Dallas Cowboys coaching staff exposed by Eagles’ success

The inability for the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff to adapt was further on display yesterday after watching the Eagles move on in the playoffs.

This is an extremely difficult editorial to write.  I firmly reside on the anti-Philadelphia side of the Dallas Cowboys fan wagon.

There are few things I despise more than the Philadelphia Eagles.  I hate their stupid song.  Their fan base is deplorable at best.  I literally own less than three shirts that are any shade of green.

Yet and still, I cannot let my eyes and my knowledge of football be blinded by hate.

After sitting through an excruciating three hours yesterday in which the team I hate the most found a way to advance, the truth is what the truth is.

The Philadelphia Eagles have a better coaching staff than the Dallas Cowboys.  This advantage is the sole reason why they are playing next week and Dallas is not.

The Eagles do not have more talent than Dallas.  They have a few spots, primarily their defensive line, which is superior.  Overall, however, the Cowboys are a more talent-rich team.

The Eagles are not luckier than the Cowboys.  The ball bounces a different way each time for every team.  There is no eternal sunshine in Philadelphia, just as their is no permanent black cloud in Dallas.

Save me the schpeel about an easier schedule as well.  Are the Cowboys not participating in the playoffs because of who they were made to play?  Puh-leez.

Dallas played Atlanta in the regular season.  Philadelphia played Carolina.  Carolina is better than Atlanta.  Dallas played Green Bay while the Eagles played Chicago.  Otherwise, they played the exact same teams.  One game was not the difference.

No, the difference is in the coaching staff.  You want to know how that is clearly evident.  All you have to do is see how each team handled adversity in 2017.

Philadelphia went the majority of this season without their starting left tackle and middle linebacker.  Both Jason Peters and Jordan Hicks are above average or better players in the NFL.  They also lost their starting quarterback over a month ago.

I don’t know if you’re aware but almost every general manager will tell you that the building blocks to a successful team include the quarterback and left tackle.  Having a quality middle linebacker is also extremely helpful.

The Eagles are 9-2 without Peters and Hicks and only have one loss minus Carson Wentz.

The Cowboys, however, cannot function without their left tackle or middle linebacker.  Tyron Smith did not play against Atlanta, in either game versus Philadelphia and was available for one series against Seattle.

Dallas lost three of those four games and put up a grand total of 34 points in those four games.

Sean Lee did not play against the Rams or Packers.  He got hurt again early against the Falcons and did not play against the Eagles, Chargers or Redskins.

Dallas lost five of those six games.  Their opponents put up 176 points in those games.

So, if you’re scoring at home, without Smith, Dallas is only capable of scoring about nine points a game.  Without Lee, the Cowboys give up almost 30.

I totally believe that both Smith and Lee are amazing players.  Both are Pro-Bowl level type guys and Smith might be a Hall of Famer.  To be made completely inept by their lack of availability, however, exposes the coaching staff’s inability to adapt.

Next: Predicting a comeback for Dak Prescott in 2018

Scott Linehan, Rod Marinelli and Jason Garrett are the biggest reasons why the Cowboys are not playing in the postseason.

Doug Pederson, Frank Reich and Jim Schwartz are a big reason why the Eagles continue to succeed despite adversity.

Sometimes, the game of football is just that simple.