Dallas Cowboys

Why not the Dallas Cowboys in Houston for Super Bowl 51?

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:24 p.m. ET

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Fresh off a 5-1 start, the Dallas Cowboys have Cowboys Nation believing in a trip to Houston for Super Bowl 51. It’s time to bet it all on America’s Team.

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (left) celebrates with cornerback Morris Claiborne (24) during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi

Prior to the 2014 season, I posted an article about how the Dallas Cowboys have turned the corner. Away from mediocrity. A reboot to new beginnings, to new adventures above the .500 landmark that has plagued the organization.

I wrote that this franchise was built to win championships. That’s plural. Championships.

People doubted my selection of words. Maybe even laughed at them.

Doubt those words now.

Entering the 2014 season, it was executive vice president and director of player personnel, Stephen Jones, who orchestrated a juggernaut offensive line. With the help of assistant director of player personnel Will McClay, the Cowboys have a scary offensive line for many years to come.

The Cowboys spent three premium first rounders on offensive lineman between 2011 and 2014. Dallas added La’el Collins to the mix in 2015, another first round rated talent.

2016 is turning out to be a sequel to 2014. The 2016 squad is what the 2015 group was supposed to become. Instead, the Boys finished out the season with a 4-12 mark.

But isn’t it funny: To become the Cowboys they are today they’d have to endure many storms in 2015, which eventually led the organization to grab a pair of rookies that would change the team’s DNA forever. 2015 wasn’t the be-all and end-all for the Cowboys’ 2014 existence — it turned out to be the bridge to the year 2016.

Ezekiel Elliott is loading up in the backfield, and threatening to eclipse the 2,000 yards rushing mark for the year. He is what DeMarco Murray was in 2014, only in this movie version the current running back has a longer and wider career in front of him. He turned 21 last July. His ceiling at this point is unidentifiable.

Aug 19, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and quarterback Tony Romo (9) talk during the pregame warmups against the Miami Dolphins at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Then there’s the quarterback spot. It took a few weird (almost improbable) steps to land Dak Prescott, but here he is heading into Week 8 with a football in his right hand and the NFL world in the other.

The weird steps that sprung Prescott to where he is today? I’m talking about passing over Johnny Manziel in 2013, which turned out to be Zack Martin, a possible Hall of Fame talent at this stage.

In 2015, quarterbacks Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel were dead on arrival. Dallas went for Paxton Lynch in the 2016 first round NFL Draft, but the price was too high, despite the very hungry stomachs in the front office.

The Cowboys didn’t get a chance to grab Nick Foles in this offseason, who chose the Kansas City Chiefs and his former coach, Andy Read, instead.

The Dallas Cowboys settled for Dak Prescott, a fourth rounder out of Mississippi State. Analysts were wary of his abilities.

They said he was hit a lot. That he took a pounding during his college football days. They said his accuracy dropped on his medium and long throws. They said he lacked poised in the pocket after he felt pressure.

His footwork was a mess. A big mess. Everyone thought he needed more time to fine tune his flaws. That’s basically saying one is designated for the bench.

The Cowboys settled for Prescott. They settled for a 5-1 start without starters Dez Bryant or Orlando Scandrick or Tony Romo. Dallas settled for a quarterback shooting for nearly a 70 percent completion percentage in six games, with seven touchdowns to one interception. He has a 103.9 quarterback rating and a 84.1 QBR. He also has three rushing scores.

With the Minnesota Vikings (5-1) losing last week against the Eagles (4-2), and the Seattle Seahawks (4-1-1) looking very beatable these days, you got to wonder if these super Dallas Cowboys are the beast in the NFC.

Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; View of the Super Bowl countdown clock outside of NRG Stadium before a game between the Houston Cougars and the Oklahoma Sooners. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys to Houston for Super Bowl 51 on February 5th, 2017?

Sure. Why not?

If the playoffs were to start today, the Patriots, Raiders, Vikings and Cowboys would each start the tournament with a Bye Week.

The Redskins (4-3) can’t win consistently. The Giants (4-3), the only team to beat Dallas thus far, have major holes.

Last year’s NFC powerhouse, the Carolina Panthers, are currently 1-5, which places them as the 14th seed in the NFC. The Packers are 4-2. But the Cowboys pushed them around at Lambeau Field.

This leaves the Eagles and Vikings left at the top of the NFC for the Cowboys to topple.

Unfortunately for the Eagles fan base, the Cowboys are expecting a healthy dose of recruits for their Sunday night showdown on NBC.

Dez Bryant is expected to take back his leading wide receiver role. Dallas will have depth in the secondary with cornerback Orlando Scandrick returning. Morris Claiborne is practicing, despite a concussion against the Packers. Tyron Smith is getting better and should be back to normal speeds, which will improve the offensive line even more.

With 10 games left to go, we’ll know more about these 2016 Dallas Cowboys. We’ll know more about the ending, and how it differs from the 2014 movie version. Come this Sunday, we’ll know more if this team is the best in the NFC East.

Until then, I can’t help but wonder about this question…

What’s stopping these Cowboys from a Super Bowl run to Houston?

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