The year was 2016. The Dallas Cowboys were coming off a losing season when their quarterback missed extensive time due to injury. They had finished with a 12-win season the year prior before losing to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. Their quarterback was entering his 10th season as the team’s full-time starter and recently in the MVP conversation. Their quarterback was also north of 30 years of age and had missed games in three of the previous four years, including being lost for the season twice over the last six years.
At running back, the team had just used a low-cost veteran, who despite not being used much early in the year.