In what was a shutout loss (23-7) that came at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles on the final day of the 1988 regular season, the Dallas Cowboys had tanked their season. But that 3-13 record was what led them to one of the best quarterbacks in franchise history – Troy Aikman.

After that loss to the Eagles, America’s Team turned its attention to the Packers, who were going up against the then-Phoenix Cardinals. Going into the game, Green Bay had a 3-12 record, and a loss would clinch them the No. 1 draft pick in 1989. But the Packers pulled off a 26-17 win, handing the first overall pick to the Cowboys. And where did that lead them? To Troy Aikman from UCLA. The following season may have ended with an even worse record (1-15), but it was the start of a resurgence. So, it makes sense why the former Cowboys quarterback suggested a change in the lineup.

Bench Cooper Rush and give Trey Lance the reins under center. The Cowboys are sitting at a dismal 5-8, and with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread (less than a 1% chance), Aikman’s proposal taps into the frustration surrounding the team’s struggles. And it’s not just Aikman who suggested this. Cowboys fans want to see something different, and since replacing the injured Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush hasn’t given them that. In fact, Aikman even expressed his confidence in the 31-year-old after Dallas announced Prescott would be out for the season.

“I think he’ll be fine, I really do. The least of my worries would be Cooper Rush.” Well, that hasn’t been the case. In 9 games played this season, Rush has thrown for just 1,191 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions and has a QB rating of 30.4. But the ever-optimistic owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones, is known for his unwavering belief in winning, no matter the odds. And for him, tanking isn’t even on the table, even after Troy Aikman stirred the pot—it’s simply not in his DNA.

“I don’t think so,” Jerry Jones said when asked if Lance would start over Rush. On 105.3 The Fan, Jones made his stance crystal clear, emphasizing that the Cowboys are in it to win it. “We want everybody making the plays and having the opportunity to have success. Success is very important… We’ll go out there and win every down. Cooper still gives us the best chance to win. And wins are important for us. Very important for us,” Jones stated, leaving no room for speculation about the team’s intent.

Jones’ commitment to playing for wins rather than experimenting with Lance has sparked debate. Aikman and critics argue this season is a lost cause, making it the perfect time to assess Lance, especially with the former No. 3 pick’s free agency looming. But Jerry Jones is laser-focused on building a winning culture, even during meaningless games. “This is a young team,” Jones said, emphasizing that late-season momentum can benefit the squad’s mental state.

Yet, the Cowboys find themselves in an interesting spot. After Monday night’s 27-20 loss to the Bengals, Dallas sits tied for the 10th-worst record in the league. A few more losses could land them a high draft pick, but Jones insists on prioritizing ‘success.’ Their recent games paint a mixed picture. They snapped a losing streak against Washington in a chaotic finish but fell short in a nail-biter against Cincinnati after a blocked punt heartbreakingly slipped away. But like Jones, Cooper Rush is prioritizing success, too.

After the game, he said, “We’re a bunch of professionals, guys that love playing ball, love being around each other… It’s the NFL, you’re out there competing for your team, for yourself every week and we’re blessed to go out there and play football on Sundays. Motivation isn’t hard… When you’re out there competing, you want to win.” As motivated as they may be to finish the season on a high, the Cowboys have tough matchups ahead.

The Panthers, Buccaneers, Eagles, and Commanders make for a gauntlet of motivated teams themselves. Bryce Young’s Panthers have been playing spoiler, and division rivals like Philly won’t take their foot off the gas. As fans debate the merits of tanking versus winning, Jones’ philosophy reflects his long-term vision. His stance is clear: The Cowboys will fight for every down, regardless of the odds. This team fights to the finish, draft picks be damned. As for Trey Lance, he’s convinced he can lead the offense to the best of his abilities.

Trey Lance is ready to rise to the challenge if McCarthy and Jones let him start

Coming into this season, Cooper Rush had a 5-1 record in 6 starts for the Cowboys. In fact, he won the first five starts of his career, becoming only the 14th quarterback (and the first Cowboy) to achieve that feat in NFL history. In comparison, Trey Lance had a 2-2 record, having played all 4 games for the 49ers. The Cowboys traded for the 2021 No. 1 pick last season, so Lance hasn’t been in the fray for long, especially against Rush’s 8 years with America’s Team. So, it made sense why Jerry Jones chose Cooper’s experience over Lance’s ‘mystery box.’ 

The Cowboys owner said in his interview, “We’ve got a lot of young players out here that we want to get that experience. And so you have to consider that when you consider evaluating at such a critical position: quarterback.” Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy may have gone with the veteran right now, but Trey Lance is ready to prove himself. This was evident from the 24-year-old’s comments after Dak Prescott’s injury.

“I would love the opportunity to be on the field in any way I can, if that’s what the coach thinks is best. I feel like I’m in a really good situation right now.” When asked if he was confident in his abilities to run the offense, Lance had a simple answer: “Absolutely.” Back when Dallas traded a fourth-round pick for the young signal-caller, there were questions about his future: Will he replace Dak Prescott?

Well, Jerry Jones made it clear that he wanted Prescott to stay with the Cowboys for a long time. But Troy Aikman – the quarterback who led Dallas to three Super Bowl titles – understood why his former team made this decision. “I thought it made sense,” he said on ESPN. “To bring in a guy like Trey Lance, who was the third-overall pick for a fourth-round pick, and just take a chance on him and say, ‘Hey, who knows?'” 

That said, Mike McCarthy and Jerry Jones aren’t taking any chances right now. The owner thinks Cooper Rush is the suitable option in Prescott’s absence. But when the time comes, who knows? Maybe McCarthy & Co. will give Trey Lance the opportunity he wants.