CFZ How wide of a gap is there between the Cowboys from the 49ers/Eagles

[jazzcat22]

I disagree. I think the Eagles’ 2023 schedule is slightly tougher than ours—at least the “experts” are saying it. Plus, they won’t sneak up on anyone this year. Teams have had another year to plan for Hurts and his tricky little sideways run plays, and if you remember, they won a couple last year they shouldn’t have.

Schedules are about the same except for 3 teams. To me it is more how the schedule is laid out.
We get screwed again by finishing more games on the road than at home. It has been that way since 2000. Philly finishes 2 of 3 at home, we finish 3 of 4 on the road.

They play 3 1st place teams, we play 3 2nd place teams which is the difference. However the difference in those teams aren't much. Based on last year.

We play home Detroit, at LAC, at Carolina
Philly plays Minnesota, at KC, at TB

Detroit will be tougher than Minnesota this season, Carolina will be tougher than TB, KC will be tougher than LAC though LAC can challenge KC for the division if they do improve and stay healthy for once.
So actually I think we have the tougher schedule.

 

[jazzcat22]

Eagles on paper look extremely talented, but they are relying on young, unproven prospects this yr to make an impact. We just don't know how they will perform. Could be as good as last season or take a step back.

49ers are loaded everywhere except the QB position, a lot will hinge on how much production they get out of that position. Health has always been am issue with this team, can they avoid the so called big injury.

As for the Cowboys, cutting down the turnovers is priority 1, but they have to figure out how to successfully run the football again. It's too easy to defend a 1 dimensional team. Both the Eagles/49ers are dominate run teams, which they create big passing plays off of it, Cowboys need to do the same. Why has their running game disappeared late the last 2 seasons? Is it their personnel? scheme? What we have seen this offseason is that the front office has made it a priority to fix this area by changing several coaches, cutting their franchise RB and using a high pick on an high end blocking TE.

SF lost 9 players in FA, signed very few, and had a horrible draft. QB is up in the air for now.
They lost starters and depth. As well both OC & DC.

They are still, as of now, the best team in the AFCW. But to me, not good enough to say they are a SB favorite. Though some fans on here fear them, and they are NFL darlings along with the Eagles. GB is out of the darling group since AR is gone.

 

[Cowboyny]

SF lost 9 players in FA, signed very few, and had a horrible draft. QB is up in the air for now.
They lost starters and depth. As well both OC & DC.

They are still, as of now, the best team in the AFCW. But to me, not good enough to say they are a SB favorite. Though some fans on here fear them, and they are NFL darlings along with the Eagles. GB is out of the darling group since AR is gone.

They still have the best defense and the best offensive playmakers out of the 3 teams. Biggest question mark for them is the QB position and health which they always struggle with.

 

[T-RO]

Dallas vs. a real playoff team

Gap is 5 billion light years. Why try?

 

[Cowboyny]

Its not that wide actually.

The problem is beating both of them on the road last year. When your Oline is the problem and those are two of the best defenses in the NFL, its an issue.

They clearly have made fixing their run game a priority is offseason by changing some coaches, changing the personnel and altering the scheme.

 

[PAPPYDOG]

They would have beat Philly with Purdy too!

 

[Cowboyny]

Dominant DL that can wreck havoc with only the front 4, consistently and all year long into the playoffs.

That's what the 49ers have and the Eagles are trying to become. We need to do the same, but not there yet.

 

[Cowboyny]

This is a good post. The difference is minimal IMO and I believe the argument can be made that Dallas is better (on some days). The playoff game vs SF was a toss up. If Zeke doesn’t space out on a sure TD pass, if Diggs doesn’t let the ball go through his hands, if Pollard doesn’t get hurt, if Dak doesn’t turn the ball over, if we had a confident kicker… just a couple tweaks and they win that game. The divide isn’t large. At all.

Agree, the gap isn't large, but they have to fix their run game if they truly want to compete against these stronger opponents. The Chiefs won the SB last season cause they were able to run the football against the Eagles, not cause of their elite passing attack.

 

[Cowboyny]

I hear both teams have shed players from last year.

