#nfl-playoffs

#nfl-playoffs

After last week's demoralizing and damaging loss to the Panthers, the Cowboys are on the brink of collapse in 2025. While many things are still mathematically possible, and will be even if they lose again this week, Dallas is near the point where talking about playoff chances becomes futile. In this week's rooting guide, we'll lean more heavily towards better positioning in the 2026 NFL Draft, but still keep a hopeful eye on what could improve the Cowboys' postseason hopes.

Daniels has missed the last two games after suffering a knee sprain in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers. The Commanders weren't quite satisfied with his mobility despite the signal-caller's limited return to practice, and he stayed at home while his teammates went to Atlanta. Considering how competitive Daniels is, this was probably an interesting conversation. Marcus Mariota is a capable understudy, but he lacks the creativity and dynamism that his teammate brings to the position under center.

That was expected to worsen once Bill Belichick was let go, only for Jerod Mayo to lead the team to the same record the legendary coach had totaled the year before. That inevitably led Robert Kraft to Mike Vrabel, and despite everything working against the Patriots and how far they appear to be from being a complete competitive team, the optimism surrounding their 2025 season is the highest it has been in over five years.

Mike Vrabel conducted a masterful off-season, adding better players everywhere. He beefed up a low-ranking defense by adding playmakers at every level from the D-line and edge, to the linebacking corps and defensive backfield.