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4 keys to Super Bowl contention for the Dallas Cowboys in 2021

The Dallas Cowboys had a disappointing 2020 season, going 6-10 and finishing in third place in the NFC East. Despite that, there are some expectations in Dallas that the team will turn around in 2021.

Having better injury luck in 2021 will certainly add some victories to the Cowboys’ record. They suffered through a lot of injuries on offense in 2020 and ineffectiveness on defense. If they can turn those things around, they could cause some noise in 2021.

In a wide-open NFC East and with the potential to have a high octane offense, the Cowboys could be a dark horse for the Super Bowl this upcoming season.

Here are four keys to contention for Dallas in the 2021 season.

4. Dan Quinn’s System On Defense

The Dallas Cowboys made some major changes on the defensive side of the ball. Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn was hired to take the place of Mike Nolan, who oversaw one of the worst defenses in Cowboys’ history.

There is some optimism surrounding Quinn’s hire, as the Cowboys put a lot of capital into improving the defense. Eight of the team’s 11 draft picks in 2021, including the first six, were defensive players. Linebacker Micah Parsons is the crown jewel of the group after being selected in the first round.

The organization is hoping that the new schemes Quinn will bring will help get the most out of a group that has some talent but fell woefully short of expectations last season.

3. Offensive Line Staying Healthy

One of the biggest deterrents of the Dallas Cowboys’ 2020 season was the injuries. The offensive line was one area that was decimated by injuries last season.

Long-time left tackle Tyron Smith played only two games last season and has missed at least three games in five consecutive seasons. La’el Collins didn’t play in a single game last season and Zack Martin played in only 10 games.

Last season, Connor Williams was the only player to start in all 16 games for the Cowboys along their offensive line. Joe Looney, who started 12 games at center last season, has since signed with the New York Giants and subsequently retired.

Getting this unit back on track is imperative to the team’s offense taking off. Quarterback Dak Prescott said the offensive line trio are the most important players on the team and he could very well be right with how often NFL games are decided in the trenches.

2. Secondary Making Improvements

The Dallas Cowboys spent prime draft capital on improving the defense. The front seven has a lot of talent, as Micah Parsons was added with the team’s first-round pick and Jabril Cox was selected in the fourth round. A third-round pick was used on defensive end Osa Odighizuwa as well.

With Demarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, Tarell Basham, Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch in place, the front seven has a lot of depth and talent. You know what you are going to get from most of them, but the same cannot be said for the secondary.

There is a lot of pressure on second-year cornerback Trevon Diggs to lead this secondary. The decision to allow Byron Jones to leave in free agency could come back to bite the Cowboys if they are unable to get production from anyone other than Diggs.

1. Dak Prescott Returning To Form

The Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott finally locked in a long-term deal, as the two sides agreed to a four-year, $160 million deal this offseason. Now, the next thing they have to deal with is making sure that he is 100 percent healthy.

This team will only go as far as Prescott can carry them. After injuring his ankle in the fifth game of the season against the New York Giants and missing the rest of the season, the Cowboys’ offense took a nosedive.

As long as Prescott is in the lineup, the Cowboys will have one of the best offenses in the NFL. They have a ton of weapons with Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup at wide receiver and Ezekiel Elliott leading the backfield once again.

But, without Prescott at the middle of that under center, we have already seen how quickly things can fall apart for the Cowboys’ offense.

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