Tag: Dallas Cowboys

This might be the year to win the Super Bowl for these three teams

With parity as high as ever in the NFL, a few unlikely clubs could have their best chance to get rings

Coming into the NFL season, predictions were made on who could win the Super Bowl in February, and there’s still a good amount of time to see if those views play out. The majority of those views probably had what one could call the usual contenders: the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens topping the list in the AFC, while the Philadelphia Eagles (defending champs), Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions gathered the majority of votes from the NFC. After that’s determined, the next question centers around teams who can announce themselves as a threat in their own right. The Houston Texans (who went home after the divisional round each of the last two seasons) were a trendy pick, but have been underwhelming to this point. The Green Bay Packers, particularly after they acquired linebacker/defensive end Micah Parsons in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, became the team everyone is supposedly chasing, but many questions remain if they can even win the NFC North (let alone make a championship run). One thing (and perhaps the only item) we have learned is there isn’t a stand out team playing right now. As a result, three squads who weren’t looked at as serious contenders may have as good a chance as ever to emerge as the top dog.

The first of this trio is the Indianapolis Colts. It would be interesting to see if even the biggest Colts fan living within the Indianapolis city limits had this on their bingo card, but this team is tied for the best record in the league at 5-1. Somewhere along the line, it was forgotten how good running back Jonathan Taylor was and is. Taylor is reminding everyone up to this point, as he leads the NFL in rushing yardage (603) and touchdowns (seven). Combine that with the efficient play of quarterback Daniel Jones (yes, that guy who flamed out with the New York Giants), and the offense is on a level that makes them hard to stop. The Colts defense has been good enough to bend, but not completely break, and they have forced nine turnovers in their six games. Complementary football has been a strength for Indy, and Shane Steichen has cooled off talk of being on the hot seat to lose his head coaching job. In other words, the Colts have the ingredients to stay in the fight for a while.

Second on the list is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who is the team tied with Indy for the league’s best record. The Buccaneers could be at least 2-4 if a play or two doesn’t go their way, but they have found a way to make those plays, and the scary thing with this squad is they can become much better as the season moves on. If there is one reason why Tampa Bay sits where they are, it probably starts and ends with QB Baker Mayfield, who would probably be the MVP if the season ended today. Mayfield has been the definition of clutch, as he has been the architect of a few game-winning drives. It’s even more remarkable when considering Mayfield is playing at this level without the team’s top-two receivers (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr.). There was a little talk about the Bucs being a contender going into the season, but the combination of how good they can be and the league being up for grabs could see them become a favorite before too long.

Finally, the Denver Broncos find themselves on the list of teams who could walk up to a championship this season. With the Broncos coming off of a wild card appearance last year, the prevalent thinking was they could continue to ascend, and perhaps, knock the Chiefs off from the top of the AFC West. The main reason is their defense, led by cornerback Pat Surtain II (the defensive player of the year in 2024) and linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper. Most people would say Denver’s defense is at championship-level, but what could make or break their visions is whether or not quarterback Bo Nix can consistently stay on the same page with coach Sean Payton, and bring the offense close to par with the other side of the ball. Throughout the year, Nix has been hit or miss with the execution of plays. If he can provide more of the good version, the Broncos could be on the cusp of a high on the Rocky Mountains.

There are other teams that could have made this list (the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots among them), but at this time, the Colts, Buccaneers and Broncos seem to have more in their favor to continue the upward trend. Of course, things can escalate quickly in the NFL, and what looks good one week might not the next, and vice versa. Who knows? Those teams who were listed as favorites might ultimately end up there come January. The beautiful thing about sports is games will be played, and everyone will get to find out as it happens. What we know is the gap between contenders and pretenders doesn’t seem to be as wide, and if that continues to be the case, don’t be surprised if this year’s Super Bowl winner is someone not exactly on the radar from the beginning.

