It’s been a while since America’s Team has had a Super Bowl-caliber team. This year’s Dallas Cowboys are looking to change that. Led by one of the top offenses in the league, the Cowboys’ path to a Super Bowl isn’t all that far-fetched. Here are six reasons why they’re legit contenders.
1. The Dak Factor
Don Meredith. Roger Staubauch. Troy Aikman. Quincy Carter. Tony Romo. Now Dak Prescott. Few teams have had better fortune with quarterbacks than the Cowboys in the past half-century or so. Dak is the latest great Cowboys quarterback and is well on his way to his second 4,000-yard season and on pace for career highs in virtually every stat category. When healthy, there aren’t many better passers in the game.
2. See No. 1
3. Electric Receivers
Led by second-year phenom CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys receiving corps is loaded with weapons. Few teams can match Dallas’ depth. From Lamb and veteran standout Amari Cooper to high-upside options like Cedrick Wilson and Michael Gallup, Prescott’s got a lot to work with. And don’t forget about tight end Dalton Schultz, a top 10 receiving option among NFL tight ends.
4. Backfield
Even with Ezekiel Elliott looking like just another running back these days, the Cowboys’ committee running game brings balance to their prolific offense. And that’ll come in handy if they end up with a cold-weather road game in the playoffs. Just watch Tony Pollard run. My goodness.
5. A Decent Defense
Last year, the Cowboys were abysmal defensively, ranking close to the bottom of the league in points allowed (473, fifth most) and rushing yards allowed (2,541, second most). Going from awful in 2020 to decent in 2021 is working wonders. Although they’re middle of the pack in most categories, the Cowboys are near the top of the league in takeaways. And we all know what happens when you win the turnover battle in the playoffs.
6. The NFC Is Wide Open
Can you honestly say there’s a clear, heads-above-the-rest front-runner in the NFC? Sure, Kyler Murray and the Cardinals are pretty darn good, but are the Cowboys, Packers, and Buccaneers, really that far behind? Any of the four are a favorable matchup or two away from the Super Bowl.
Stay Tuned
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