Richard Rodriguez is a photographer.
A squad is considered a realistic Super Bowl contender if it has a confluence of factors. The ability to improve throughout a long campaign while catching a little lightning in the bottle is what is needed to raise the Lombardi trophy.
Two franchises dominate over the rest for different reasons. The Green Bay Packers have the best record in the league at 12-3 and are poised to win another award for their quarterback, who has won the award three times. The Super Bowl champ is the Buccaneers. Tom Brady is one of the league's most talented players on both sides of the ball, and he continues to play at a level that is unseen from a position player in his 40s.
The Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals are in the running. The Dallas Cowboys may be peaking at the right time, if Sunday's 56-14 win over the Washington Football Team is any indication.
The reports of Dallas' demise were greatly exaggerated.
On paper, the Cowboys have one of the league's deepest and most talented offensive units, with quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, and defensive back all contributing.
Dallas made mental mistakes, turned over the ball, didn't run at optimal efficiency, and averaged 60.6 fewer yards per game than its season average during the last three games.
The Athletic's Jon Machota reports that before last week's game, the quarterback admitted that it was the right time to turn it on. I talked to the skill position in the signal-caller's meeting. We would rather be going through what we are going through now than two weeks from now. We can move forward and peak at the right time heading into the playoffs now that we've addressed it.
It may have taken a week before the Cowboys fully turned it on, but they did a great job against Washington.
The game was over before the break, so the second half isn't worth mentioning. The Cowboys scored 42 points in the first two quarters. Going into the break, he had completed 77.1 percent of his passes for 320 yards and four scores.
Washington didn't have any answers, and its performance on the field was so bad that two of the team's defensive linemen were caught fighting on camera.
AdamSchefter wrote about Adam Schefter.
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Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne are former Alabama and WFT teammates.
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It can be difficult to defend the Dallas offense. They have players who can take over the game. The Cowboys continued to win even when the group wasn't clicking. Before Sunday's big win, there were three straight victories.
Dallas didn't have much to play for on Sunday. Jerry Jones' team already won the division before their game began. The meeting with the division rival could have been a smooth one. The Cowboys put the pedal to the metal and realized their full potential.
Mike McCarthy said he didn't discuss winning a division title with the team. We needed to perform tonight and we did that.
The offense's resurgence as a dominant unit is only part of the story. The Cowboys defense is frightening. The Dallas side of the ball is only giving up 29.5 fewer yards per game compared to last season, but that side of the ball also has some intriguing players. The unit is doing well in the defensive scheme.
The answer to the difference between the unit's current performance and last year's is obvious, as evidenced by the emergence of the inevitable NFL Defensive Freshman of the Year and possible NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
In every way, Parsons is exceptional. He is the first rookies in 25 years to record 75 or more tackles and 10 or more sacks. His 13 sacks are tied for fifth with the Cincinnati Bengal's.
Those who lead the league in edge-defenders are not the only ones who are special. The rookies can be moved all over the front seven to take advantage of their opponent's weaknesses. The threat of rushing the passer changes an offense's approach. His impact can be felt. Dallas' success isn't the only reason.
Lawrence told reporters last week that it wasn't about one player when they played the Cowboys. If you think you're going to single out one player, then you're wrong.
Lawrence is an example. He returned to the team at the beginning of December after being on injured reserve with a broken bone in his foot. The Cowboys' highest-paid defender can win one-on-one matches as an edge-rusher, and that allowed Lawrence to be used all over the field. Randy Gregory is playing as well as he ever has on the other side. His six sacks are a career-high and he has two games left to play.
At the second level, the transition from safety to linebacker has been smooth for Keanu Neal.
The secondary is playing ball. Jayron Kearse is a valuable piece due to his flexibility. The one-time Detroit Lions castoff, whom the Cowboys eventually plucked off the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, leads the team in tackles while simultaneously serving as one of the squad's primary slot defenders.
The league's premier ball-hawk with 11 picks is going to the Pro Bowl for the first time. During Washington's first offensive series, the defensive back stole another one when he ran stride-for-stride with Terry McLaurin and never looked off quarterback Taylor Heinicke. The Cowboys have had the most in their history with 11 picks, and the most by any defender since 1981.
The National Football League and the National Football League are connected.
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The Dallas Cowboys will play the Washington Wizards on NBC.
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The Cowboys are healthy for most of the time. All of Dallas' big-time performers are in the lineup. That's all a team can ask for during the holiday season. Smith could return by the playoffs.
The Buccaneers have been hit by injuries. Chris Godwin and Lavonte David are on injured reserve. Evans, Pierre-Paul, and Winfield didn't play this weekend because of injuries.
A year ago, the Buccaneers went on a run after abye week that they rode all the way to the championship. They're not the same team this season with a couple of losses, including to Washington.
