NFL: Not For Long Part 2

Dak Has Struggled Recently

Photo: Special to the NY Beacon

 

NFC East: The Dallas Cowboys (10-4) lost their first game to start the 2021 season to the reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers then proceeded to win their next 6 games in a row amping up conversations of them getting to the big game in Los Angeles. Dallas lost 3 of their next 4 games before righting the ship as they took out New Orleans, Washington and the Giants. Dak Prescott, coming of the gruesome ankle injury last year has struggled. Injuries to running back Ezikiel Elliot and the wide receiving core hasn’t helped. Dallas will win the division but how deep they go in the playoffs will remain to be seen. The Washington Football (6-7) and the Philadelphia Eagles (6-7) have an outside shot at a wild card spot. The last place New York Giants are done as it was announced quarterback Daniel Jones is out for the rest of the year with a neck injury. General Manager Dave Gettleman will be looking for another job after the last game. 

 

NFC North: The Green Bay Packers (11-3) dealt with the Aaron Rodgers soap opera all off season before he decided to attend training camp. After getting trounced by the New Orleans Saints (38-3) it looked like Rodgers made a mistake coming back. Since that game, the team won their next 7, with Rodgers elevating his play and talk of another MVP is growing. The Minnesota Vikings (7-7) have won their last two games keeping them in the wild card hunt.

 

 

NFC South: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4) lost more than a game when they were shut out by New Orleans (9-0) this past week. First running back Leonard Fournette and wide receiver Mike Evans go down with hamstring injuries and both will miss games. Making matters worse Tom Brady’s number one receiver Chris Godwin tore an ACL and is done for the season. The Bucs will win their division and are hoping to have the top seed in the conference. It will be tough but you can never count Brady out. It was disturbing watching how the Saints (7-7) defense manhandled the Bucs offensive line. Head coach Bruce Arians needs to find a way to protect Brady or it could be an early playoff exit. Know teams facing Tampa Bay will use the New Orleans game as blue print.

 

 

NFC West: This is the most intriguing conference of them all. The Arizona Cardinals (10-4) sit on top with the Los Angeles Rams right behind them at 9-4. Cards quarterback Kyler Murray is nursing a sore ankle but is expected to play Sunday when they host the Colts. They are hoping to break their 2-game losing streak. The surging San Fransisco 49ers (8-6) have won 5 of their last 6 games after taking out the Atlanta Falcons this past Sunday 31-13. The Seattle Seahawks have been one of (5-8) the most disappointing teams this year. After losing 3 in a row, they have won the last 2 games but will not make the playoffs. The future of quarterback Russell Wilson is up in the air as the relationship with head coach Pete Carroll has been questioned all year. Russell gave the organization a list of teams he would accept a trade to prior to the start off the season.

 

There are 4 weeks left in the regular season. Teams are looking to solidify their playoff position in hopes of getting home field advantage. The way this year is going, that may not be good enough to get to SoFi Stadium in February. That’s why the NFL stands for: NOT FOR LONG!