Preseason Opener Reflection

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The game immediately brought to mind classic NFL Films highlight reels, where quarterbacks are audibly calling plays in an attempt to fool the defense into jumping offside.

Can you imagine legendary players like Marino, Elway, or Aikman shouting, “Hut-Hut-HUT HUT HUT!!!!“?

So, did you hold your position, or did you get caught offside?

Look, I understand this preseason opener was less than thrilling, but please, don’t let this one game dictate your outlook for the entire season. I’ve witnessed too many preseason games that produced either great or disastrous outcomes, but bore little resemblance to how the rest of the season played out. So let’s pump the brakes on worrying about the 2025 Cowboys based on this performance.

That being said, the game itself was quite disappointing. The Cowboys’ defense struggled with tackling and allowed too many open plays. They were pushed around at the line of scrimmage, and the offense failed to move the ball effectively. Overall, it certainly didn’t appear to be a team that had been practicing nearby in Oxnard.

Adding to the day’s absurdity, the most notable hit was delivered by a sideline official, who knocked down CeeDee Lamb after he strayed too far out during a second-quarter pass attempt. It was a surreal moment, especially since Lamb was unharmed and took it in stride. Such incidents only foreshadowed a rough outing overall.

Key Takeaways

• The cornerback position is concerning; a starter, Robert Rochell, left the game early with a hamstring injury, exacerbating an already depleted roster with three other corners on the injured list, including Trevon Diggs.
• It would be great to see Mazi Smith, the 2023 first-round pick, perform better. He didn’t see much time on the field and didn’t make a big impact when he did, possibly stemming from a knee injury hampering his recent practices.
• Joe Milton is entertaining but sometimes struggles with precision, missing open receivers, including a potential touchdown throw. He looked better in the second half, particularly during a scoring drive.
• Israel Mukuamu made an impressive interception, showcasing his skills and likely solidifying his spot on the team.
• Phil Mafah runs decisively and could use more carries. Malik Davis, a newcomer, also stood out despite joining camp just a few days earlier.

Ultimately, it’s just a preseason opener. Remember, the Cowboys haven’t won one since 2017 and have lost nine out of ten since 2014. Out of those years, they’ve only had two losing seasons.

So, does this game insinuate that the Cowboys will be successful just because previous seasons turned out better? Not really. What it signifies is that this game, like others in the preseason, holds little weight in determining future success.