Sticky: Poll: How confident are you about this team going into 2026?

[Diehardblues]

Easy peasy. Philly had a massive falloff last season as Hurts was bad and they'd let too many D players go which culminated in an 11-6 season. I'd ask the opposite question, why would you consider them to be better? The facts say they're not.

GB? team that lost their last 4 games and squeaked into the playoffs at 9-7-1? The team that we tied even before adding Q? Again, the opposite question. Why do you consider them good? They show all the signs of a team hovering around .500, especially considering how Love's inconsistencies keeps rearing their ugly heads.

No, that is not all we have to go on, not even close. Hey, if you don't want to E n A, I get it, that's fine. Some of us enjoy it, however.

Packers didn’t win a game after Parsons went down. And they could struggle until he returns . And I think Phi is front runner in our division until they aren’t. Recent history holds water with me until it doesn’t .

And I’m basing my Assements on last years results . My views can change as this season begins to unfold .

Shoot, NY and Wash could be improved as well and an injury here or there could limit our progress. Too many intangibles and uncertainties.

 

[kskboys]

No problem. Thanks for clarifying.


Despite a franchise worst defense, the Cowboys should have swept Philadelphia last year. And the Eagles traded away their best receiver and lost one of the best offensive line coaches in the league. I consider them worse, not better.

And the Packers lost their final 5 games of the season last year and have lost a bunch of players since then. I consider them worse as well.


I think SF will fall off big time. Detroit should still be a playoff team but I’d like to play them with this year’s defense.


Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that neither of last year’s Super Bowl teams had made the playoffs the year before.


Yes. If we had to wait for everything to happen, we’d just be talking about history and the past. And there’s be a lot less conversation.

Good stuff.

SEA was on the rise the previous season, getting squeaked out of the playoffs at 10-7 w/ the oh so tepid Geno leading the way.

 

[Diehardblues]

Fair enough. I turn to the scouting reports for info. They have much better eyes than all of us.

Thing is, you have to learn to read them. Look for the terms that dictate success or failure. For instance, if a player "takes poor angles", that generally means they have poor lateral agility, which is prolly the biggest indicator of failure in the NFL. Remember Villami Fehoko? Yup, poor lateral agility. That's why he didn't make it.

Jeff Heath, remember how on one play he'd blow the ball carrier up, and then the next look awkward and miss badly? Yup, poor lateral agility. If he got to the ball carrier before they had time to bust a move, he made the play.

I don't listen to hype. Remember the Mo Claiborne debacle? That was one of my first scouting report debacles. His scouting report read like a 3/4 round type player. They hype made zero sense, and most of the scouts thought he was a top 10 type. I mean, think about it, not real fast, not real agile. It's like, the scouts started talking him up and they all just fell in line. Made no sense. That was one of my first big lessons in trusting what I read and ignoring the hype.

I’m not that kind of fan. I don’t think I’ve ever read a scouting report in my life. But that doesn’t mean I can’t evaluate results on the field . That’s what I’m waiting for .

 

[kskboys]

Packers didn’t win a game after Parsons went down. And they could struggle until he returns . And I think Phi is front runner in our division until they aren’t. Recent history holds water with me until it doesn’t .

And I’m basing my Assements on last years results . My views can change as this season begins to unfold .

Shoot, NY and Wash could be improved as well and an injury here or there could limit our progress. Too many intangibles and uncertainties.

And if they are that dependent on Parsons, then they are simply not that good.

How in the world could WASH improve? Sure, they could surprise I guess, but they show all the traits of a one year wonder w/ a limited QB.

 

[kskboys]

I’m not that kind of fan. I don’t think I’ve ever read a scouting report in my life. But that doesn’t mean I can’t evaluate results on the field . That’s what I’m waiting for .

Once again, fair enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Stash]

Good stuff.

SEA was on the rise the previous season, getting squeaked out of the playoffs at 10-7 w/ the oh so tepid Geno leading the way.

One of the things that has impressed me the most from Seattle is that - despite the huge changes at head coach, personnel, and quarterback specifically - they remained competitive and never had to go through a huge rebuild.

 

[kskboys]

One of the things that has impressed me the most from Seattle is that - despite the huge changes at head coach, personnel, and quarterback specifically - they remained competitive and never had to go through a huge rebuild.

Correct. And was specifically due to trading away Wilson for a 1/1/2/2. Massive return. That is how you rebuild, you tank by trading away good players for massive assets. And then add in the additional salary cap room from trading Wilson, and getting a competent QB for 32 mil.

 

[Diehardblues]

No problem. Thanks for clarifying.


Despite a franchise worst defense, the Cowboys should have swept Philadelphia last year. And the Eagles traded away their best receiver and lost one of the best offensive line coaches in the league. I consider them worse, not better.

And the Packers lost their final 5 games of the season last year and have lost a bunch of players since then. I consider them worse as well.


I think SF will fall off big time. Detroit should still be a playoff team but I’d like to play them with this year’s defense.


Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that neither of last year’s Super Bowl teams had made the playoffs the year before.


Yes. If we had to wait for everything to happen, we’d just be talking about history and the past. And there’s be a lot less conversation.

