Fansided
Fansided

Three NFL playoff teams destined to take a step back in 2019

By Joel Deering

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 23: Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans sits on the field after turning the ball over on a fumble during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Eagles won 32-30. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 23: Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans sits on the field after turning the ball over on a fumble during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Eagles won 32-30. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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NFL playoff teams destined to fail in 2019
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys passes in the fourth quarter against Ndamukong Suh #93 of the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Dallas Cowboys

Last season the Dallas Cowboys went 10-6, won the NFC East and won a playoff game. It was the second time in three seasons they had won their division and made the playoffs. Heading into 2019, things should only get better for this team.

Dak Prescott is entering his fourth NFL season. Most NFL QBs don’t hit their prime until at least their fourth season, so the best should be yet to come for Prescott. Ezekiel Elliott will always be a threat on the ground for this team as the engine that drives the offense. Amari Cooper was fantastic for this offense last season after being traded, and a full offseason with Prescott should only make things better.

Their offense also has TE Jason Witten back, along with second year WR Michael Gallup, who took great strides as the season went on. Cole Beasley departed, but they replaced him with Randall Cobb. The offensive line should only get better, as C Travis Frederick is coming back from a rare disease. Let’s not forget about a relatively young defense who was one of the best in the NFL last season.

Wait. All those things sound like reasons the Dallas Cowboys should be one of the 2019 NFL playoff teams, not a reason why they’ll be watching from the couch come playoff time.

Although things are looking up for the Cowboys heading into the season, there are other reasons why I believe they won’t be in the 2019 postseason.

1. Jason Garrett

Since Jason Garrett became the full time head coach back in 2011, the Cowboys haven’t made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. That actually goes further back than Garrett, as the last time the Cowboys made the postseason two seasons in a row was in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

2. 0-1 vs 1-0

The last three times the Cowboys have started their season 0-1, they’ve ended up making the playoffs that season. However, the last four times the Cowboys have started 1-0, they’ve missed the playoffs that season.

This season, the Cowboys play the New York Giants at home in their first game of the season. I’m pretty sure they’re going to win that game. If their recent history means anything, if they beat the Giants in that game, they’ll be missing the playoffs in 2019.

3. NFC East Winners

No team in the NFC East has won the division two or more years in a row since the Eagles did it four straight times from 2001 to 2004. Ever since then, a different team has won the NFC East every season. Dallas won the NFC East last season, so chances are they won’t be winning it in 2019. If they’re going to make the playoffs, it’ll be as a Wild Card team.

Overall, I think the Dallas Cowboys have made great moves this offseason. They’ve set themselves up nicely to make the playoffs again, but I can’t help but feel that something will go terribly wrong. If I had to guess, it’s going to have something to do with contract talks with a key player, but with this team you just never know.

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