49ers vs. Cowboys Preview

Returning to the playoffs for the first time since the 2018 season, the Dallas Cowboys will be hosting the San Francisco 49ers. This is the first time these two franchises have met in the postseason since the NFC Championship in 1995, where Steve Young led the 9ers to a 38-28 victory enroute to an eventual Lombardi Trophy. This time, we hope the result is different.

Both teams enter this playoff matchup with momentum following victories against divisional rivals. In Week 18, San Francisco was able to claw their way back from a 17-0 deficit to come out victorious against the Los Angeles Rams in a 27-24 overtime victory. On the other hand, Dallas humiliated the Philadelphia Eagles, displaying the potential of their high-powered offense in a 51-26 victory. The 49ers ended the regular season with a 10-7 record, while the Cowboys ended up at 12-5, their first 12 win season since 2014.

San Francisco is one of the best running teams in football, a philosophy that their head coach Kyle Shannahan believes strongly in. The 49ers ran a staggering 499 rushes during the regular season, which ranks them for the fifth most in the entire NFL. Part of this is due to Shanhan’s love for his outside zone running scheme. However, it’s also an attempt by the coach to hide the team’s number one deficiency: their quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo is a very mediocre signal caller, and he happens to be the true weak spot on this 49er offense.

The biggest difference between these two franchises, and what I believe will be the biggest difference in this Wild Card matchup, is at quarterback. Jimmy G finished the season with 3,810 passing yards, while throwing 20 touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions. These numbers on their own are not terrible, resulting in a 98.7 passer rating. However, they don’t highlight his obvious deficiencies, which include attacking the middle and deep parts of the field. Additionally, when comparing Garoppolo to Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott, the 49ers seem to be at a huge disadvantage. Dak recovered from the brutal ankle injury he suffered in 2020 and finished his 2021 season with impressive numbers, throwing for 4,449 yards and 37 touchdowns. He only threw 10 interceptions, giving him a strong passer rating of 104.2. When comparing the two quarterbacks, it’s very easy to see Dallas has a clear advantage, as Dak ranks near the top of the league in almost every relevant quarterback statistic.

Offensively, both teams are stacked with weapons. The 49ers trout out Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Elijah Mitchell at their skill positions. Samuel is one of the most talented players in the league, with flexibility to play both receiver and running back. He finished his 2021 season with over 1,400 receiving yards and 365 rushing yards. He posted a remarkable 18.2 yards per reception, showcasing how much of a big play threat he is. Aiyuk and Kittle can also give defenses fits due to their impressive athleticism and skill in the open field. Finally, Elijah Mitchell had nearly a 1,000 yard season on the ground, while only appearing in 11 contests.

For Dallas, they have surrounded their franchise quarterback with a plethora of options. Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are a formidable duo at the running back position, while Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb make up one of the most talented duos at wide receiver. Dalton Schultz has had a breakout year for Dallas at tight end, recording career highs in receptions, yards, yards per catch, and touchdowns. The Cowboys have the talent to beat teams through both the ground game and airing the ball out, which was evident through their league leading offense in both yards and points scored.

While both teams possess massive amounts of talent on the offensive side of the ball, there are also a ton of studs on the defensive side. As has been the case for multiple years now, the 49ers are absolutely stacked with talent in their front seven. Nick Bosa is known to all football fans, and he delivered another splendid season in 2021, finishing with 15.5 sacks. Alongside him, the 9ers possess Arik Armstead, Samson Ebukam, and D.J. Jones. At linebacker, the duo of Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw ranks up there with any other tandem in the league. The weakest spot of the San Fran defense is their secondary, as they have allowed over a 68% completion percentage and a 97 passer rating against them.

One of the biggest stories of the 2021 season has been the turnaround of the Dallas defense, initiated by the hiring of defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Highlighted by rookie sensation Micah Parsons and league leading interception leader Trevon Diggs, the Dallas defense finished the regular season with 34 takeaways, earning the number one spot in the league in that category. On the defensive line, Dallas is able to rush the passer with a plethora of options that include DeMarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, Micah Parsons, Neville Gallimore, Trysten Hill, and Osa Odighizuwa. Outside of Trevon Diggs, the secondary is made up of Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, and Damontae Kazee. Quinn has used his safeties in the box a lot this season, playing next to former first round pick Leighton Vander-Esch at linebacker.

