The Dallas Cowboys window to win a Super Bowl is wide open

After losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys fell on the wrong side of history as the only team to appear in 11 playoffs without advancing to the NFC Championship game. To add salt to the wound, the Cowboys had one of the most prolific offenses in franchise history and the highest scoring offense in the NFL.

With the 49ers disappointing loss in the rearview mirror, and Cowboys fans excitedly focused on next season’s new beginnings, the Cowboys sit in luxurious position that most teams envy. Yep, that goes for the Super Bowl-contending Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams, too. Trust me, I’ll explain.

Looking around the NFL landscape in terms of good teams (especially in the NFC), the Cowboys are still atop the food chain. Despite the end-of-season coaching woes of head coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Dallas also brings back game-changing defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and a roster full of talent. Hallelujah.

The window of opportunity for the Dallas Cowboys to make it to the Super Bowl is wide open.

Why the Dallas Cowboys still sit atop the food chain

“To whom much is given, much will be required.” That is why the Cowboys existing the playoffs in the first round hurt so bad, but when the most accomplished quarterback ever recently retired (Tom Brady, 7 Super Bowl wins, 10 Super Bowl appearances), a chain reaction followed. Not necessarily because of Brady, but because other NFC teams are losing valuable players and hiring new coaches, too.

Aaron Rodgers (the Grinch of Green Bay) is unsure if he’ll return to the Packers, go to the AFC, or  retire. Either way, if Rodgers takes his talents to the Denver Broncos or retire, he’ll weaken power of the Packers like a cell phone on one percent. The San Francisco 49ers are surely moving on from inconsistent quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray removes Cardinals on all social media platforms , sending a chilling message he wants out, and then the Seattle Seahawks aren’t doing anything to protect Russell Wilson and upgrade their roster. Hmmm…do you see where I’m going?

Let’s read the tealeaves.

Those aforementioned teams are going to lose quarterbacks and/or dealing with two disgruntled quarterbacks that are giving more signs for a trade than a cheapskate at the flea market. This bodes well for Dallas because two of the “perceived” toughest teams they face next season-Bucs and Packers-will be without their Hall of Fame signal callers.

Meaning Dallas should be the favorites in those games. Even if Wilson and Murray stay, they’re not on Dallas’s schedule and would only meet them in the playoffs if they make it. Wow. Come on…you all know where I’m going with this scenario within the NFC.

Sorry, but the NFC East doesn’t have any teams Dallas has to worry about because they don’t have any quarterbacks that scare you. Now, I do believe Jalen Hurts to be a decent quarterback that can win games, but he’s not Joe Burrow, meaning Dallas can beat him regularly, like twice a year. Ditto the New York Giants and their new head coach, Brian Daboll, and the Washington Commanders (that’s funny) and Tyler Heinicke.

Like I mentioned earlier, the NFC North and NFC South will probably be without their best signal callers and the other field generals in their division aren’t going to scare anyone until proven otherwise, and we all know Kirk Cousins is a glorified stat filler that hides like a victim in a horror movie when the game is on the line.

So, if you’re keeping count, Dallas can and should literally beat any team in their division, beat the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Bucs, Packers, Vikings, other inferior teams that make the playoffs, and maybe the Rams (trust me, I didn’t forget about the Rams).

See, the Rams are in the Super Bowl but will lose several key players like wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. Whether the Rams win it or not, I’m not expecting them to be a threat to a Dallas team that has the wherewithal to bring back a dominant team and straight upbeat them down. The Rams made a deal with the Devil to acquire quarterback Matthew Stafford and will pay dearly for this transaction because it diluted their draft capital like salt in a jar of Kool-Aid.

Basically, the Rams gave up too much draft capital to win a Super Bowl and that will haunt them sooner than later.

It’s another plus for Dallas because it simply puts them it in a superior position over its competition. If you’re unsure about Dallas being better, just remember the NFC South has an aging quarterback in Matt Ryan, the New Orleans Saints no longer have Sean Payton and have quarterback Jameis Winston recovering from an ACL injury, the Carolina Panthers and Buccs are quarterback challenged, the NFC North has no quarterbacks except inconsistent Cousins, the NFC West needs to help, too.

Dallas has Dak Prescott and he’s better than all of those quarterbacks maybe except for Russell Wilson and just as good if not better than Murray (Yes, I’ll take Dak over Murray any day). Dallas is in prime position to not only recapture the NFC East crown but beat any NFC foe they lineup against. Okay, I hear you all saying “Dallas had the talent last season and still lost! What makes next year any different?” Glad you asked.

The Mike McCarthy and Kellen Moore are on the hot seat and have something to prove

When Sean Payton resigned as head coach of the Saints, the internet went wild with rumors that Jerry Jones would fire Coach Big Mac and hire Payton-a favorite of the Jones’s and a really good friend. Add the fact that Jerry was highly upset and disappointed in Dallas’ first round loss, it made sense that Coach Big Mac and former wonder boy, Moore, were about to be fired.

But with Payton lurking in their heads and the expectation to make it to at least the Super Bowl, Coach Big Mac and Moore are going to go all out to win for different reasons. Coach Big Mac wants to prove that he can deliver a Super Bowl just like he did in Green Bay with Dak, and Moore wants to show the league he’s truly the wonder boy that orchestrated Dallas’ high-octane offense the first seven weeks of the season- not the ineffective one we witnessed in the second half of the season.

Further, Moore interviewed for several head coaching jobs only to come back in shame to the team he let down so miserably. Moore has to show he can outwit opposing defenses and as site expert Reid Hanson said, “learn how to hit a curveball”. Also, Coach Big Mac didn’t even try to save Moore once the offense went downward.

Now that’s truly being on your own.

In conclusion,

For full disclosure, I’m aware if the Dallas Cowboys don’t fix their offensive woes, this team will have another melt down. However, I don’t foresee any teams improving to the point where Dallas has to be concerned, and the coaching must improve to help Dak be the best version of himself. But unless Murray, Wilson or DeShaun Watson are traded to the Packers, Bucs, 49ers, or any other team, Dallas has to be NFC favorites simply off of talent alone.

Besides, Dallas’ issues are beyond fixable, and if they make the right decisions in keeping Amari Cooper, DeMarcus Lawrence, and a few other soon-to-be free agents, this team’s trajectory is upward. Yes, they must improve their offensive line because it’s no longer elite.

Two positives for Dallas are that it has the cornerstones on offense and defense to be great next season and Will McClay has done an outstanding job drafting, so the cupboard will always be full of talent.  Unless something drastic changes with these NFC teams, Dallas’ window is wide open. They just need to know how to hit that mysterious curveball before they strike out! BOOM!