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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl: What If…

By Luke Roling

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According to the complex scientific field of quantum physics, there are an infinite amount of universes where the Dallas Cowboys are playing in this weekend’s Super Bowl. There are also an equally infinite amount of universes where the ‘Boys take home Super Bowl hardware with a win.

As a fan of the team, does that make you feel better? It shouldn’t.

According to the same theory, there are universes where oft-struggling and injured cornerback bust, Morris Claiborne, wins Super Bowl MVP in a matchup between the Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In short, just because something is possible doesn’t mean its likely in this reality. Nope– you’ll just have to be content with watching another team hoist the Lombardi Trophy to cap the season.

For better or worse, the Cowboys were close this season. If star receiver Dez Bryant doesn’t try to extend the football over the goal-line and completes the process of the catch, maybe Dallas beats the Green Bay Packers.

Maybe they then go and beat the Seattle Seahawks on the road in front of the “12th Man” twice in the same season. Maybe they would be the ones facing off against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.

The Cowboys are in offseason mode with just one NFL game left on the calendar. For fans and sportswriters, the offseason is all about asking “what if” and general armchair quarterbacking. So, hey, just for the fun of it, how would quarterback Tony Romo and the ‘Boys fare against the Patriots in this year’s Super Bowl?

The first thing that pops out about this fictional game is the matchup between the Cowboys defense and Patriots tight end, Rob Gronkowski. Although the Dallas defense was much improved this season, they were putrid against opposing tight ends.

The ‘Boys gave up the second most yards to tight ends this season (1,052) and are tied for 26th in the league in touchdowns to the position (10). The battle between Gronk and the Cowboys linebackers and safeties would likely be the X factor for the make-believe match.

As always, in this game the Cowboys would look to establish the run behind an offensive line with three Pro-Bowlers and the NFL’s leading rusher, DeMarco Murray. However, against the Patriots, running the ball would be no small task. There is nothing small about the Patriots 6’-2” 325 lbs. nose tackle Vince Wilfork who led a stingy New England rush defense. The Patriots ranked 9th in rushing defense, yielding just 1,669 yards on the ground with six touchdowns.

Although New England boasts two of the best cornerbacks in the game, Darrelle Revis and Aqib Talib, the Cowboys best bet to win this game would be to air it out. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo led the league in quarterback rating in 2014 (83.7) and the Patriots were ranked 17th in the league against the pass, rendering 3,837 yards on the year.

When all would be said and done, the Cowboys would just not be able to pull this one off. Gronk would light up the Cowboys defense and the offense would have to strike equally as often with Bryant. Against one of the best cornerbacks the game has seen in years, Dallas would not be able to count on that kind of production. In this fairy-tale game, Dallas would fall to New England 37-27.

Now, back to this reality. There is a very real game to be played this Sunday and its for all the marbles. Where the Cowboys would struggle against the Patriots, the Seahawks will excel.

Gronk is still the X factor in the game, but give me the fast, fearsome, and opportunistic Seattle defense. In Super Bowl XLIX, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson vaults to superstardom with his second Super Bowl in two seasons with a 30-20 victory. You’ll get ‘em next year, Dallas.

Next: Dallas Cowboys Won’t Break Cap To Keep DeMarco Murray

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