Both the 49ers and the Cowboys rank among the top of the league with talent on their respective rosters. This has the makings to be one of the best and most highly anticipated playoff games this weekend. It should be a great game with all the talent that will be on the field. I believe the difference at quarterback will be the deciding factor in this game, with my prediction of the Dallas Cowboys winning their Wild Card matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE

Sorting Out the NFL MVP Race

Author: Max Greenberg

I think everyone can agree that this has been one of the more unpredictable NFL seasons in several years. There have been countless stunning upsets, and just when we think a certain player or team is at the top of the league, there is a new narrative the very next week or even day.

The MVP race has certainly been no different. The frontrunner at the beginning of the season was looking like Kyler Murray, but he fell out due to injuries and late-season ineffectiveness.

Derrick Henry looked like he had a good shot at one point, but his midseason foot injury took him right out of the race. Tom Brady even looked like he had a chance as well, but a shutout loss to the Saints at home in Week 15 might have derailed his chances, and with injuries to his top three weapons, it is going to be an uphill battle for him.

In terms of finding a list of clear cut players who are square in the mix for the most prestigious individual award in the NFL, it is really hard this year. There are usually around five quarterbacks who are clearly in the discussion, but that is not the case this year.

It is the boring answer because he won it last year, but it is looking more and more like it is Aaron Rodgers’ to lose this year. When you look at his stats, his team’s record, and the amount of bad games that he has had, he has been the best player in the NFL this season. There is an even stronger case to be made for his chances given that in the game that he did not play, the Green Bay Packers’ offense was stifled and only put up seven points.

There has been much discussion about Jonathan Taylor winning MVP, but that would be a hypocritical move by the NFL if they awarded it to him. Context matters yes, and the overall level of play is much worse than it was last year, at least in terms of results and stats. That being said, if Henry can have the season he did last year and not even be in consideration, by no means should Taylor win it.

Considering the current odds and how Rodgers’ performance has been in comparison to everyone else in the league, he should be given MVP for the second year in a row. It just does not make sense that anyone else, expect MAYBE Brady, should have a realistic chance.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE

What Is Up With The NFL This Year?

Author: Max Greenberg

In terms of figuring out who the clear Super Bowl contenders are, this NFL season has been an absolute mess. We are in Week 12 of the 2021 season, and right now, there is still not a team that stands out from the rest.

In the AFC, the Buffalo Bills’ lack of depth has seemingly caught up with them, the Tennessee Titans are dealing with injuries and lack of consistency, and the AFC East leading New England Patriots just do not have the talent that you would expect from a contender. Even the Kansas City Chiefs have more questions than answers right now, and the rest of the AFC West and AFC North look slated to take each other out as the season progresses.

In the NFC, the once clear favorite Los Angeles Rams have lost two straight and are in for another tough road matchup this week against the Green Bay Packers, who are also coming off of a loss. The defending Super Bowl Champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers have also struggled due to injuries and inconsistency, and the Arizona Cardinals have cooled off recently, mostly due to injuries, but their lack of discipline at critical times could end up costing them big time.

Right now, there is no point in making a prediction as to who is going to end up in the big game on February 6, because all this season has taught us is how pointless they are. The question is, how should we expect this NFL season to fare as compared to seasons prior?

Let’s start off by putting it this way -- in seven of the past eight seasons, at least one of the top seeds in each conference has been in the Super Bowl. And in the season that did not feature a top seed in the game, both of the second seeds were represented.

History indicates that you should expect that trend to continue, but look at what has happened this year. I will say that I have watched football for just over ten years and I have never seen the amount of parity that I have seen this year.

Right now, EVERY team that is or was supposed to be among the most feared has at least one legitimate knock on them. Whereas in seasons past where it seemed as if every team had at least one strength that could not be bested, that is not at all the case this year. Oh, and the seventeenth game for each team further complicates things, since teams could be a lot more tired heading into the postseason.

As far as this year’s playoffs go, it is looking like a completely clean slate. If there is any year that a number one seed is not going to make it to the Super Bowl, this is the year due to how much uncertainty there is.

It is tough if you are a fan of any of these teams that is supposed to be contending, but for the average fan and the NFL itself, this is about as great of a development as there could be. The football is going to be compelling, there is going to be lots of drama, and the fact that there is no clear favorite is going to make it that much more fun to watch.

Do you remember how the 2021 NBA Playoffs were so fun to watch because it was so unpredictable, making the basketball that much more competitive and interesting? That is what the NFL is looking like it is going to be come January.

Right now, we have no idea what to even expect when the big dance starts, and if there is any year that a team is going to come out of nowhere and win it all, this is it. Get your popcorn folks, this is going to be fun.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE