Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys Could Do Something No NFL Team Has Ever Done

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 9, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) celebrates with quarterback Dak Prescott (4) after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys are the best team in the NFL right now. Their 9-1 record proves that much and fans are already thinking about the playoffs.

There is no harm in that. Barring a monumental collapse, this team should win the NFC East and host at least one playoff games. They’ve met every challenge that has come their way thus far. In fact their only loss of the season was by one point. Everything is clicking for them. How is that possible? Well have a great offensive line certainly helps, but everyone knows it’s been the highly unexpected great play of rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.

“Prescott and Elliott remain at the top of the offensive rookie of the year race, and both are still competing for the NFL MVP, too. Their next three games will all be played at 4:25 p.m. ET or later, ensuring all eyes will be on the Cowboys as we inch closer to football in January.”

People don’t understand how rare of a situation this is. A team is almost perfect going into late November with an all-rookie backfield. That’s unheard of in the NFL. It also sets up what could become the most incredible accomplishment maybe in league history. The Dallas Cowboys just might become the first team to reach a Super Bowl with an all-rookie backfield. Heck just getting there with a rookie quarterback would be an achievement.

In the Super Bowl era no team in the league has reached the final game of the year with a rookie under center. To date only four players have gotten close. Shaun King reached the NFC championship in 1999 with Tampa Bay. He lost to the Cinderella St. Louis Rams. Ben Roethlisberger reached the AFC championship game in 2004. He lost to New England. Joe Flacco made it in 2008. Ironically he lost to Roethlisberger and the Steelers. Then there was Mark Sanchez getting there in 2009 with the Jets. They fell to the Indianapolis Colts. It’s an exceedingly rare accomplishment to even get close.

Dak Prescott has a chance to break that streak of near-misses. Elliott and that offensive line may be the trump card that pushed him over the top.