The hype is real, but the results won’t match for these NFL teams

Disappointment reigns supreme when it comes to these overrated clubs

Here we are, at that time of the year when training camps are underway throughout the NFL. This is truly the occasion where all of the teams arrive with hopes of winning the Super Bowl. Of course, games will be played, and the field dwindles down until one squad is left standing in February. Until then, the hype trains will be gassed up in record levels, and there are a few who continue to have many fans and media try to speak a championship season into existence. Much more often than not, the results (inevitably) fall far short of the hype, and these teams fit that category perfectly.

It probably shouldn’t be much of a shock the Dallas Cowboys are amongst the top when it comes to results and hype not matching. If marketability and business is the topic, there isn’t a team on this planet that beats the Cowboys, with their value being over $10 billion (with a “b,” according to multiple sources). While Dallas is on top of the franchise value world, games are actually played on the field, and the Cowboys aren’t thriving between those lines. The normal talk has already started. Quarterback Dak Prescott will be looked at as a potential MVP candidate. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will get pub as someone who can break the receiving yards record. Defensive end/linebacker Micah Parsons (who’s in a contract dispute with the team, much like Prescott and Lamb was at this time last year) will get built up as the best defensive player in the league, not just currently, ever. What has happened in previous years is Prescott, Lamb and Parsons have inflated their stats against inferior opponents, only to get exposed when a step-up in weight class occurs. That’s Dallas as a whole, and if they didn’t wear that blue star on their helmets, the hype isn’t nearly as loud. It’s widely know the Cowboys haven’t been to the NFC Championship Game since the 1995 season, and there is no indication that changes as long as Jerry Jones remains the team owner in Dallas.

Speaking of clubs that can’t get right, there’s no need to look past the Los Angeles Chargers. How many years (in a row) have people waited for the Chargers to take the next step toward becoming a championship contender, especially since Justin Herbert has been the QB? Now, that talk has only amplified since Jim Harbaugh took the reins as the head coach before last season. Harbaugh made some interesting comments a few days ago, saying everyone else on the team has to get on Herbert’s level. If that’s the case, higher levels need to be strived for, because there hasn’t been a playoff win with this “elite” quarterback leading the pack. Football is the ultimate team sport, and there is probably truth to what Harbaugh is saying. With that said, multiple things can be true, and if Herbert is the top QB everyone seems to think he is, then he will elevate his teammates to a level where they can challenge the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West crown (and beyond). For a reminder, titles cannot be given to someone. They have to be earned, and while Herbert has shown signs of brilliance throughout his career, it’s not worthy enough to match the hype. It’s past time for the Herbert and Los Angeles to put some substance behind the style, and it’s questionable whether or not that happens in a few months.

While this team may not be on the level of disappointment the Cowboys and Chargers have given the hype pushers, the Green Bay Packers are starting to enter that territory. This goes back to the latter years of the Aaron Rodgers (now with the Pittsburgh Steelers) era, and has carried on with Jordan Love as the triggerman. Like Prescott and Herbert, Love is in the conversation for MVP, but with the exception of the second half in the 2023 campaign, the performance has been a little underwhelming. This is supposed to be the season where it all comes together for Love and the Packers. The roster looks like it’s one of the best in the league, and they have a good coach in Matt LaFleur. Now, there’s no excuses, and it’s time for Love to lead the charge bringing another championship back to “Titletown, USA.” It won’t be easy, especially considering Green Bay plays in the NFC North, which might be the toughest division the NFL has to offer.

With these three teams (and there are others), the noise surrounding them has been loud, and the hype has been just as blinding. After a while, the truth always comes to the light, and people can only believe the words without substance and action for so long. No matter how hard many try, there’s no argument for results, and if the Cowboys, Chargers and Packers want to change their respective narratives, then it’s time to actually win on the field. Hope springs eternal, and there’s every reason to be optimistic. Based on past history, it shouldn’t be a surprise if (and probably when) these clubs have a derailment of the hype train.

