A Month of Dallas Sports
Although UD was on break over the last month, the world of sports surely was not! From playoff hopes to rising stars, Dallas certainly has plenty to talk about. Here is the summary of what has happened in Dallas sports over the past month.
The Dallas Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention for a second year in a row after a three game losing streak, losing to the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Cowboys secured one last victory against the Washington Commanders on Christmas Eve before ultimately losing their final game of the season to the New York Giants.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott recorded over 4,000 passing yards, both Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens had 1,000 receiving yards each and Javonte Williams had 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career in his first season with Dallas. It was clear that the defense was the issue this season for Dallas, and all eyes were on defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
Eberflus was let go just two days after the season ended. In addition, the Cowboys also released defensive back Trevon Diggs. Diggs was drafted in 2020 by Dallas, and early on seemed to be a star in the making. He showed true promise in his remarkable 2021 season, recording 11 interceptions. Just before the 2023 season, Diggs signed a 5-year contract with Dallas to keep him long-term. Diggs never had a fully healthy season afterward and was let go to free up capital for future signings. Two days after his release, Trevon Diggs signed with the Green Bay Packers. In short, it was another disappointing season for the Dallas Cowboys, but two first-round picks, a change in coaching personnel and the opportunity to sign major free agents brings much anticipation for the 2026 Dallas Cowboys.
The Dallas Mavericks have found their future in Cooper Flagg. Flagg has excelled recently, especially since he returned to his position as a power forward. Flagg has increased his scoring average and rebound average, and has settled into the tempo of the NBA. Flagg is the youngest player ever to score 40 points in a game, currently leading the Rookie of the Year odds, and is continuing to shine as a young star in the NBA.
Mavericks fans, however, are frustrated with Anthony Davis. Davis was the centerpiece that Dallas acquired when they traded away Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. Although Davis is a highly skilled player, his injuries make him a liability. Dallas could trade him away just a year after acquiring him, but other organizations are not blind to his health. Regardless, the future of the Dallas Mavericks lies with Cooper Flagg.
The Dallas Stars continue to shine as a top team in the NHL. Many believe that they are ready to run it back in the playoffs and finally get over the hump. Young Forward Wyatt Johnson is having a breakout season. At 22 he is becoming an offensive leader for the Stars and can surely be seen as a franchise piece as he progresses. Another young star for Dallas is fellow forward Logan Stankoven, who is also excelling on offense and will continue to improve as the season continues. In addition, the Stars’ biggest key to winning is their ability to stay healthy. Over the last few seasons, this team faced significant injuries that limited their success in the playoffs. Now, over halfway through this season, the Stars are one of the healthiest teams in the NHL and can use that to their advantage in the playoffs.
Baseball is still out of season, but the Texas Rangers have been making a splash. After the Rangers traded for Brandon Nimmo and Mackenzie Gore, they continued to add to their bullpen with reliever Chris Martin, and former All-Star Alexis Díaz. The Rangers continue to fight to stay competitive in the American League Conference, and look to return to their competitive nature that brought them their first World Series title in 2023.
Things will soon be picking up in the football world, as the off-season will bring potential trades, as well as draft picks. For basketball and hockey, the playoffs are creeping closer and suddenly games become more important down the stretch. Baseball will finally return for spring training, and before we know it Opening Day will be upon us! Overall, this is now a truly exciting time for Dallas sports and their beloved fans!