Halfway through the 2014 NFL season, football fans in the Dallas/Fort Worth area should be rejoicing the good fortune that America’s Team has enjoyed so far. Looking at the Dallas Cowboys from both a fan and a media standpoint before the season was a tough task. There wasn’t much hope, little upside, and a whole lot of criticism to be shared amongst the team. The big win over Seattle in week six has given the Boys a great deal of momentum moving forward. Seemingly no one predicted such a phenomenal start from Dallas. This causes fans and foes alike to reevaluate and ask numerous questions…

Are the Cowboys really this good?

One could easily make the argument that a stretch of sub-par teams and a run of good luck has been on their side, but that’s just too cliché to determine. The Dallas Cowboys, now on their sixth win, look like a much different, far improved team from the 2013 season. Coming off of a year in which the defense was historically bad, and the offense, although not great, was still solid. This season, however, has spoken volumes for doubters of the Cowboys, as they have proven everyone, including myself, wrong. The Boys have come out with a motive and drive that is far from expected, with Demarco Murray posting numbers that are in the stratosphere, while Romo and company have stayed their consistent selves. The biggest change to this team isn’t the number one running game, nor is it rookie offensive guard Zack Martin- which brings us to our second question…

What is the biggest change this team has made to make them a legitimate contender in the 2014 season?

Defenses win championships, right? Sure, fans got a great example of that when Seattle posted the number one defense in the league last year and came away with the title. No, Dallas doesn’t have the number one defense, or even close, but at least this defense is much improved compared to last year. With star players DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher leaving the Cowboys in the offseason, no one, and I mean NO ONE, had hope for this defensive unit. It was expected that the Cowboys were going to struggle even more than they did last year. Emerging stars Orlando Scandrick, Rolando McClain, and Tyron Crawford have something to say about that with their on-field performances. The Cowboys have taught us that on-field performances speak volumes- which brings us to the third and final question…

What have we learned about the Dallas Cowboys this year?

Dallas has shown us time and time again that they are indeed a very interesting team to watch. Week in and week out giving fans storylines to talk about until the following Sunday. The Cowboys have done it all this season, from beating a Saints team that was strongly favored in Dallas, from coming back twenty-one points in St. Louis to win the game, and let’s not forget the overtime win against Houston to make it four straight wins in a row. It’s apparent that America’s Team likes to make things interesting, and that goes without mentioning that the season is only halfway through. Giving the Cowboys many more opportunities to thrill the fans and enfold close victories for another nine weeks.

No story about the Cowboys can be complete without mentioning the likes of superstar wide out Dez Bryant. Which is why I conclude with this, if it weren’t for Dez, the Cowboys wouldn’t be where they’re at today.

For more news on the Dallas Cowboys and other teams around the NFL, be sure to check out The Fantasy Football Hour with Jordan and Blake on ESPN 1460 AM/93.1 FM, or find it online at sports1460espn.com. Be sure to follow me on twitter @Blake_PPI