For over a decade now, the once proud football team in Dallas, “America’s team” has been the butt of the football world’s jokes. After playoff choke jobs, bad defenses and countless 8-8 seasons, the Cowboys shook up the NFL in 2016 with rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott carrying them to a 13-3 season.

Now two years removed from their rookie campaign, the Cowboys had a fairly quiet offseason, yet made many smart signings uncharacteristic of the team that could be a serious contender this year.

Elliott has put up historic numbers behind the great offensive line, forcing defenses to give Prescott throwing lanes while being a dangerous part of the passing game himself. Last season’s acquisition of receiver Amari Cooper proved to be the perfect fit for the shallow receiving corps. After the mid-season trade, Cooper put together weekly highlight reels, easily creating separation against opposing defenders.

With Cole Beasley leaving in free agency for the Buffalo Bills, the Cowboys were desperate to replace the impact the slot receiver had on the offense. Former Green Bay Packer Randall Cobb ended up being the route they would go for, bringing the 28-year-old in on a one-year deal worth $5 million, about the same they will pay legendary (but aging) tight end Jason Witten.

As the offense continues to flourish under Dallas’ young stars, the defense known for being less than great in years past has quickly been built into a powerhouse through the draft. Byron Jones was a breakout star last season, switching from his original safety position and quickly rising among the ranks at cornerback. Only 53 percent of passes thrown Jones’ way were completed last year.

The team’s strength at corner is often overshadowed by the dominance of other positions on the defense. This does not come without reason, as rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch led the team and placed second in the NFL with 102 tackles in only 11 games started. His ability to chase down and tackle in the open field has helped the Cowboys find a replacement for the aging Sean Lee.

The biggest name on defense will be walking into the 2019 season a much richer man. Edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence, who draws a double team on nearly every snap, agreed to an extension worth $105 million, locking him up for the next five years.

The Cowboys have also brought in pieces to deepen the already proven defense, and have done so in very un-Cowboy-like ways: on good deals. Knowing how often defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli likes to switch up packages, they brought in some depth to the d-line. Christian Covington was brought in for under a million, while Robert Quinn was traded to Dallas for only a sixth-round pick.

With the offense and defense secured, for the time being, the last thing standing in the way of another Super Bowl for Dallas is head coach Jason Garrett, who multiple sources inside the organization confirmed would be coaching for his job this year. If Garrett was ever ousted from the reigns in Dallas, everything would truly be set up for a Dallas dynasty a la the 1990s.