Three 'can't win' games for the 2024 Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys won the NFC East for the second time in three years last season, but don’t expect them to win any of these games in 2024.

Week 3 | vs. Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are 5-1 against the Cowboys all-time. More importantly, their starting quarterback isn't going anywhere. Jackson signed a five-year, $260M deal last offseason and followed it up by winning NFL MVP.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott led the league with 36 touchdowns in 2023 but like wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, remains unsigned beyond 2024. Lamb skipped minicamp practices and could miss training camp without a new contract.

Even if he returns for the regular season, the NFL’s second-leading receiver may not be up to speed for this early-season matchup. The same can be said about running back Ezekiel Elliott who averaged a career-low 3.5 yards per carry for 642 yards and three scores as a Patriot last season.

On the other hand, Baltimore’s top-ranked run game gets a boost with the addition of longtime Titan, Derrick Henry. The 30-year-old running back ran for 1,167 yards last season, finishing with the NFL’s second-most yards for the second straight year.

The Cowboys may have a top-five secondary but their run defense ranked 16th allowing 112.4 yards per game in 2023. With Henry and Jackson in the fold, the Ravens should run wild at AT&T Stadium.

Week 8 | at San Francisco 49ers

Including the postseason, the 49ers are 20-19-1 in 40 games against the Cowboys. Last year, San Francisco handed Dallas its worst loss of the season, beating them 42-10 at Levi's Stadium.

Niners quarterback Brock Purdy had a career-high four touchdowns while Cowboys quarterback Prescott threw a season-worst three interceptions. Running back Jordan Mason, not Christian McCaffrey led the team in rushing with 69 yards that day while tight end George Kittle, not Brandon Aiyuk, led the team with 67 yards receiving.

In other words, San Francisco has the most balanced roster in the NFL and a strong desire to repeat as NFC champions after losing to the Chiefs 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII.

Week 17 | at Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia has eyes on a conference title as well after representing the NFC in Super Bowl LVII. Aside from a pair of wins for Dallas in 2021, Jalen Hurts’ first full season as the Eagles' starting quarterback, the two teams have split four of their last five regular-season series with each team winning its home game.

This offseason, Philadelphia added former Cowboys coordinator Kellen Moore to run the offense and former Giants running back Saquon Barkley to run and catch the ball as a dual-threat weapon for Hurts. They also gave new contracts to wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith who each had 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023.

That much firepower should be enough to get the Eagles another home win in what could be Mike McCarthy’s next-to-last game as Cowboys head coach.