Five Reasons Doubting The Cowboys Making The Playoffs Is A Bad Idea
The Dallas Cowboys finished the 2017 season with a 9-7 record and missed the playoffs, a year after finishing with the best record in the NFC. During the offseason, they released Dez Bryant and future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten retired, prompting some people to say the Cowboys won’t make the playoffs this season.
Despite what the naysayers are saying, here are five reasons the Cowboys will make the playoffs this season.
- A Motivated Ezekiel Elliott
One of the biggest reasons the Cowboys failed to make the playoffs last year was because he was suspended for six games by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. This season, Elliott isn’t facing any suspension and if he stays healthy, he will be a big problem for opposing opponents because he will be trying to reclaim his spot as the best running back in the league.
- An Improved Defense
The Cowboys will have one of the best defenses in the league this year thanks to a defensive line that features DeMarcus Lawrence, who was second in the league with 14.5 sacks last season, Taco Charlton, who showed a lot of promise as a rookie last season, and David Irvin.
They also have great linebackers in Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith, who is primed for a breakout season.
- Dak Prescott
Prescott regressed last season, but that was to be expected from a player in his second season. Now that he is going into his third season as a pro, Prescott should have a better understanding of the team’s offense. With veterans like Bryant and Witten gone, Prescott should be able to grow into one of the team’s leaders.
- The Offensive Line
The Cowboys will still have one of the best offensive lines in the league, which will give Prescott plenty of protection and time to throw. They will also open up a lot of holes for Elliott to run through.
- NFC East competition
The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl last season, but other than the Eagles, the remaining NFC East teams aren’t as good as the Cowboys, meaning they can still make the playoffs even if they finish second in the division.
