"Seeing the Dallas Cowboys officially eliminated from the playoffs never gets easier. You can brace for it all season, tell yourself you're ready, and it still hits the same way. January football is coming, and like clockwork, Dallas isn't a part of the conversation. I stared at the playoff picture longer than I should have, wondering where things went wrong for the Cowboys, but there were too many things to list. Instead, it's just another season ending earlier than it should."
"The Philadelphia Eagles are the only team from the division still standing. No one else, just the Eagles, are still playing meaningful games while the rest of the division is already talking about next year. That alone changes how I watch the playoffs. Let's clear this up quickly. I don't care about matchups, storylines, or who they're playing. We cannot pull for the Eagles. So my rooting interest becomes simple. Whoever lines up against the Eagles, that's who I'm pulling for."
The Dallas Cowboys ended the season with an earlier-than-expected elimination from playoff contention. Despite bracing all season, the elimination still felt painful. The Philadelphia Eagles remain the only NFC East team still playing meaningful January football. The Eagles' continued success intensifies the sting of Dallas missing the postseason. There is no willingness to root for Philadelphia. The rooting preference becomes whoever faces the Eagles. Once Dallas is eliminated, focus shifts away from the NFC and toward the AFC. An AFC Lombardi Trophy would lessen the pain. The Buffalo Bills earn respect for persistence, and the Houston Texans appear interesting for different reasons.
Read at Inside The Star
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