Three teams that could emerge as Super Bowl contenders

They might not grab the attention right now, but a different story could be written before too long

As the NFL season prepares to kick off Thursday night, it’s time for one more projection in a land that’s flooded with them. In the AFC, most are good with saying the Kansas City Chiefs (defending Super Bowl champion), Cincinnati Bengals or Buffalo Bills will be the conference representative in Las Vegas when February’s league showcase comes around. As for the NFC, it’s the Philadelphia Eagles (conference champs from last season), San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys who are the favorites. While it’s not out of the ordinary to hear these six teams mentioned amongst the favorites, it’s almost inevitable a squad that’s under the radar will rise to be in the mix. That’s what this article is all about, finding those squads that could be surprises, and here are three that might be fitted for the crown.

In the AFC East, there’s a lot of hype surrounding the Bills and New York Jets (with the addition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers), but the Miami Dolphins shouldn’t be an afterthought. Of course, a lot of what the Dolphins do depends on the health of QB Tua Tagovailoa, but if he’s right, the offense is as potent as there is in the league. Tagovailoa is complimented by an explosive duo to throw to in wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, good running backs in Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. and a good offensive line that continues to improve. While there aren’t many questions about the offense, the defense is a different story. Knowing this, Miami did what they could to address the doubts during the offseason, bringing in Vic Fangio as the defensive coordinator and trading with the Los Angeles Rams to get cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The latter, combined with fellow DB Xavien Howard, looks like one of the top pairs of corners on paper, while the former has been an architect of some of the best defenses in recent memory. If the defense can be on par with the offense, the Dolphins will be dangerous to deal with.

Moving over to the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers, even after all of these years, can’t be overlooked. Being objective, this division has the potential to beat each other up, but the Steelers look like they can do their share of inflicting pain. The defense, led by linebacker T.J. Watt and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, is traditionally a top unit in the league. The offensive line is a major question mark (perhaps THE major one). If they can protect second-year QB Kenny Pickett, look for him to take a significant step towards being the man in Pittsburgh for years to come. There’s not a lack of weapons in the Steel City for Pickett to spread the ball around to. Running back Najee Harris is one of the best all-around ball carriers in the NFL, and for pass-catchers, wide receivers Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, along with tight end Pat Freiermuth, can combine to give the Steelers some much-needed explosiveness to compliment their stout defense. It also helps to have Mike Tomlin, who hasn’t had a losing season since he took over in 2007, as the head coach. There is a chance Pittsburgh can get caught up in the web of the AFC North, but if they do emerge, look out.

Heading over to the NFC, how about the Washington Commanders? Sure, they have the Eagles, Cowboys and New York Giants to contend with in the NFC East, but the Commanders have the talent to play with anyone. The keys to Washington’s car has been turned over to Sam Howell, the quarterback who was selected in the fifth-round of the 2022 draft, and the team hopes he can provide stability to a position that has seen so much turnover in past seasons. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin and running back Brian Robinson Jr. are among the skill players who should help give Howell support through the tough moments. As for the defensive line, it’s possible the best group could be in the nation’s capital. Defensive end Chase Young is ready to return and join a group that features fellow DE Montez Sweat and defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. This group can stop the run, while generating pressure without help from blitzing. While there is something to be excited about on the field, it’s off the field where the most excitement might be. Billionaire Josh Harris has replaced Dan Snyder as the owner, and to say the air has cleared since that finalization would be an understatement. The hope is under Harris, the team can stop being mentioned as part of investigations into a toxic environment and workplace misconduct, which was constantly a topic under Snyder. For the first time in a while, there is true hope the Commanders can make some noise, and FedEx Field will actually be a true home-field advantage. A change in leadership could be enough to add two or three more wins, which would probably be the difference between making and missing the playoffs.

This wasn’t easy to pick three teams that could be sneaky Super Bowl contenders, because there are many who could fit this mold. Someone else’s list could be completely different from this one, and chances are a compelling case could be made for it. Just remember when it comes to these choices, the Dolphins, Steelers and Commanders are all picked to finish third or fourth in their respective divisions (according to most oddsmakers). The talent on all of these squads can be matched with anyone. It’s just a question whether or not everything can come together at the right time. If it does, don’t be surprised if one, or all, of these teams are in the running for title contention come December and January.

