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Dallas Cowboys
Overall: 67
Title track: 33
Ownership: 53
Coaching: 59
Players: 53
Fan relations: 78
Affordability: 103
Stadium experience: 34
Bang for the buck: 34
Change from last year: +40
It's amazing what one year can do. After three seasons of 8-8 finishes, the Cowboys went 12-4 in 2014. Tony Romo had his best year, Jerry Jones was named the league's top executive, and Jason Garrett got a new five-year deal. All of that helped the Cowboys climb from 107th overall in the Ultimate Standings to 67th.
What's good
The Boys' offensive line is the envy of the league, and despite Romo's early clavicle injury, the team remains the front-runner to grab the NFC East title (players rank: 53rd overall). The defense looks better than it did a year ago and should be better still when Greg Hardy and Rolando McClain return from four-game suspensions. Jones has long taken heat for the Cowboys' lack of playoff success since winning Super Bowl XXX, but they are in position to contend in 2015 (his ownership rating climbed 39 spots). Fans seem to appreciate all this. The Cowboys scored very well in showing a commitment to winning, willingness to pay to attract quality talent and past/future championships. Of course, Jones will also be happy to hear that Dallas' best showing (34th in stadium experience) comes from his pet project, Jerry World (and its impressive video boards).
What's bad
There is a quite literal (and quite high) cost for all this improvement. Parking outside AT&T Stadium runs to $75, the most expensive in the league, and the average ticket, at $164 a game, is also the priciest in the NFL. A single beer will set you back $8.50; only five teams charge more. And the only teams with a worse affordability rating are the New York Giants (109), San Francisco 49ers (112), Chicago Bears (113), New York Jets (114) and Washington Redskins (116). The Giants, Jets and Niners play in newer stadiums than the Cowboys do, but the Bears and Redskins don't.
What's new
The Boys' large jump in the standings came by climbing by double digits in almost every category: Besides Jones' increase, their score rose by more than 50 places in the players category, and Garrett and his staff climbed an impressive 72 places in coaching. Since getting the $6 million deal and giving up play calling, Garrett has been able to focus on the entire team. The hiring of Scott Linehan freed him up offensively because he trusts Linehan more than he did Bill Callahan, who called plays in 2013. The changes, so far, have meant more wins and longer playoff runs, and that's a good thing -- since Cowboys fans accept nothing less.
Next: New York Giants | Full rankings
