If there’s one thing that’s clearly been worrying Cowboys fans, it’s the fact that the team isn’t convincing against big teams. Not necessarily in regards to the beginning of the campaign, but everything that happened from week 9 onwards.
The Cowboys lost in one-off games to the Chiefs, Raiders and Cardinals after the bye week. Except for the Broncos in Week 9, the other three remaining teams are in the postseason. And in the particular case of Arizona, that loss kept them in fourth place in the NFC for a while. Thanks to Dallas winning their Week 18 game against the Eagles, along with outside results from the Rams and Cardinals, the Lone Star team ended up with third place.
Isaiah Simmons causes the turnover! #RedSea @isaiahsimmons25
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Now, all this uncertainty regarding the team is understandable. After all, the offense hasn’t looked the same since Dak Prescott‘s calf injury in Week 6. While it’s true that they went undefeated all of December, a lot of those good results came from defense. But that’s where you have to highlight the fact that the Cowboys are a team with balance. One that had certainly not been seen for many years.
The franchise’s 12-5 record this year cannot be overlooked. It is true that some defeats were avoidable, as were the cases of Denver and Arizona, but in general terms, the team has played in a great way.
EVERY BIG MAN TD IS BIGGER IN TEXAS! #DallasCowboys
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For many years, part of the team’s potential was seen in its offense, as was seen in the groups of 2007, 2014 and 2016. One could even speak of a group that could not reach the postseason as was the offensive production of the 2019 campaign. Finishing with a total of 6,904 yards, but with a defense that really left a lot to be desired.
And this is precisely what has changed with the 2021 group. With a team that, thanks to defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, have been able to do things in the other aspect of the game. Among the fundamental pillars of it, we have the rookie Micah Parsons with 13 quarterback sacks. Along with him, cornerback Trevon Diggs, who in his second year as a professional has had 11 interceptions. Nor can you ignore the pass rushing that elements like Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence can execute. Or Jayron Kearse himself, who has had a breakout year with a combined 101 tackles.
TREVON DIGGS’ ELEVENTH INTERCEPTION. #DallasCowboys
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When it comes to the EPA offensive and defensive balance of the Dallas Cowboys, the Lone Star team is in the top 10 for the first time since the 1990s. In short, they are the most compact and well-rounded team that It has been seen so far this century.
Of course, all this analysis, as has been said, is based on the offensive and defensive game that was played during the campaign. This is what EPA (expected points added) is used for, to determine the production of a team and the way it played in the regular season.
Now, they have a franchise ahead of them that they haven’t met in the postseason in 27 years. Therefore, the last time they saw each other in the playoffs would be in 1995, when the 49ers beat the Cowboys in the conference duel 38-28. Eventually the Californians would win Super Bowl XXIX after defeating the Chargers by 49 to 26. Dallas would return to Super Bowl XXX the following year and win it, only that in the NFC championship they would face the Packers, who had eliminated San Francisco in the divisional round 27 to 17.
Of course, many years of this have passed and both teams have had their ups and downs. What yes is that we will be before a forceful duel where the Cowboys will play in their stadium against some 49ers who are excellent in the ground game. Also, they are not intimidated against bigger teams. As seen in Week 18 against the Rams. Managing to overcome a score of 17 to 3 at half time and staying with the victory by 27 to 24 in extra time. Thanks to a rookie Ambry Thomas interception of Matthew Stafford at SoFi Stadium.
Ambry Thomas’ game-ending, playoff-clinching overtime interception. #49erspic.twitter.com/tghmemApgk
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) January 10, 2022
Therefore, panic shouldn’t be the feeling Cowboys fans should have going into this matchup. After all, it’s a historic matchup between the two Conference franchises and it’s going to be something to watch. Since the two will seek victory at any cost, having much to prove to their fans. However, it is expected that due to the local factor and the balance that the American team has, they can solve this situation and move on to the next phase of the postseason.