Still, player for player, pound for pound, me Cowboys match up extremely well with the 9ers and Egirls.
One area in which the huge disparity is obvious is QB.
Deek is a bus driver who panics when the fish and chips are down.
We suffer the terrible reality that Deek is our QB until our window of opportunity closes in 2 years.

The difference is the Cowboys lack of a running game, where the other 2 are among the league best.

 

[Cowboyny]

I don’t see the Eagles/Niners as “clearly better”, and that’s NOT “Homer Talk”. The Niners only beat us 19-12, and THAT was because our QB had his worst game and threw 2 picks. We split with Philly, so it’s not clean cut there, either!

As far as 2023, MAYBE the gap is even smaller. We’ve improved our team, but Philly? They have a tougher schedule, and have a new DC and OC. San Fran is more “unstable” at QB. We’ll see. Look forward to it!

I cannot say it enough, they lost cause they couldn't run the football, this lead to Dak forcing passes into tight windows when the 49ers were able to play extra men in coverage. The defense got tired in the 4th quarter cause the offense couldn't sustain drives.

 

[Cowboyny]

Niners lost their Defensive Coordinator too. This year will be different for Purdy, will he get figured out or have the dreaded sophomore slump, etc. Last year he wasn't the man, had no expectations coming in. This year he will be the man, high expectations and defenses will game plan for him the whole year. We shall see.

We thought the same about Hurts, let's just don't assume Purdy comes back to earth as he still has great offensive weapons around him.

 

[TexasHillbilly]

That's what the 49ers have and the Eagles are trying to become. We need to do the same, but not there yet.

Isn't it always about the "big uglies"? Seems like all the teams know this but they, (including us), have a hard time finding good players. FA makes it tough to keep group together.

 

[Aven8]

The good news is neither of those teams has that “elite” QB like Burrow and Mahomes. That’s why we have a chance.

 

[Hadenough]

If SF can make Purdy look good I think they will make Darnold look just as good. They also have Hargrave from Philly. They will be the team to beat this year. Eagles are solid even though they lost some players and coaches they always had great depth.Hurts gained so much confidence going toe to toe with Mahomes and the Chiefs they are set for years. I hate to beat a dead horse but Dak has to stop playing so poorly when faced with a tough defense. That is the true difference in the three teams. I just don't think Dak has it in him. Great at throttling bad teams but that's about it.

 

[jazzcat22]

Dallas vs. a real playoff team

Gap is 5 billion light years. Why try?

Why be a fan thinking that way? Why live in fear of another team?

Gap is now in our favor. Book it.

 

[ESisback]

Predictable. Boring.

 

[ESisback]

I cannot say it enough, they lost cause they couldn't run the football, this lead to Dak forcing passes into tight windows when the 49ers were able to play extra men in coverage. The defense got tired in the 4th quarter cause the offense couldn't sustain drives.

I agree. I just think this “big gap” thing is dumb.

 

[GMO415]

For 18 years no team has won back to back NFCE Championships, and that will probably continue.

The iggles lost a lot of talent, and have a grueling schedule.

Dallas should fill the gap with this alone.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Don't see that there is a gap, overall, but with the league the way it is now, you need a good running/scrambling quarterback to win. Purdy's running was a big reason for SF's win, and Mahomes' scamper toward the end of the SB was a big, maybe the reason the Chiefs won the SB.

Dak has never had that kind of speed or moves, and after the ankle injury he's not even up to his rookie level, running-wise.

SF, Philly and Dallas all have lots of talented players. No team has an advantage in all areas of the team, each has an advantage in certain areas.

Considering the above, Dallas' hope for a SB win rests with Quinn's defense. Not saying they are, or can get there, but with a 2000 season Ravens-level defense, Dallas can win a SB, possiblly with even Rush as the quarterback. Of course, health plays a part as well, just imagine if Tyron can stay healthy all season long, even at his reduced skill level (and let's be real, he's not as good as he was 5-6 years ago). Keep Diggs, Lamb, Pollard, Martin, Steele and others healthy all year and this is an excellent Cowboys team.

We'll see....

 

[speedkilz88]

There is no gap