Three tips to keep sanity through sports seasons

Let’s prevent ourselves from going viral for the wrong reasons.

Before we dive in, I think it’s fair to acknowledge we all have things we are passionate about. Maybe it’s writing, reading, traveling or working out. It could also be entertainment, business or politics that gets the emotions going. One thing that’s unique about sports is it qualifies as one of the few places where all of these differences (from multiple backgrounds and viewpoints) can unite for the common goal of rooting for one team to win. All of those passions are carried over to the stadium, arena or whatever device you’re watching the game from, and similar to other walks of life, those feelings can drive people to irrational thoughts (just talking about sports in this case). Have no fear, because yours truly is here to give three tips on how to stay sane when watching your favorite team or player navigate through the roller-coaster ride called the regular season. The focus is on the NFL, but these can help through all of the other sports as well.

The first tip is to be realistic with expectations. I know every team has the goal of winning a championship when training camps begin, but there are squads who are nowhere close to achieving that goal. For example, the Jacksonville Jaguars had the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft for the past two years. While they may have building blocks for the future, they’re probably not ready to compete for titles. The Dallas Cowboys (and their fans) believe they can win the Super Bowl every year, but how long has it been since they even made it to the big game in February (over a quarter of a century, but I’m not counting)? On the other hand, the Buffalo Bills have been knocking on the door, and look like the favorite to win it all this year. There aren’t too many people I know who are more optimistic than I am, but realism has to set in at some point. As a San Francisco 49ers fan, I know there’s a chance they can win a title, but Jimmy Garoppolo is the ultimate wild card at quarterback. Therefore, I’m always ready for the back-breaking interception if and when it comes. So if fans are being realistic, the sanity can still remain. In saying that, it doesn’t mean the pain lessens during losses.

Secondly, remember regular seasons are marathons, not sprints. Overreactions from the hot take media runs rampant through every forum, but regardless of what is said or heard, no team has ever won a championship after the first week of the year, in September, or during October. The Baltimore Ravens didn’t see their season come to an end by blowing a large lead to the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. The New York Giants probably aren’t going far into the playoffs, even though they have a surprising 4-1 record. It’s fun to get into debates with family and friends, and easy to get lost with all of the opinions and data, but understand things have to play out over time. So if there’s a team you thought could make some strides in the right direction, but it hasn’t worked out that way to this point, give it time before jumping off the bandwagon commences. If there is a player who is hyped up to be the best thing since sliced bread (Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert comes to mind), can he at least lead a team to the playoffs before we rush him to the Pro Football Hall of Fame? All I’m saying is things have to develop. It’s about the big picture, not the small prism of what happens in a game.

Finally, keep in mind sports is part of life, not life itself. It’s understood there is a lot of money involved because of the gambling craze, but at its core, games are supposed to be fun. If you are going to gamble, please do it responsively, and let’s stay in one piece. Too many times, fans have fought each other because of game results (Philadelphia Eagles fans in particular. There was a jail at old Veterans Stadium after all). As much as we might want to think we’re part of the squad, we don’t actually play for them. Life continues, and there’s no reason to make social media clips showing people burning jerseys, or smashing televisions they spent their hard earned money on. Yes, fan is short for fanatic, but we can make sure to stay sensible through it all.

So there you have it, the three tips for someone to stay sane during regular seasons. I’m not different from the next person when it comes to passion for a team. In today’s world, it’s easy to let those emotions bubble over when our team loses, especially with the real life issues we have to face in our daily lives. A loss can send people over the edge, but sports is supposed to be an outlet from those issues. There’s still a way for us to root for our teams, sensibly. If these tips are followed, you’ll ensure calmness, and save a few limbs from breaking furniture in frustration. By the way…I’m not a psychologist, I just play one on my blog.

