The NFL playoffs are on the horizon and 12 teams begin their quest to win the Super Bowl. Only one team, however, will prove successful in this venture. Out of these 12 teams, one team stands out from the rest of the pack (not the Packers, but I admit it would have made a marvelous pun). That team is the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are the number one seed in the NFC playoffs, meaning the road to Super Bowl LI (roman numeral for 51, if anybody struggles with roman numerals like I do sometimes) goes through Dallas for the NFC representative. I previously wrote an article about why the Chicago Cubs would win the 2016 World Series, so hopefully this one will work out as well. Here are five reasons why the Dallas Cowboys will win Super Bowl LI:
1. The Cowboys have two superstar caliber rookies leading the offense.
Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott and rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott have significantly contributed to Cowboys' success on offense and are the primary reason why Dallas won the NFC East and hit the double digit mark in wins. Prescott, a fourth round pick out of Mississippi State, replaced an injured Tony Romo during preseason and has performed above and beyond expectations for a rookie, which helped him keep the starting job. Elliott, the fourth overall pick from Ohio State, leads the league in rushing yards and could very well break the all-time rookie rushing record currently held by Eric Dickerson (as of Week 16). Both of them have consistently played at a high level and that momentum will carry into the postseason.
2. The Cowboys have one of the best offensive lines in the league.
The offensive line consisting of left tackle Tyron Smith, left guard Ronald Leary, center Travis Frederick, right guard Zack Martin, and right tackle Doug Free have been a key element to Cowboys offense. The line has created many gaps and holes for running back Ezekiel Elliott to impose havoc on opposing defenses as well as given quarterback Dak Prescott enough time to throw to key targets such as wide receivers Cole Beasley and Dez Bryant, as well as tight end Jason Witten. If the offensive line can remain healthy and maintain strength up front, the Cowboys will be in great position to score early and often throughout the course of a game.
3. The Cowboys have a solid veteran quarterback if he is needed.
Yes, Tony Romo has not played a single down at all during regular season (as of Week 16). However, Romo has had postseason experience before, albeit with only two playoff victories during his 14 years with the Cowboys. Should Prescott get injured, Romo should have no problem running the Cowboys offense due to his familiarity with head coach Jason Garrett's system. No doubt, he'd be ready to go if needed. Why? Because owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones said so. I think Garrett would probably agree.
4. The Cowboys have a consistently improving defense.
The Cowboys defense is not on the same level as the Houston Texans or the Minnesota Vikings, but it continually finds ways to take care of business. Although the team struggles against long pass plays at times, the team leads the league in rushing defense. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli has improved the defense throughout the season and linebacker Sean Lee has played an important role by leading the team in tackles and for being the heart and soul of the unit. If the offense continues its high powered attack during the postseason, the defense should be able to play loose and not have the added pressure of protecting a slim lead or making high pressure stops that could determine the outcome of a game.
5. The Cowboys would not have to leave Texas during the Super Bowl run.
Super Bowl LI will be played in Houston, Texas and the road to that game on the NFC side runs through Texas. The Cowboys would have the lesser amount of travel mileage out of the Super Bowl participants, which gives them a slight advantage. Also, the entire state (except Houston Texans fans) would be behind the team and NRG Stadium would transform into Cowboys territory with thousands upon thousands of die hard fans.
