What the Cowboys Can Learn from the NFL’s Final Four
Another Super Bowl, another year the Dallas Cowboys are watching from home. The drought is now three decades deep, and while the frustration is real, so is the opportunity.
The four teams that just battled it out on Championship Sunday-Seattle, Los Angeles, New England, and Denver-each offer a blueprint. Not one path, but several.
And if the Cowboys are serious about ending this 30-year wait, they’d do well to take notes.
Let’s break it down.
1. Two Elite Receivers Are Better Than One
The NFC Championship was a showcase of wide receiver firepower. Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba and LA’s Puka Nacua both went off-10 catches for 153 yards and a score for JSN, and 9 for 165 and a touchdown for Nacua. That wasn’t just good football; it was a masterclass in how dynamic a passing game can be when you’ve got not one, but two legitimate threats outside.
And don’t forget, Nacua isn’t doing it alone. He’s paired with Davante Adams, who led the league in touchdown catches this season. Adams had a modest line in the title game-four catches for 89 yards and a score-but his presence opens up the field in ways that don’t always show up on the stat sheet.
Dallas? They’re not far off.
CeeDee Lamb is already elite. George Pickens, who’s set to hit free agency, has the tools to be a true WR1 on a lot of teams.
Together, they could be the kind of duo that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
Yes, keeping Pickens won’t be cheap-think $28 million on the franchise tag to start the conversation-but the league is showing us that elite pairings at receiver can be the difference in January. If Dallas wants to get serious about contending, they can’t let Pickens walk.
2. Running Backs Still Matter-If You Pay Them Right
We’ve heard it for years: “Don’t pay running backs.” But the teams still standing are proving that backs still matter-just not at premium prices.
Rhamondre Stevenson carried the load for New England in their snow-filled win at Denver, logging 25 carries. He’s a fourth-round pick with a cap hit that averages $6 million per year.
Kenneth Walker has been electric for Seattle this postseason, scoring four touchdowns in two games. He was a second-round pick making just $2 million annually.
In Denver, rookie RJ Harvey-also a second-rounder-is producing at $1.8 million per year. And in LA, Kyren Williams, a fifth-round steal, is the lead back, even as he shares touches with Blake Corum, a third-rounder earning $1.3 million annually.
The common thread? Production without the price tag.
Dallas has a decision to make with Javonte Williams. He’s been solid, but the lesson here is clear: you don’t need to break the bank to get quality production in the backfield. Whether they re-sign Williams or look elsewhere, the Cowboys need to find value at the position-because spending big here hasn’t been the winning formula lately.
3. Journeymen Don’t Win Titles-Blue-Chip QBs Do
Jarrett Stidham gave it his all for Denver, but let’s be honest-he’s a journeyman on his third team in seven seasons. Pressed into action after Bo Nix’s injury, Stidham managed just 10 points in the AFC title game.
Sam Darnold? He’s had a rollercoaster career since being drafted third overall in 2018. But despite bouncing around, he’s still got that blue-chip pedigree-and on Sunday, he played like it.
The lesson here isn’t just about talent. It’s about ceiling.
Teams with elite quarterbacks-or at least quarterbacks with elite traits-have a shot. The ones relying on placeholders usually don’t.
Dak Prescott’s name has sparked debate for years, but that debate should be over. He’s a top-tier quarterback. Yes, he’s expensive-$60 million per year expensive-but he’s also the Cowboys’ best shot at making a deep playoff run.
He turns 33 this summer. That window doesn’t stay open forever.
If Dallas is going to push all-in, now’s the time. Waiting for the next guy-who may or may not be a true franchise QB-could mean wasting whatever prime Dak has left.
4. Defense Still Wins Championships
It’s not just a cliché-it’s reality. Of the four teams that played on Championship Sunday, three had top-four defenses in 2025: Seattle (No.
1), Denver (No. 3), and New England (No. 4).
Even the Rams, known more for their offense, cracked the top 10.
Dallas? Dead last. They gave up 511 points-most in the league.
That’s not going to cut it.
Look at the defensive playmakers on these teams: Christian Gonzalez in New England, Patrick Surtain II in Denver, Devon Witherspoon in Seattle. Each of them is a true No. 1 cornerback, the kind who can shadow top receivers and change the game.
The Cowboys have invested heavily in their defensive tackles-and that’s a good start. But they need more.
They need a shutdown corner. They need proven starters across all three levels.
The draft will help, and Dallas has two first-round picks to work with. Best Available Player is a smart strategy, but if one of those picks can land a corner with elite upside? Even better.
Then it’s about filling the rest of the holes with veterans who’ve done it before. No more hoping late-round picks develop into starters. If the defense is going to take a leap, the Cowboys need to spend-and spend smart.
5. It’s Time for Jerry Jones to Learn-Again
Jerry Jones has never been shy about dreaming big. But dreams don’t win titles-action does.
Robert Kraft’s Patriots are back in the Super Bowl. That’s six appearances under his ownership.
Jerry? Still stuck at three, all from the 1990s.
When Jones entered the league in 1989, he made it a point to study the best. He visited San Francisco to learn from the 49ers.
He picked Al Davis’ brain about the Raiders. That hunger to learn helped build a dynasty.
But when’s the last time Jerry took a trip like that? When’s the last time he studied how other franchises are winning in the modern NFL?
Because there’s a lot to learn from these Final Four teams. How the Patriots rebounded from back-to-back 4-13 seasons to a 14-3 Super Bowl run.
How the Seahawks rebuilt their defense into the league’s best. How the Rams balanced star power with smart drafting.
How the Broncos kept things afloat despite a rash of injuries.
If Jerry wants to be remembered as the most successful owner in NFL history, it’s not going to happen by dreaming. It’s going to happen by adapting.
By evolving. By doing.
Final Thought
The Cowboys aren’t far off. They have elite talent.
They have a franchise quarterback. They have a defense with pieces.
But if they want to be more than just a good regular-season team, they need to take a hard look at what’s working for the teams still playing in late January.
Because the drought won’t end on its own. Not with dreams. Only with action.