After the departure of long time Cowboy favorites DE/LB DeMarcus Ware and DT Jason Hatcher to free agency, coupled with a season-ending knee injury to MLB Sean Lee during Organized Team Activity in late May, the Dallas Cowboys, were one of the most heavily admonished, and second guessed NFL franchises through the entire preseason, and half-way into the 2014 regular season. Much of the criticism was in response to the Cowboys selecting Notre Dame offensive guard Zack Martin over the perceived Cowboys savior in the first round of the NFL draft. Even Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was uncharacteristically downplaying expectations for the upcoming season during spring training, emphasizing to the media and fans, that it might take a little more time for the Cowboys young players to mature into an NFL championship-caliber team.
Regular season
Adding injury to the many insults hurled at Jerry Jones, Tony Romo and the Cowboys organization in general, Tony Romo did not play well during two preseason starts after receiving only a small percentage of snaps throughout training camp, due to continuing recovery from off-season surgery to repair a herniated intervertebral disc in his lower back. For these reasons, Romo and the Cowboys passing offense struggled mightily for the first two games of the regular season, causing many fans and media to declare the Dallas Cowboys as the absolute worst team in the league after their week 1 loss to the 49ers at AT&T Stadium. A humiliating turnover led to defeat for Dallas, which appeared to prove all the Cowboy critics right, that Jerry Jones should have selected QB Johnny "Football" Manziel in the first round of the NFL 2014 draft to eventually replace. By season's end, not only would Tony Romo have the highest quarterback rating in the NFL for the 2014 regular season but, first round pick would have a well deserved All-Pro season while establishing himself as a critical piece in the development of what many now consider to be, the best offensive line in the entire NFL. Following a win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16, the Cowboys won the NFC East. This also guaranteed making the playoffs for the first time since 2009. The Cowboys improved on their 8–8 record from 2013 after finishing 12–4. For the season, the team was 8–0 on the road. Plenty of milestones were established by the 2014 Cowboys team, topped by DeMarco Murray's record-setting rushing season. The Cowboys defeated the Detroit Lions at home 24–20 in the Wild Card round and advanced to the Divisional Playoffs. However, the Green Bay Packers defeated them 26–21, handing the Cowboys their first road loss and ending their season.
