The Dallas Cowboys suffered through a rough 2015 NFL season to say the very least. They were pelted by injury problems and never seemed to be able to get themselves on track. Looking ahead to 2016, they are hoping to get back into playoff contention and potentially compete to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 51.
Tony Romo and Dez Bryant both missed the majority of the season last year, with Romo going down twice to broken collarbones. They will be looking to come back strong this season and prove that the Cowboys should still be a feared team.
Jerry Jones wanted to bring in a workhorse running back, and the Cowboys were able to do that by drafting Ezekiel Elliott with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has the potential to become one of the best running backs in the league, and many thought he was the best player in the entire draft class.
Outside of the offense, there are a lot of concerns surrounding the defense once again. They have not shown much growth over the last couple of seasons on the defensive end of the field, but they are hopeful that will change this season.
All of that being said, what five reasons can support the statement that the Cowboys can win Super Bowl 51?
Tony Romo and Dez Bryant Are That Good
Last year showed just how important both Tony Romo and Dez Bryant are to the Cowboys. Not having them on the field completely shut down the offense. Having them back on the field will make Dallas a serious team to keep an eye on in the NFC this season.
Ezekiel Elliott Will Be a Rookie Superstar
Todd Gurley ended up being the rookie who stole the show last season, and many view him as a top running back in the league already. Ezekiel Elliott will be the rookie star who steps up this season. Dallas has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and Elliott is going to put up big numbers every week behind that offensive line.
Dallas Was a Serious Contender Two Years Ago Before Injuries
Just two years ago, the Cowboys nearly knocked the Green Bay Packers off in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. They ran into injuries last season, but they still have a good number of players who were on that team. That reason alone should give Cowboys’ fans reason to believe their team can make a deep run in the postseason.
Jason Garrett Is One of the NFL’s Best Coaches
Despite all of the fans who have wanted Jason Garrett fired, he is still one of the best coaches in the NFL. He has built the Cowboys up from nothing and has the complete trust of his players. That is all you can ask from a coach, and he will have his team well prepared every week once again.
The NFC East Is Fairly Weak
Getting to the postseason is the first thing each team has to focus on, and the strength of the division that the team is in is a big deal. Looking at the NFC East, the division looks fairly weak. Washington has quite a bit of talent, while both Philadelphia and the New York Giants have major issues, which gives the Cowboys a fairly easy road to the playoffs.
Expect to see the Cowboys come through with a solid regular season and to work their way into the playoffs. They have a lethal offense, and if their defense can step up, there is no question that they can make a run in the playoffs.
Do you think the Dallas Cowboys are legitimate Super Bowl contenders? Will they win the NFC East division? Let us know in the comment box below!
[Photo by Brandon Wade/AP Images]