Michael Irvin makes a “crazy” prediction about the Cowboys this year.

The Cowboys’ unresolved problem with penalties continues to be talked about. Although we are still in preseason, the 17 fouls committed against the Broncos last Saturday have generated a lot of criticism around the cowboy team. However, there are those who remain optimistic despite this situation. Such is the case with a Dallas legend like Michael Irvin.

However, the Hall of Famer and current sports analyst may be being too optimistic. This is reflected in the prediction he made this Monday about the Cowboys for the 2022 season.

“If the Dallas Cowboys correct the penalties, they will be chasing the (undefeated) 1972 Miami Dolphins”said Irvin on the show First Take from ESPN. “When you have the #1 offense and you fix those penalties, you’re going to be chasing the 1972 Dolphins. Did I say something crazy?”

Michael Irvin on Cowboys penalties:

“If the Dallas Cowboys clean up these penalties, they will be chasing the (undefeated) 1972 Miami Dolphins. …

“Did I say something crazy?”

(????: @FirstTake) #CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/p5x9F4kSiG

— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) August 15, 2022

Let’s remember that the 1972 Dolphins are the only team that has achieved a “perfect” season in the NFL, winning all their games: 14 in the regular season and three in the playoffs, including the Super Bowl. The only team to nearly emulate him was the New England Patriots in 2007, who are the only team with a 16-0 record in the regular season. However, they lost that season’s Super Bowl to the New York Giants.

Now, beyond the excessive optimism of Michael Irvin, is this prediction realistic?

It is true that the performance of the Cowboys last Friday was not encouraging at all. Even less as it was the first game after a 2021 season where they were the most penalized team in the NFL with 127 penalties. And not to mention the repeated occasions that coach Mike McCarthy has said in recent months that they are working on solving that problem.

However, Irvin justifies his prediction with the fact that we are still in the preseason. This is something McCarthy also said after the game against the Broncos on Friday. However, the head coach also somewhat irresponsibly downplayed the situation in his statement alluding to the media.

“This is the preseason”McCarthy said after Saturday’s game against the Denver Broncos. “I don’t think it has anything to do with last year. Obviously you (reporters) can write whatever you want, but it’s a starting point. I did not like the amount of penalties, I made it clear. I talked about it during halftime and briefly there (in the locker room). We will look into it carefully.”

Here is the McCarthy clip if you want to hear it yourself.

(via @dallascowboys) https://t.co/1CSbjt2gAb pic.twitter.com/EjSmHsVRFa

— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) August 14, 2022

Now, aside from the penalties and the fact that they are only in the preseason, could the Cowboys emulate what the Dolphins did in 1972 as Michael Irvin suggests? In theory, it doesn’t seem likely.

Although Irvin argues that this is partly possible being the best offense in the NFL, it is unlikely that this will be repeated. Following the departures of Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson, the Dallas receiving corps raises many questions for this year. And while the team trusts those behind CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup in the rotation, the performance of several of these elements against Denver was not encouraging either.

Mike McCarthy’s reaction to the Cowboys’ 11th penalty early in the third quarter pic.twitter.com/VKBSRA5BNF

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 14, 2022

Besides, having the best offense in the NFL wouldn’t guarantee a perfect season either. Let’s remember that penalties weren’t the only thing that kept the Cowboys from going far last season.

In fact, there were several aspects that hurt the Cowboys in 2021: Prescott’s irregular performance in the second half of the campaign, the excessive snaps to an injured Ezekiel Elliott, the little offensive weight of elements like Tony Pollard and Amari Cooper, the failures of kicker Greg Zuerlein, among others.

If we compare that situation with the current one, the outlook is not entirely encouraging. Certainly Prescott is committed to improving his performance after working on his fitness and mobility in the offseason. However, everything indicates that Pollard will continue to shadow Elliott. And not to mention the uncertainty with the starting kicking job and the receiving corps.

It is true that we are only in the preseason. However, the concern about the Cowboys and the penalties will continue in the next few games. Even more so if those who commit fouls are players who would be part of the roster this year as starters or rotation players. And if this is repeated against the Chargers and Seahawks, it would be difficult for Dallas to fulfill optimistic predictions, much less Michael Irvin’s.