It has been an absolutely hellish week for Dallas Cowboys fans. As if hiring Brian Schottenheimer as head coach wasn't a big enough slap in the face, they also live in a reality where one of the Eagles or Commanders will play in the Super Bowl.
The Eagles are playing in their second NFC Championship Game in three years, while the Cowboys haven't made it that far in the playoffs in almost 30 years. That is now the longest drought in the conference after Dan Quinn led Washington to the big game.
Like we said, it's been a nightmarish week.
It would be foolish to write off Jayden Daniels, but if the first half was any indication it will be Philadelphia representing the NFC. Saquon Barkley is running rampant at Lincoln Financial Field and took the Eagles' first play from scrimmage 60 yards to the house.
After breaking records in the regular season, Barkley is putting together a historic postseason. A fellow Penn State alumnus, Micah Parsons has great respect for Barkley and highlighted a painful reality about the superstar running back during the first quarter.
Cowboys star Micah Parsons admits painful truth about Saquon Barkley
Dawg saquon is is best player in the NFL!
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) January 26, 2025
Parsons has made some farfetched statements on his podcast with Bleacher Report, but it's hard to disagree with him here.
Barkley always flashed greatness with the Giants, but he's morphed into the best offensive player in the league running behind the Eagles' offensive line. He had over 1,000 rushing yards before contact during the regular season.
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That alone is a cheat code, but when you combine it with Barkley's elite vision, home run-hitting speed and contact balance there is simply no player in the NFL better and harder to tackle in the open field.
It remains criminal that the Giants let him out of the building. Now, Jalen Hurts gets to do the bare minimum and ride Barkley's coattails to potentially another Super Bowl trip.
The Cowboys are miles behind the Eagles from a roster-building standpoint. While Parsons is undoubtedly part of the solution in Dallas, the NFC Championship Game is a painful reminder that Barkley and Philly are going to be a problem for a long, long time.