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Cowboys Star Admits To Hangover From Shocker

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Mar 13, 2025 6:52 AM ET

The Dallas Cowboys endured a horror 2024 season that saw the franchise, after three straight 12-5 seasons, finish with a 7-10 record.

Part of that was the injuries Dallas had to deal with on both sides of the ball, with Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, Brandin Cooks, DeMarvion Overshown, and others suffering long-term injuries.

But maybe there was something more to why the Cowboys failed so badly in 2024.

And for Cooks, he thinks that the playoff debacle against the Green Bay Packers, that saw Dallas, as a huge home favorite, get curb-stomped 48-32.

“I look at last year, very disappointing,” Cooks said via DLLS Sports. “Yeah, you got the injuries, but just even from the standpoint of like it almost felt like the year before there was such high hopes, didn't get it done, and I think a little bit of that kind of bled over into the next season. Then finally, towards the end of the year, there was some sense of urgency, but as you know, in this league, that's too late.

"I think just the letdown from that year before I think overall as a team it was like man that was the year."

As CowboysCountry.com has stated often, the shocking loss to the Packers is what triggered ... well, everything, from a "Lame-Duck'' coaching staff and roster to the "Blow It Up'' plan.

The Cowboys started 2024 in a positive fashion, beating the Cleveland Browns, but then two brutal losses to the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens saw the team come back down to earth.

Then, there were two uninspiring wins over the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers before a 47-9 beatdown by the Detroit Lions, and by then, injuries started to catch up to them.

But now, with Brian Schottenheimer in as head coach and an entirely new coaching staff on both sides of the ball (aside from Lunda Wells), Cooks thinks change is coming.

"I think they'll do a good job of resetting, making some changes and whatnot," he added. "I think that vigor, that energy is back and a lot of motivation and feel is definitely back from the guys.”

So the Cowboys appear to have finally turned the page, and while they might have had a hangover from the 2023 playoff loss, now with Schotty and a fresh approach, maybe 2025 has something far more positive in store for Dallas.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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