NFL Playoffs: Cowboys Alive for the 1st Seed
The NFL playoffs have an even clearer picture after Sunday’s games. With the Eagles loss to the Saints, the Cowboys are still alive and in the mix for the number one seed in the NFC.
Still in the fray
The first seed in the Conference is quite the prize. It’s an immense boost to whichever team snags it. Still in the fray are the Eagles, Vikings, 49’ers, and Cowboys. Those teams all still have a chance to have an NFC playoff bye week.
Last year’s playoff loss to the 49’ers jolted the Cowboys fanbase. For many of the fans, it was open season on Dak Prescott, who had a mediocre game statistically. He went 23/43 with one touchdown and one interception.
He was also under fire
Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was being interviewed for a head coaching job the week before the loss. He was also under fire afterward for his somewhat inept gameplan in the Cowboys home playoff loss. The head coaching job never came to fruition.
Dak tripped over the starting line in 2022 with a week one loss to the Bucs, prompting the whole league to take their shots at him and the Cowboys. This was in addition to injuring his thumb. His backup Cooper Rush essentially saved the season by winning four of his five starts.
When Dak returned from injury, he was rusty. Add that rust to some of the unluckiest bounces and tips possible, a dash of salt, and you’ve got interception stew. He currently has the highest interception rate in the league.
He also slings the ball for the team with the highest-powered offense since his return from injury. The simple truth is, like all quarterbacks Dak is not always to blame for his picks. And he takes a lot more chances than he did back when they called him “Dink and Dak”.
He’ll be back for the playoffs
Starting Center Tyler Biadasz was having a good year before he was injured with a high ankle sprain on Thursday. His injury has implications, but the Cowboys think he’ll be back for the playoffs. That’s huge news, especially because they’ve already qualified for them. Jason Peters stepped up and the ensuing O-line shuffle seemed to cover the injury without missing a beat.
The running backs are in order. For next week’s game, the Cowboys are going to get Pollard back. He’s having a career season. His counterpart, Elliott, has scored a touchdown in nine straight games. He seems to have found his rhythm as well.
The Cowboys have special players on both sides of the ball. They had seven players named to the Pro Bowl. Put it on the scales and most of those names belong to the offense. Yet statistically, they rank at or near the top of the league in turnovers, sacks, pressures, and points. Dan Quinn has the situation firmly under control.
In his physical and mental prime
In the end it all comes back full circle to Dak Prescott. There is no time like the present for him, as he is in his physical and mental prime. He’s shaken off the rust and healed from injury. The team is stacked with talent around him. He’s breaking down defenses, making adjustments, calling audibles and delivering dime after dime.
Now it’s down the last week of the season. Down to the wire. A Cowboys win doesn’t guarantee anything. But it could mean everything.
With one week left we can only wait for the days to pass by until the last slate of regular season games, no matter how overbearing the suspense.
