |
Tom Brady, QB, Buccaneers | 27 |
Jalen Ramsey, CB, Rams | 26 |
Myles Garrett, DE, Browns | 26 |
A total of 95 different players were named in the 1,648 responses. These were the top 10 in votes. Going with one of the game’s greatest defensive tackles makes a lot of sense. It was interesting to see several centers, like Creed Humphrey, Corey Linsley and Jason Kelce, mentioned several times. The Cowboys could certainly use an elite center, but there’s no way that should be the pick over Aaron Donald or T.J. Watt.
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24. Who is the Cowboys’ most underrated player?
Tony Pollard, RB | 386 |
Jayron Kearse, S | 205 |
Anthony Brown, CB | 160 |
DeMarcus Lawrence, DE | 118 |
Michael Gallup, WR | 93 |
Zack Martin, RG | 77 |
Dak Prescott, QB | 76 |
Jourdan Lewis, CB | 41 |
Dalton Schultz, TE | 41 |
Terence Steele, RT | 38 |
There were 1,590 responses to this question. It’s pretty clear that fans want to see Pollard getting more opportunities with the ball this season. Pollard finished second to Gallup in last year’s voting.
25. Who is the Cowboys’ most overrated player?
Ezekiel Elliott, RB | 826 |
Dak Prescott, QB | 151 |
Tyron Smith, LT | 114 |
Trevon Diggs, CB | 97 |
CeeDee Lamb, WR | 92 |
DeMarcus Lawrence, DE | 70 |
Dalton Schultz, TE | 58 |
A total of 1,675 responses were posted to this question. There was a considerable drop-off after these top seven. Elliott finished second to Jaylon Smith last year. Of those 1,167 write-in responses, Smith received 462, Elliott 428, Lawrence 67, Prescott 45 and Cooper 35.
(Photo of Micah Parsons: Tim Heitman / USA Today)
