As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming football season, many will undoubtedly express the sentiment, “In Dallas, success is measured in Super Bowls,” underscoring the pressure to achieve greatness. However, it’s essential to recognize that the 2024 season can still be deemed successful even without clinching the coveted Super Bowl title. This season represents a unique opportunity for the Cowboys to redefine their benchmarks for success and progress, focusing on team development and playoff performance rather than just a singular championship perspective.

The pivotal question arises: how do we define success for the Dallas Cowboys?

After experiencing three consecutive winning seasons, merely tacking on a fourth isn’t enough to label it a success—it has become a minimum expectation. Although achieving four straight winning seasons would be a notable feat, it’s crucial to realize that only four teams in the entire league are currently enjoying a streak of four or more consecutive winning seasons, and all of them belong to the AFC:

• Chiefs (11 seasons, or every year under Andy Reid)
• Bills (5 seasons)
• Dolphins (4 seasons)
• Steelers (4 seasons)

However, this analysis extends beyond the regular season. In Dallas, the standards are set for achieving at least one playoff victory; anything less would result in significant disappointment and could lead to critical changes within the franchise. This expectation reflects the desire for the team to not only perform well during the regular season but also to excel when it matters most in the playoffs.

Reflecting on Remarkable Seasons: Is 2007 or 2016 a Benchmark for Success? During both of these remarkable seasons, the Cowboys finished with impressive 13-3 regular season records, swiftly secured the NFC East title, and entered the playoffs as the top seed, only to face disappointing defeats in the divisional round. Would reaching the top NFC seed be considered a success in your eyes, despite the ultimate outcome?

What About the Seasons of 2009, 2014, 2018, or 2022? In these instances, the Cowboys managed to win their wildcard games but were eliminated in the divisional round. Would you consider securing one playoff victory a successful outcome for the team?

Examining the 1994 Season: A Journey to the Conference Championships The Cowboys entered the playoffs as the second seed, defeating the Packers decisively with a score of 35-9, only to fall short against the eventual Super Bowl-winning 49ers. Would advancing to the Conference Championships qualify as a success in your opinion?

It’s also noteworthy that the last time the Cowboys achieved two playoff victories in a single season was in 1995. Is it reasonable to expect at least two playoff wins this time around?

Is Reaching the Super Bowl the Ultimate Goal? Naturally, the ultimate aspiration is to make it to the Super Bowl. However, is a Super Bowl victory truly the only criterion that should define a season as successful?

There’s no question that anything less than securing another playoff win cannot be regarded as a success in any capacity, regardless of circumstances. But what follows that victory? Do the Cowboys need to advance past the divisional round? Is reaching the Conference Championship a necessity? Or is it more important how they perform in their final playoff game, irrespective of the round?

The ultimate goal remains clear: to reach the Super Bowl. Yet, should a Super Bowl win be the sole measure by which we evaluate a season’s success?

What criteria do you believe should be met for the 2024 season to be considered a success for the Cowboys? Share your thoughts in the attached survey or in the comments section below.