Cowboys and Buccaneers On Pace To Meet In NFC Championship Game Following Big Wins Sunday

“We’ll see y’all again”

A message delivered by a bold Dak Prescott to Tom Brady after an amazing comeback performance in the NFL’s season opener doesn’t seem unlikely five weeks later.

The Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hit the 2021 season running. Both teams are currently 4-1, sitting atop of their respective divisions, and are coming off blowout performances. Each team has recently exercised some past demons against familiar opponents and as of right now, in the NFC, looks like they are on a crash course to have an epic rematch in the playoffs, most likely the NFC Championship game.

They are the number one and two teams in total offense (Cowboys #1, Bucs #2) and have been putting pressure on opposing defenses to score at the same clip. The Cowboys have been doing it with the run game as they got their offensive linemen back healthy and dominating while the Bucs have been spreading the ball all over the field in the passing game behind the G.O.A.T.

Over the past two weeks, the Boys have vaulted in the top three in running the ball as opposed to a middle of the pack, poor running team often playing from behind last year. Ezekiel Elliot has yet to fumble and is having a comeback year of his own like his quarterback who has shown little to no rust. Tampa is coming off a game where Brady had just played one of the best games in his career statically, passing for over 400 yards with five touchdowns after an emotional week against his former team last week. But if they need to, these teams can switch their identity from what we’ve been seeing to something else, a skill not many teams can do.

We knew the Cowboys' offense would be legit, especially with a healthy Dak who was breaking records before he was injured last season. What has been an amazing turnaround for them has been the defense led by former L.O.B. coach Dan Quinn. Quinn has the Boys playing significantly better, flying towards the ball and more importantly being in the right position, which was an issue they had all last year up until the removal of former defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. The person who has benefitted the most has been standout second-year cornerback Trevon Diggs who is leading the league with six interceptions in just five games and is an early candidate for DPOY.

On the other side, Tampa may be injured in their secondary but they still have playmakers on the defensive side especially after adding Richard Sherman from free agency. Their run defense is stifling and no team dares try to run on them which will be key down the road in the playoffs.

It’s hard to pick teams that are more complete than the Boys and Bucs in the NFC. When comparing offensive weapons it’s not even close. And when you look at the remaining schedule for these teams, you can see both remaining top teams until it's time for the playoffs where everyone knows momentum can carry you.

Now Arizona and Green Bay are still in the picture but from Week 1 to the present day, haven't looked as sharp as the Boys and the Bucs. There’s still a lot of fo football to be played, but for right now I have Dallas and Tampa Bay locked in the championship game.