A few NFL teams that should be banned from air time

When a person turns on a television, listens to a radio or monitors a website on their computer or smartphone, it’s hard not to notice the huge amount of mess that is accessible to the eyes and ears. Part of that mess is teams in the NFL that continuously get air time, even though their performance on the field says they shouldn’t be talked about at all. Some of these teams may have historical significance in terms of winning championships in the past, while others have been given unnecessary hype because of a few offseason moves. Either way, these teams have either underachieved, or have been overall trash. A few of the teams I am talking about are the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns and both of the New York teams, the Giants and Jets. These teams get talked about way too much while the product on the field is subpar at best.

Let’s start with the Cowboys, who are currently in first place in the NFC East. Seeing this fact alone would make someone want to ask me why I’m listening Dallas as one of these overhyped teams. It’s because they have a 6-7 record while playing in a garbage division no one seems to want, and the headlines are the same as always. Head coach Jason Garrett is in supposed jeopardy of losing his job, but this has been the case ever since Garrett took over the position in 2010. Jerry Jones, the owner and general manager of the team, continues to try and sell to anyone who will listen this is a team who can win a Super Bowl, something the Cowboys haven’t done since the 1995 season. Dallas is one of those teams who have historical value (on top of being the world’s most valuable sports franchise) and when this is the case, the media seems to hang on anything that can be a sign of a return to glory. Factually, the Cowboys are far removed from those winning ways, and we can’t continue to hold on to past history when recent history says they are as close to average as any team can get on the field of play. The play is what it should be about, and until the day comes where changes at head coach and owner are made, or the record gets better, there’s no reason why Dallas should get as much attention as they get.

Speaking of unwarranted attention, there’s no better definition of this than the Cleveland Browns. I just talked about how average the Cowboys have been, but the Browns would have a championship parade if they were close to average. If you don’t believe me, just go back a couple of years, when the city of Cleveland threw a parade for the Browns going 0-16 in 2017. At any rate, this is a team that came in to this season with a lot of excitement, and understandably so. They have an up-and-coming quarterback in Baker Mayfield, a good running back in Nick Chubb, a wide receiver duo featuring Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry and a good defense. Sure, Cleveland has a lot of young talent, but Super Bowl contending status? That’s what numerous media members thought. After 12 games, it looks like the Browns are still, well, the Browns. They are 5-7, and are in grave danger of missing the playoffs, something that has happened every year since 2002. Because of all of the preseason hype, ESPN, Fox Sports and other television and radio stations continue to talk about Cleveland like they are one of the elite teams in the league. Maybe this is breaking news to some, but one thing they’re not is elite, and reality has to set in at some point. The Browns aren’t good, and there will be plenty of time to talk about them around NFL Draft time, but not in December. This month is meant for actual playoff contenders, and Cleveland is not that. Get ’em out!

If anyone thinks the Browns are overhyped (which I clearly do), just imagine how much worse it would be if they were playing in the nation’s No. 1 media market, which is New York City. That’s the only reason why the Giants and Jets continue to stay somewhat relevant, because saying their play on the field has been garbage is an insult to trash cans everywhere. The Giants sit at 2-10, and the Jets are 4-8. The Giants, as bad as they have been the last few years, have at least won a couple of championships recently.The Jets? They have done next to nothing on the field for decades now. For this season, they are best known for being the first victory for the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals, two teams that were looked at as tanking the season. If the Giants and Jets played anywhere else besides New York, there’s no way they stay in the media cycle as much as they do. It’s a good thing we were created with minds, so we can look past all of the hype and see how truly bad these two teams are.

I understand this article seems funny because I’m talking about these teams getting too much air time, and by writing this story, I’m doing the same thing I’m coming after media outlets about. The main thing I wanted to point out is all of the hype and history can only carry a team so far, because if they’re not winning, it’ll get harder and harder to hold on to these nuggets of hope. The Cowboys, Browns, Giants and Jets are simply not as good as the narrative would have us believe, and we have to see it for what it is, not from a fantasy world. The reality is these teams, among others, have not been good, and they shouldn’t be covered like they’re perennial championship contenders when they are anything but. The teams that are actually doing something are who should get the attention, and hopefully, more people can see it this way.