Detroit and San Francisco loom. Baltimore and New Orleans look ugly in the rearview mirror.
The teams that matter are all that matters. We've learned that 12-win seasons mean diddly squat when you faceplant in the playoffs. Over and over and over again.
Pittsburgh and Atlanta and Cincinnati and Tampa - even New Orleans so we thought - are all cute and fun to win along the way, but they're not the teams that matter most likely. Sure, Philly for the division as usual, but familiarity makes those games tight and winnable most every year.
It's hard to remember the Cowboys beating a true contender that wasn't in the division. When was it? Yeah, there was Detroit last year, but that was a gift from the referee on the tackle eligible play. He was, the ref said he wasn't, and that same wasn't given any playoff games as a result.
Real contenders don't have games like Arizona, Buffalo, San Francisco, and Green Bay. Truly good teams might have one really awful game a year. Maybe.
Dallas needs to beat somebody important other than just Philly. Dak Prescott needs to play against good teams like he always plays against the Giants. He's so accurate and decisive against the bad teams, and then he goes brain-dead for three quarters against the good ones.
This season, unless some young guys grow up quick, looks to be wrap, but a truly big win and great performance against the Lions or 49ers would help to settle this season down.
Can they? Probably not, but that's the measure in front of them right now.