Didn’t Phil use their 1st round pick to replace their WR? I think they also drafted more help on defense . I wouldn’t discount a veteran playoff caliber team and QB so quickly.

Seattle missed playoffs year before I believe at 10-7. Pats were an upstart much like Denver was .

And GB didn’t win another game after Parsons went down. Bears could be best in the North. And I expect Lions to return.

West and North by far best divisions in conference . We’d struggle contending for playoffs in either of those divisions.

While I get the optimism and excitement for season I just think we should pump the brakes before season begins to unfold making predictions we are a SB caliber team.

 

[Stash]

Didn’t Phil use their 1st round pick to replace their WR? I think they also drafted more help on defense . I wouldn’t discount a veteran playoff caliber team and QB so quickly.

And yet you expect rookies to simply ‘replace’ Pro Bowl players? Interesting…

Seattle made playoffs year before I believe at 10-7. Pats were an upstart much like Denver was .

Incorrect. Seattle didn’t make the playoffs.

And GB didn’t win another game after Parsons went down. Bears could be best in the North. And I expect Lions to return.

And Parsons will miss a portion of 2026 as well. And can’t be expected to be as good as he was immediately.

West and North by far best divisions in conference . We’d struggle contending for playoffs in either of those divisions.

Certainly the NFC North. I see two good teams in the West. Arguably the two best in the entire league.

While I get the optimism and excitement for season I just think we should pump the brakes before season begins to unfold making predictions we are a SB caliber team.

Again that’s understandable. I can’t and won’t try to control someone else’s opinion.

 

[Diehardblues]

And if they are that dependent on Parsons, then they are simply not that good.

How in the world could WASH improve? Sure, they could surprise I guess, but they show all the traits of a one year wonder w/ a limited QB.

Wash could improve with Daniels returning. He’s what took them to championship game previous season . We shall see if he was a one year wonder.

GB was a playoff caliber team before Parsons who made them a SB caliber team.

It’s amazing to me how we can so easily discount other teams while elevating ours without one snap in regular season.

Well, that’s not speculative evaluation or hype that interest me. Im a show me fan on the field in action. And I can’t wait to see.

 

[Diehardblues]

And yet you expect rookies to simply ‘replace’ Pro Bowl players? Interesting…


Incorrect. Seattle didn’t make the playoffs.


And Parsons will miss a portion of 2026 as well. And can’t be expected to be as good as he was immediately.


Certainly the NFC North. I see two good teams in the West. Arguably the two best in the entire league.


Again that’s understandable. I can’t and won’t try to control someone else’s opinion.

We are expecting our highly drafted rookies to make immediate impacts. Just saying. And I corrected Seattle .

 

[Hawkeye19]

Top 5 offense
+
Top 20 defense
=
Possible playoff berth

 

[Hawkeye19]

Correct. And was specifically due to trading away Wilson for a 1/1/2/2. Massive return. That is how you rebuild, you tank by trading away good players for massive assets. And then add in the additional salary cap room from trading Wilson, and getting a competent QB for 32 mil.

This is the way we need to transition from Dak… either after 2026 or 2027 season.

You only get a decent return when the QB can still deliver, and if Dak has a decent year but still can’t get us over the hump in the playoffs, I think it would be the perfect time to swing a trade.

He gets a nice extension with a new team that is QB starved, we get some much needed draft capital and cap space to ease a rebuild

This year is absolutely massive for Dak. Time to get it done or move along.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

This is the way we need to transition from Dak… either after 2026 or 2027 season.

You only get a decent return when the QB can still deliver, and if Dak has a decent year but still can’t get us over the hump in the playoffs, I think it would be the perfect time to swing a trade.

He gets a nice extension with a new team that is QB starved, we get some much needed draft capital and cap space to ease a rebuild

This year is absolutely massive for Dak. Time to get it done or move along.

We can't make the playoffs without Dak but I'm not sure we can win a SB with him. If this team is as good as some think it is there are no more excuses. He needs to step up.

 

[Stash]

We are expecting our highly drafted rookies to make immediate impacts. Just saying. And I corrected Seattle .

Is Downs replacing a Pro Bowler?

 

[MajesticRey]

Yeah without him you wouldn’t be a playoff team

People are quick to hate on Dak, but who exactly would we replace him with? Do we have Josh Allen or Mahomes waiting on the bench?

 

[G2]

B. In general I'm typically optimistic because who cares, it's just entertainment. I think the potential is there to make the playoffs, but I'm not expecting any wins in the post season. There are a crap ton of changes on the roster and in coaching. I just hope everyone remains healthy.

 

[kumizi]

in the hunt for the playoffs

not a SB contender unless they get a premier edge rusher

 

[Diehardblues]

Time will tell if we are just improved on defense or become a serious contender.

Hard to say until we see some action.

 

[Diehardblues]

Is Downs replacing a Pro Bowler?

No , but the Egirls still have a strong starting WR left and replacing the other with a 1st round pick. That’s about a sound a strategy as you can take managing Cap and retooling.

I wouldn’t consider that a difference maker in lessening talent on roster. Could it. Of course . Enough to downgrade them from being favorites to win division . I’d say no.