Super Bowl LIX is gearing up to be a huge game. But Dallas Cowboys fans will probably be upset at the obvious: The division rival Philadelphia Eagles will be playing on their third Super Bowl since the 2017 NFL season, while America’s Team has yet to make even an NFC Conference Championship Game since 1996.
“They not like us, they not like us,” is a chant Eagles fans could very well adopt from Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show when discussing the Cowboys.
What is Dallas missing? The answer is: a lot. But it would be easy to say they don’t have Patrick Mahomes or Saquon Barkley. The same goes for Andy Reid, who has been nothing short of magical in the postseason. Instead, I’ve pinpointed three Super Bowl traits the Chiefs and Eagles have that the Cowboys don’t but they need if they’re going to overcome their 29-year-long Super Bowl drought.
Aggressive front office
The Eagles’ recent Super Bowl teams have been very different from each other. In 2017, they went on a run with Carson Wentz and in the postseason, Nick Foles. In 2022, Jalen Hurts was already the quarterback but now it’s a revamped defense and Saquon Barkley runs the show.
The reason why the Eagles have made it with three very different versions of the team? GM Howie Roseman. He’s managed to stay aggressive despite handing out big contract extensions, constantly pulling off trades on draft day or whenever a proven player goes on the market. Heck, they might make a push for Myles Garrett this offseason.
The Cowboys’ contrast is stark. Jerry Jones is the “GM” but those really making the decisions have been ultra conservative for years now. Getting to the Super Bowl requires active attempts to make the team better, not just a “draft and develop” mindset that is not complemented by anything else.
Mean run game
I believe that even though having an efficient passing game beats having an efficient rushing attack, having the ability to play bully ball in the postseason is a difference maker. That’s how the Eagles and San Francisco 49ers have gotten to the big stage in recent years.
The Cowboys haven’t been consistent running the football since Ezekiel Elliott’s prime. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s primary goal seems to be getting that fixed, as he’s spoken about establishing the run and has hired Klayton Adams to spice up the scheme with concepts we haven’t seen used much in Dallas.
Timely play-calling
We’ve talked about the Eagles so far but let’s discuss the Chiefs’ superpower. It was evident in the final moments of the AFC Championship Game a couple of weeks ago and has been clear in previous big postseason matchups: Timely play-calling.
In the final moments versus the Buffalo Bills, Andy Reid had the perfect play call on third down to clear the way for RB Samaje Perine, who iced the game with the easiest yards after the catch of his career. Everyone else ran routes to free Perine up, and it was a gimme for Mahomes.
Moments earlier, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo won the chess match against the Bills’ Josh Allen with a perfect blitz call on fourth and five. One play before, Spagnuolo showed blitz and forced Allen to change the play on third and ten. At the beginning of the game, Reid also called the perfect “first 15” plays to open the game with the touchdown. It’s what the Chiefs do. Timely play-calling.
When the stakes are the highest, you can count on the Chiefs being right. The Cowboys might not be able to get Mahomes at quarterback. But their play calling in big games has to be better.
