Troy Aikman believes the Dallas Cowboys can still win the NFC East despite a 4-5 record. He told 96.7 The Ticket that Sunday’s matchup against the San Francisco 49ers was a chance for Dallas to hit reset. The Cowboys are just 1.5 games behind the New York Giants, who sit at 5-3-1 in the division. Aikman insists this turnaround has happened before in the league.
Dallas enters Sunday’s game at AT&T Stadium with a chance to reset their season. The team just defeated the Indianapolis Colts 27-23 on November 8. The win over the Indianapolis Colts stopped a slide but did not fix the defensive issues that plague the roster. The Cowboys rank last in the NFL for defensive impact metrics and allow 147.4 rushing yards per game. They also committed 14 penalties for 153 yards against Indianapolis.
Aikman Sees A Key Opportunity
Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman spoke on “96.7 The Ticket” about the upcoming matchup. He views the game against the 7-1 49ers as a critical test for Dallas. Aikman noted the simple logic of the situation.
“Well, I do think it’s an opportunity in a game like this. If they can beat the 49ers, then they can beat anybody. I mean, it’s that simple,” Aikman said. He added that a victory would boost morale significantly. “If they can beat them, then they can play with anybody on any given day. So I would have to believe it would be a real confidence boost. And they certainly could. I mean, it’s happened before,” he told the radio station.
The schedule offers more chances after San Francisco. In Week 11, the Tennessee Titans visit the Cowboys, while the Philadelphia Eagles play on Thanksgiving. They also face the Seattle Seahawks and the division-leading Giants in Week 17. Aikman believes these games give Dallas a path back into the race.
Player Belief And Leadership
Aikman wants to know if the players believe they have the talent to win. He has seen teams with bad attitudes and teams with good talent that just need to click.
Longtime offensive lineman Zack Martin supports quarterback Dak Prescott. Martin played with Prescott for nine seasons before retiring after the 2024 season. He recently called Prescott a model of consistency and a strong leader. Martin said Prescott has faced more adversity than most players in the league.
In a one-on-one interview, Martin of Prescott stated “He’s the leader,”. “He’s as good a teammate as I’ve ever been around.” Prescott has thrown for 335 yards and two touchdowns in his last game. He remains the second-highest paid player in the NFL at $60 million per season. His playoff record is 2-5, but Martin thinks a deep run is still possible.
“The playoffs are all about who’s healthy and who’s playing the best at that moment,” said Martin. He acknowledges the weak defense but believes the team can make a run if they get in.
Injuries And Roster Moves
The Cowboys are dealing with several key injuries on defense. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is trending toward a return for Sunday’s game. He missed the win against the Colts due to hamstring and back issues. Overshown posted full practice participation on Thursday, according to reports.
Overshown has one interception and 20 combined tackles in three games this year. His return could help the run defense, which allows the most yards in the conference. Another rookie, Jaishawn Barham, has been moved to the edge rusher group. Defensive coordinator Christian Parker explained that Barham will get more involved in specific packages.
The team also lost George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, and Joey Porter Jr. to injuries. The 4-5 record reflects these struggles, but the roster still has high-end talent at key positions.
Rivalry Tensions Rise
Tension between the two teams is high before the Sunday game. San Francisco tight end George Kittle has a history of wearing a controversial T-shirt that targets Dallas. He is considering wearing it again for the Week 10 matchup. Kittle likes the good fortune the shirt brought the 49ers in past games.
However, he also fears the punishment that might come from the display. Kittle said he might get suspended if he wears it again. He spoke to 95.7 The Game about his plans.
According to 95.7 The Game, the two-time First-Team All-Pro tight end stated “Potentially,” when asked about having a shirt prepared for this Week 10 NFC Matchup. “I don’t know if I can show that one again, I think I’d get suspended, so don’t want to do that.” Kittle noted that the old shirt is 3-0 and he wants to keep using it.
The 49ers are 7-1 and look like a top contender for Super Bowl 61. The Cowboys are 4-5 and fighting for their playoff lives. The game starts at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Dallas needs a win to stay close to the Giants in the division standings.
TLDR
Can the Cowboys still win the NFC East?
Yes. The Giants are 5-3-1, leaving the Cowboys just 1.5 games behind. Aikman believes Dallas can climb back with wins against the Titans, Eagles, and Giants.
Who is the Cowboys’ next opponent?
The Dallas Cowboys play the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, November 15, at 4:25 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium.
What is the Cowboys’ defensive ranking?
Dallas ranks dead last in the NFL for Defense Impact Metric and allows 147.4 rushing yards per game.
Will DeMarvion Overshown play on Sunday?
He is trending toward a return after practicing fully on Thursday, though he missed the previous game against Indianapolis.
