The Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season hasn’t gone as many had hoped. Though the team locked in cornerstone players Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, a quiet offseason and the loss of key starters have left Dallas struggling. The Cowboys now sit at 3-4, with turnovers becoming a glaring issue, something that head coach Mike McCarthy has been vocal about.
Dallas currently holds a minus-8 turnover ratio, with Prescott facing scrutiny after throwing eight interceptions in seven games. But McCarthy is quick to point out that it’s not solely on the offense. The defense, typically fierce under coordinator Dan Quinn, has not been able to generate the takeaways it once could.
“Personally, I’m very frustrated,” McCarthy said in an interview with The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “If you want to be known for something as a football team, it’s taking care of the football and taking it away. I know my experience in the league would reflect that. To quote [offensive coordinator] Brian Schottenheimer, Marty Schottenheimer is probably turning over in his grave right now watching us play, being minus-eight.”
From 2021 through 2023, Dallas held an impressive +34 turnover differential. It’s this history of securing the ball that gives McCarthy hope the team can bounce back, but he’s aware it requires immediate change. “It’s a focal point,” he emphasized. “We can’t change yesterday. We can only work on today and improve moving forward.”
While Prescott’s interceptions have attracted much of the criticism, the defense’s sudden decline in forcing turnovers has also hampered the team’s performance. Under Quinn’s leadership, Dallas was one of the league’s top units in creating turnovers. But injuries to key players like DaRon Bland and Micah Parsons have left them vulnerable, impacting their ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks and secure takeaways.
The absence of defensive stalwarts has been evident. Without Parsons creating havoc in the backfield, opponents have more time to pass, exposing the secondary. But regardless of injuries, if Dallas aims to compete in a challenging division, they must address the turnover imbalance. Each giveaway and missed opportunity to take the ball back shifts momentum in their opponent’s favor, and that’s something McCarthy knows needs to change.
For the Cowboys, solving the turnover crisis isn’t just about salvaging a season. It’s about reclaiming their identity as a team that dominates both sides of the ball, a reputation they’ve built under Quinn and McCarthy’s leadership in previous seasons.
