Who are legitimate contenders in the NFC?

CowboyRoy

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Was talking about this last night with my buddy. There really aren't a lot of great teams in the NFC. Rogers claims he would rather retire or be traded. If Rogers is no longer in the NFC who are contenders in the NFC? This is the list I have:

Tampa
Rams
San Fran
Seattle

THATS IT!! There is nobody else I see as a great team. And Seattle is Seattle. They don't really scare me. If the Cowboys get healthy and the defense is middle of the pack, there is no reason we cant be in the mix with these teams.
 

MountaineerCowboy

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How did I know just by the title that there would be some talk of "but if this or that go our way we're contenders"?

The defense was middle of the pack in 2019, in fact better then that (top 12), and we still went 8-8.

A middle of the pack defense means nothing when your offense does nothing against above average competition.
 
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EGTuna

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TB
LAR
SF
SEA
GB (I know, I know, but I'd bet a mortgage payment that Rodgers plays and plays well)

Based on talent. and not unhappy QB narratives, I'd rank em thusly:
TB
GB
SF
SEA
LAR

If Dallas gets OL health and a league average defense that can be better than average in the red zone, then they're right there with all those teams.
 

MountaineerCowboy

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TB
LAR
SF
SEA
GB (I know, I know, but I'd bet a mortgage payment that Rodgers plays and plays well)

Based on talent. and not unhappy QB narratives, I'd rank em thusly:
TB
GB
SF
SEA
LAR

If Dallas gets OL health and a league average defense that can be better than average in the red zone, then they're right there with all those teams.
Again, i'll ask you.

If a league average defense is all we need then why did we go 8-8 in 2019 with the #1 ranked offense and a top 12 defense?
 

CowboyRoy

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How did I know just by the title that there would be some talk of "but if this or that go our way we're contenders"?

The defense was middle of the pack in 2019, in fact better then that (top 12), and we went still 8-8.

A middle of the pack defense means nothing when your offense does nothing against above average competition.

With Garrett as the coach holding back the team and Moore, all bets were off in 2019.
 

CowboyRoy

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TB
LAR
SF
SEA
GB (I know, I know, but I'd bet a mortgage payment that Rodgers plays and plays well)

Based on talent. and not unhappy QB narratives, I'd rank em thusly:
TB
GB
SF
SEA
LAR

If Dallas gets OL health and a league average defense that can be better than average in the red zone, then they're right there with all those teams.

He claims he would rather retire than play for GB. But I do have my doubts like you do.

Rams you are really sleeping on here. #1 defense in the NFL and now Sean M has a legitimate QB in Stafford. And their rookie RB from last year started hitting his stride late in the year. They will be right there at the top with Tampa.
 

fivetwos

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Was talking about this last night with my buddy. There really aren't a lot of great teams in the NFC. Rogers claims he would rather retire or be traded. If Rogers is no longer in the NFC who are contenders in the NFC? This is the list I have:

Tampa
Rams
San Fran
Seattle

THATS IT!! There is nobody else I see as a great team. And Seattle is Seattle. They don't really scare me. If the Cowboys get healthy and the defense is middle of the pack, there is no reason we cant be in the mix with these teams.
Exactly.....and while crawl before walk may typically be sound logic....

If Dallas ever actually figures out how to not stink when it counts.....there's no reason to place a limit on it.
 

CowboyRoy

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Oh, is that it?

You are going to blame Garrett for losing games where our defense held our opponents to 12, 13, and 17 points? That's Garretts fault?

Not all on Garrett, the team played really bad in spots, including the offense. But yah, Garrett sucks and was a huge part of that.
 

fivetwos

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He claims he would rather retire than play for GB. But I do have my doubts like you do.

Rams you are really sleeping on here. #1 defense in the NFL and now Sean M has a legitimate QB in Stafford. And their rookie RB from last year started hitting his stride late in the year. They will be right there at the top with Tampa.
Rams have a very underrated defense.....but I'm not at all a Stafford fan and don't see how he is the savior there.
 

CowboyRoy

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Rams have a very underrated defense.....but I'm not at all a Stafford fan and don't see how he is the savior there.

Rams had the #1 defense in the NFL last year. Why do they need a savior? They were one of the last 4 teams standing last year in the NFC.

Dont sleep on Stafford. For the first time in his career he has a great coach, a great defense, and a run game.
 

MountaineerCowboy

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Not all on Garrett, the team played really bad in spots, including the offense. But yah, Garrett sucks and was a huge part of that.
I'm with you there, Garrett had to go. I don't think McCarthy is much better, but it's at least not Garrett.

But, I'm not with the idea that we're just an average defense away from competing with the top teams. We have proven that we're much more flawed then just that.
 

fivetwos

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Watson is an example of how you simply leave your disgruntled QB be for a while, let some time pass....then suddenly people aren't so upset anymore.

Each of those QBs will play this season where they currently are.

Guaranteed.
 

CowboyRoy

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I'm with you there, Garrett had to go. I don't think McCarthy is much better, but it's at least not Garrett.

But, I'm not with the idea that we're just an average defense away from competing with the top teams. We have proven that we're much more flawed then just that.

I just dont think these NFC Teams other than Tampa are all that. They are good, but not crazy good. If some thing go right with health and on defense, I like the Cowboys to be in the mix.

Dak and that offense are top notch in the NFL. And with our tackles back they will be even better.
 

fivetwos

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Rams had the #1 defense in the NFL last year. Why do they need a savior? They were one of the last 4 teams standing last year in the NFC.

Dont sleep on Stafford. For the first time in his career he has a great coach, a great defense, and a run game.
Because while that defense helps, today's NFL is all about the QB....like it or not.

I hear you on all points Stafford, but I just don't think it's going to fall that way.

If they DO hit on him....they have to be the favorites in the conference, regardless of what GB does.
 

CowboyRoy

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Watson is an example of how you simply leave your disgruntled QB be for a while, let some time pass....then suddenly people aren't so upset anymore.

Each of those QBs will play this season where they currently are.

Guaranteed.

Watson is being sued by 30 women. Completely different scenario. Rogers is very very stubborn. I could see the jerk retiring if he doesnt get traded.
 

MountaineerCowboy

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I just dont think these NFC Teams other than Tampa are all that. They are good, but not crazy good. If some thing go right with health and on defense, I like the Cowboys to be in the mix.

Dak and that offense are top notch in the NFL. And with our tackles back they will be even better.
I like the optimism, but I've been fooled for a quarter of a century when it comes to this team.

The offense looks good on paper, but we'll find out real quick if it's for real or not.
 

CowboyRoy

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Because while that defense helps, today's NFL is all about the QB....like it or not.

I hear you on all points Stafford, but I just don't think it's going to fall that way.

If they DO hit on him....they have to be the favorites in the conference, regardless of what GB does.

Yah, not with you on the "its all about the QB" theory. IF it was, the Cowboys would be all set. Especially being a Cowboys fan the last 15 years you should know better. Cowboys have been loaded at QB with Romo and now Dak for the last 15 years. The reason we havent been better is defense and coaching.
 
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