UPDATE: Worries surround the defensive capabilities of the Dallas Cowboys as the 2024 season draws near.

While the Dallas Cowboys have showcased moments of excellence, there are notable apprehensions heading into the 2024 season. In the six defeats they suffered, the team conceded a significant portion of their total 363 points for the 18-game stretch, allowing an average of 33.1 points per game. Although the defense was accountable for only 41 points in the playoff loss to the Packers, even in the game where they held the opposition to a mere 22 points, they permitted the Dolphins to march 64 yards in 12 plays, culminating in a game-winning 29-yard field goal as time expired.

An intriguing scenario unfolded in a potential victory against the Dolphins, where a field goal by the Cowboys would have sealed a 20-19 win. This marked an unusual occurrence, as later in the season, defeating Detroit by the same score meant achieving two wins with identical results for the first time in a single season and only the third and fourth instances in franchise history. Previous 20-19 victories were secured during the 2011 season against Miami on Thanksgiving and in 2012 against Cincinnati.

Examining rushing yards in those six losses reveals that the defense, while holding Miami to 91 yards, allowed an average of 166.8 rushing yards in those defeats. In the narrow victory against Detroit, the Cowboys conceded 125 rushing yards, with the Lions opting out of the extra point that could have forced overtime.

Despite the deceptive nature of this third consecutive 12-5 season under McCarthy, concerns loom as the team went 1-3 in the playoffs over the past three seasons. The Cowboys struggled against teams finishing with winning records, managing a 4-5 record in such matchups. Victories came against the Rams (10-7), the Eagles (11-6) in the second encounter, Seahawks (9-8), and the Lions (12-5), with a notable instance of needing to score 41 points to secure a six-point win.