The Dallas Cowboys are 2-3, but are reeling with three straight losses. The offense has struggled mightily without Dez Bryant and Tony Romo. Both will be back at some point this season, so all hope is not lost. Here are five things that will determine the remainder of the Cowboys' season.
5. Defense
The Cowboys' defense has been roughly league average. That's good enough to win games with Romo, but the defense must step up with Romo out. The defense doesn't have to be Top 10, but it must do better than it did against the Saints, Patriots and Falcons for the team to survive until Romo is back.
4. Matt Cassel
Brandon Weeden wasn't the problem with Romo out, but he wasn't the solution either. That's why the Cowboys have turned to Cassel. The Cowboys need to find a way to win at least a game or two with Romo out if they wants to make a playoff run when Romo returns. Weeden proved he wasn't up to the task. Now, Cassel gets a chance to prove he can.
3. Dez Bryant's Return
The single biggest boost Cassel can have is the return of Bryant. Dallas and Bryant hope he can return after the Week 6 bye, though that seems optimistic and likely too early of a return for Bryant given that his foot injury tends to take two months to heal. Still, the sooner the Cowboys get a healthy Bryant back, the better. The wide receiver corps has struggled without Bryant and Romo, and getting Bryant back gives them the playmaker they lack. With Bryant, the team has a player who Cassel can just throw it up to and expect a play to be made. With Bryant out, the Cowboys don't have that type of player.
2. Running Game
This one part running backs and one part offensive line. Joseph Randle has been solid, but not spectacular. There's a good chance Christine Michael is going to start eating into Randle's carries and I'm excited to see what Michael can do. I have high expectations and believe his ceiling is higher than Randle's. The offensive line has been good, but Cowboys' fans are expecting more than that. The O-Line is supposed to the best in the league, but they've barely been a Top 10 unit. The line must start improving, and if that happens, the Cowboys will be able to pick up a few wins in Romo's absence.
1. Romo's Return
The Cowboys are just trying to tread water until Romo's return. Romo is the most important player on the team, and the results are quite clear how bad this team is without him. When Romo returns, likely around Week 11, the Cowboys' win chances will change drastically. The team needs him out on the field. I can't shake the feeling that Dallas would be at least 4-1 if Romo had stayed healthy. If Romo comes back and plays at the level he was before the injury, the Cowboys can still make a playoff push.
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