UFGmagazine_2022

DALLAS
Brought to you by:
COWBOYS
mickey
spagnola
OXNARD, Calif.
The Dallas Cowboys finished 12-5 during the 2021 NFL season, tying for the second-best
record behind just 13-4 Green Bay and Tampa Bay.The Cowboys won the NFC East title
for the 21st time since formed in 1970 and the 25th division crown in the franchise’s
62nd season. Philadelphia’s 11 East titles rank second, an indication of the Cowboys
overall dominance.
The Cowboys also went undefeated in the East this past season, sweeping the home and
away games with Philadelphia, Washington and the New York Giants, only the third time
in club history they have finished with a perfect record (1969 and 1998).
And this Cowboys team in 2022 will be trying to do what no NFC East team has done
since 2004: Win consecutive NFC East Division titles, last accomplished by the Eagles,
winning four straight from 2001-04. That’s 14 years ago.Not bad.
And when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked about his expectations for this 2022
team during the team’s training camp opening press conference on July 26 in Oxnard,
Calif., he was unequivocal with this response:“We have a criticism this year – we won 12
games last year. I have to, I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t get a little bit of feel-good
out of those 12 games. I understand where our fans are, and they should understand
where I am. That’s not enough. But it’s enough to go again.“I need to win it. I need to
win it . . . we need to be in the playoffs We need to be viable in the playoffs to be a successful
season.”
And this, though, is quite strange after turning a 6-10 team in 2020 during head coach
Mike McCarthy’s first season into that 12-5 the following season, knowing they don’t
grandfather you into the playoffs the next season after putting up sparkling numbers
during the previous one:
4 KTSM 9 / ULTIMATE FOOTBALL GUIDE | 2022 / KTSM.COM