What Is 2015 Dallas Cowboys football team

Overview

The 2015 Dallas Cowboys struggled through a disappointing NFL season, finishing with a 4-12 record—their worst since 1989. Plagued by injuries and inconsistent play, the team failed to make the playoffs for the third consecutive year under head coach Jason Garrett.

Despite high expectations following a 12-4 season in 2014, the Cowboys regressed significantly in 2015. Quarterback Tony Romo, the team's leader, sustained a compression fracture in his back during Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles, derailing the season.

• Week 2 injury to Tony Romo forced him to miss 12 games, severely impacting offensive consistency and game management.
• The Cowboys started three different quarterbacks: Romo, Brandon Weeden, and Matt Cassel, none of whom posted a passer rating above 80.0.
• Dallas ranked 28th in total offense, averaging just 306.6 yards per game, a steep drop from 2014’s top-10 unit.
• The offensive line, once dominant, allowed 49 sacks, tied for second-most in the NFL, due to injuries and lineup changes.
• They finished last in the NFC East, ahead of only the 3-13 Washington team in overall conference standings.

How It Works

The 2015 Cowboys season exemplified how injuries and poor depth can derail even a promising team. With Romo sidelined, the offense lacked leadership and efficiency, exposing weaknesses in backup quarterback performance and offensive line durability.

• Quarterback Rotation: After Romo’s injury, Brandon Weeden started six games, throwing for 1,148 yards but only 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, showing limited upside.
• Offensive Line Collapse: The unit allowed 49 sacks despite preseason expectations, as injuries to key players like Travis Frederick disrupted cohesion.
• Defensive Struggles: The defense ranked 24th in points allowed, giving up 27.1 points per game, a major factor in their losing record.
• Rushing Inconsistency: Despite having Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray (before his departure), the running game averaged only 85.8 rushing yards per game.
• Special Teams Errors: Punter Chris Jones had a 41.2-yard average, among the worst in the league, contributing to poor field position.
• Coaching Decisions: Jason Garrett’s conservative play-calling and slow adaptation drew criticism, especially in close losses like the 20-19 defeat to the Falcons in Week 16.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 2015 Cowboys to their 2014 and 2016 seasons highlights the impact of health and roster depth on performance.

The 2015 season marked a low point between two successful campaigns. While 2014 and 2016 featured healthy quarterbacks and dominant offensive lines, 2015 suffered from instability at critical positions. The data shows a steep decline in all key offensive metrics, underscoring how Romo’s absence and offensive line injuries crippled the team’s performance.

Why It Matters

The 2015 season serves as a cautionary tale about over-reliance on star players and the importance of depth. For the Cowboys, it highlighted organizational weaknesses and prompted changes in player development and medical protocols.

• Quarterback Depth became a priority, leading to the drafting of Dak Prescott in 2016, who eventually succeeded Romo.
• The 2015 failure reinforced the need for a strong offensive line, influencing future draft and free agency strategies.
• It exposed medical and recovery shortcomings, prompting the team to revamp its injury prevention and rehabilitation programs.
• The season’s struggles helped justify long-term contracts for key players like Dez Bryant and Tyron Smith in subsequent years.
• It served as a motivational benchmark for the 2016 team, which rebounded to a 13-3 record and NFC East title.
• The Cowboys’ fall from contention emphasized how one injury can alter a franchise’s trajectory in a competitive league.

Ultimately, the 2015 Dallas Cowboys season, while forgettable on the surface, played a pivotal role in shaping the team’s future decisions and culture. Its lessons contributed directly to the successful rebuild seen in 2016 and beyond.