How the Cowboys Offense Can Improve in 2026

The Dallas Cowboys' offense in 2025 was arguably the best in the entire NFL. Despite missing the playoffs and having one of the worst defenses in the NFL, the offense helped Dallas win seven games that they would not have won if the offense were slightly worse. Led by quarterback Dak Prescott, who had a career year, and a star receiving core with receivers like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, Dallas averaged over 266.3 yards per game and 27.7 points per game. Even with the elite offense, Dallas still has areas to improve upon that can make them an even better and more efficient offense in 2026. 

Red Zone

Despite Dallas's impressive offensive performance last year, red zone efficiency was a significant area of weakness. Throughout the season, particularly in the latter half during crucial games against the Vikings and Lions, the Dallas Cowboys faced challenges in the red zone. The NFC East powerhouse scored touchdowns on a little more than half of their red zone attempts, ranking 16th in the NFL, and for an offense of their caliber, it is unacceptable. One of the more notable moments in the season where this inefficiency showed up was in the Dallas early-season classic that ended in a 40-40 tie versus the Green Bay Packers game, where Prescott would throw a deep bomb to former Cowboy Jalen Tolbert to set up a potential game-winning touchdown, but they would stall and inevitably kick a field goal. Everyone on the storied NFL franchise’s roster and coaching staff understood the significance of capitalizing on their red zone opportunities. To improve their offense in 2026, achieving red zone success must be the initial priority. 

Penalties 

Pre-snap and snap penalties have been a backbreaker for America's Team for years and years. Whether it is a false start or even a delay of a game, it’s an issue that has been plaguing Dallas in the biggest games. In 2025, the NFC East leaders committed 46 pre-snap penalties, ranking them eighth in the NFL. While some of these penalties may be attributed to the defense, they highlight the larger problem. The elite teams in the league do not make mental pre-snap errors, and for the Cowboys to become an even better offense in 2026, toning down a prolonged issue is one of the keys for improvement.