Waking up on Super Bowl Sunday used to be mean excitement and glee for any football fan. Unfortunately, Cowboys fans are waking up to a ongoing nightmare as the Philadelphia Eagles are taking on the New England Patriots. There is nothing super about this Sunday. So how do we break the curse? How do we escape the nightmare? What will it take for the Dallas Cowboys to be in the big game nest year?   Here’s what needs to happen to bring the light back for Cowboys fans.

 

Tear up the playbook:

For about 10 years, the team has run virtually the same offense under Jason Garrett. Sure, former quarterback Tony Romo and current offensive coordinator Scott Linehan threw in some wrinkles, the base offense really hasn’t changed. It is a simple offense that is built to out execute your opponent. Now the offense is so predictable that defenses are calling out the plays at the line of scrimmage. It is time for Garrett to look in the mirror and say it’s time to make changes and get with the program. Tear up the playbook and institute new creative schemes that will give your team the upper-hand on game days.

 

Add to the defense:

One surprise for the team last season was how quickly the defense grew up. The pass rush ramped up, led by Demarcus Lawrence and David Irving. The secondary, though shaky at first, started to gain confidence and make plays towards the end of the year.

Yet, there is still room for improvement all across the board. The Eagles got to the Super Bowl with their depth, something the Cowboys don’t have. By adding key linebackers and pass rushers to your roster, you ensure that injuries won’t derail your season. Remember, Jaylon Smith still looks like he will need another off-season to get back on track and Sean Lee can’t be trusted to survive another full season. With the defense being so young, this is the perfect time to mix in veterans at key positions to help it get to the next level.

 

Stay Healthy and out of trouble:

Let’s be honest, this team would have been in the playoffs if Ezekiel Elliott wasn’t suspended. They also lost key players to injuries down the stretch which didn’t help either.  In fact, during Zeke’s suspension, Sean Lee and Tyron Smith both went out for multiple games.  Yet, the Cowboys went 3-3 during that time and still missed the playoffs by one game. Sometimes you just have one of those seasons that goes to hell and you can’t recover from.

 

So it is very likely the Cowboys could be playing in a Super Bowl next year. If they fix their offensive play-calling, add depth to their team and stay healthy, they are still one of the best teams in the NFC. So be patient and maybe the idea of the Cowboys coming back next season will get you through this miserable Super Bowl Sunday.