Dan Pompei

For the Dallas Cowboys, there is the Super Bowl.

Or there is failure.

They already have had dominant regular seasons. Their 13-3 regular-season record last year gave them home-field advantage for the playoffs, but they never had a chance to capitalize on it after the New York Giants knocked them out in the divisional playoff round.

They already have had individual successes. Last season, they had an NFL-record 13 players selected for the Pro Bowl. The most players any team had before was 11.

What they haven't had is team success when it counts. The last time the Cowboys won a playoff game, Tony Romo was a high-school sophomore. And speaking of Romo, his record in the months of December and January is 4-7.

Aside from his dalliances with starlets, Romo is remembered by many as the guy who fumbled the snap on a field-goal attempt that could have won the game for the Cowboys in the 2006 playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks. And the guy who threw a fourth-down interception against the Giants with less than a minute remaining in the playoffs last year.

And his coach, Wade Phillips, is the not-so-proud owner of an 0-4 record in the postseason. Phillips may or may not be looking over his shoulder this year, but almost everyone else is.

In the offseason, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sweet-talked Jason Garrett into staying on as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator rather than become head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. The assumption by many, right or wrong, is that Garrett is the Cowboys' head coach in waiting. All it will take for Jones to pull the trigger, they figure, is a little failure.

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So the Cowboys have much to prove.

Adding to the pressure is the fact they have a new, $1 billion stadium opening in 2009, and Jones has many luxury boxes and personal seat licenses to sell. If the Cowboys win the Super Bowl, there will be a waiting list for tickets. If they flop in the playoffs, some fans might not be willing to cough up what are expected to be some of the highest prices ever for NFL seating.

The team made some bold moves in the offseason, trading for problem-child cornerback Adam Jones and trying to revive the career of proud Zach Thomas. They also added pizzazz to their offense in the form of first-round running back Felix Jones.

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There is no reason why the Cowboys should not be among the elite teams in the NFL this year.

They have a dynamic, playmaking quarterback who is one of the five best QBs in the NFL. They have one of the most difficult wide receivers in the NFL to cover and tackle (and possibly coach) in Terrell Owens. They have a tough, bruising running back who defines their offense in Marion Barber. They have one of the league's premier tight ends in Jason Witten. Their offensive line is steady and dependable.

On defense, the Cowboys can pressure the quarterback with outside linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis, both Pro Bowl players. Defensive ends Marcus Spears and Chris Henry are perfect fits for the Cowboys' style of play. The cornerback position has fine depth with Adam Jones and first-round pick Mike Jenkins backing up starters Terence Newman and Anthony Henry.

The depth, in fact, ranges from pretty good to excellent in most spots. Their offensive design and playcalling is upper echelon. Their 3-4 scheme on defense can be very effective in part because the Cowboys are one of only two NFC teams running the 3-4.

If it's excuses the Cowboys are looking for, there really aren't any. This team is ready to roll. And it will.

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