Despite the Week 6 loss, the Cowboys’ NFC chances are still high

Oftentimes, the mood after a 26-17 loss is a sour one, but the tone after this one is a bit different. With a 4-2 record and a top-ten-level talent of a quarterback coming back, the Dallas Cowboys are in fantastic standing with 11 games left to play in the regular season — especially in the NFC with hardly any teams really looking like powerhouses.

So how should the Cowboys be feeling after their loss to the Eagles? Better than some may expect. Let’s look at one thing to look back on in appreciation, one thing to take notice of, and one thing to be hopeful for.

The Cowboys need to appreciate what Cooper Rush was able to do

No, Cooper Rush wasn’t flashy, nor is he the heir apparent to Dak Prescott, as Prescott is the true QB1. Rush doesn’t have the quarterbacking ability of Prescott, but his job wasn’t to be Dak Prescott, it was to manage the game, not turn the ball over, and keep the ship afloat, and he did exactly that.

It is not Rush’s fault that the media and certain fans made the narrative into something it never was — a quarterback battle. However, if you could go back in time to after that Week 1 loss and tell any Cowboys fan they would be sitting at 4-2 after Prescott missed five games, people would’ve told you that you were insane.

The wheels did not fall off, and while the wins weren’t because of Rush, they weren’t losing because of him either. The offense wasn’t very special during the five-game span, as they only averaged 1.8 touchdowns a game and ranked 26th in passing yards per game, but he still got four wins.

Unfortunately, like a lot of Cinderella stories, Rush’s came to an ugly ending, with the backup quarterback throwing three interceptions. However, the man does deserve the appreciation of Cowboys Nation.

Thank you, Cooper Rush, as this season could’ve become ugly very fast, and now the Cowboys, even after a loss, are in the thick of the NFC race. The wheels did not fall off, and now we get to see this team’s full potential.

Dak Prescott is coming back in perfect timing

With all the hoopla in the media over the past five weeks, many people have been disrespecting the QB1. Regardless of what people have said, the Cowboys QB should be back to prove his value to this franchise for the Week 7 matchup against the Detroit Lions.

Prescott has said he plans to play, and after throwing the ball well in pregame before the Sunday night game against the Eagles. From everything we’ve heard from the QB, coaches, and the front office, the starter should be ready to go.

Now, we all know from the Romo years to now, that the Cowboys QB position is one of great scrutiny. Prescott will never escape that as long as he’s at the helm.

However, let’s not forget what we have here, nor should we forget what he can be for this current team. Prescott not only led the No. 1 offense in the league last season, but he also set the Cowboys’ single-season passing touchdown record.

To go along with that, he has also finished top 11 or higher in QBR every year of his career with him finishing in the top five in three of those seasons. No. 4 is very good at his job, so let’s not forget that because of one game against an incredibly stingy Tampa Bay defense. Now, Prescott gets his chance to prove how good he is and how much he can propel this struggling offense forward, as the Cowboys move forward in the season.

The Cowboys are still in a great position within the NFC

While, surprisingly, the NFC East is leading the way at the top of the NFC the rest of the conference hasn’t been much to write home about. With the Cowboys getting their quarterback back, things couldn’t look more positive right now.

Only three teams in the NFC currently have a better record than the Cowboys. The Eagles (who the Cowboys lost to only by nine with their backup QB), the Vikings (who the Cowboys play later this season), and the Giants (who the Cowboys beat with their backup QB).

It’s also worth noting that Dallas already beat last year’s Super Bowl winner in the Rams. The Packers and Aaron Rodgers just can’t seem to get it together, losing to the Jets 27-10. And, the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers haven’t been impressive, even if they did beat Dallas in Week 1.

The NFC is in shambles and very winnable going forward. The Cowboys can be the team to be the NFC representatives in the Super Bowl, they just have to play their game and unlock their full potential with Prescott back at the helm.

However, it is football and any team can go on a run at any moment. Therefore, the Cowboys must win the easily winnable games that are coming up against the 1-4 Lions and the 2-4 Bears, before they head into juggernaut matchup’s against the 3-3 Packers, the 5-1 Vikings, and 5-1 Giants in consecutive weeks.

The Cowboys can play with anyone in the league; we’ve now seen that. However, they’re going to need Dak Prescott to get this offense moving again if they want a chance. Things aren’t looking so grim after the Week 6 loss after all.

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