Cowboys emerge from Week 11 among Super Bowl favorites
Dallas Cowboys are now considered a Super Bowl favorite according to Nate Silver and FiveThirtyEight after dominating the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11
One week ago, after an overtime loss to Aaron Rodgers and the flailing Green Bay Packers, it looked like any wind in Dallas’ sails had fully dissipated. Dak Prescott had returned for injury, but the team didn’t appear to be firing on all cylinders.
Fast forward a week. The Cowboys defeated the Minnesota Vikings 40-3, in one of the franchise’s most impressive wins over the last several years.
In the span of a week, the narrative has completely changed. No longer is this team fated for a potential rebuild, rejected by other NFL powers. Instead, commentators have swarmed, considering that Dallas are now a bona fide Super Bowl contender.
Nate Silver and 538 rank the Cowboys second most likely to win the Super Bowl
Nate Silver’s data-driven website, 538, known for its political polling analysis also offers a variety of sports-based predictions. The new NFL model released by the site offered a surprising update.
After being left for dead last week, Dallas are now considered to have the second best overall odds to win the Super Bowl, at 16 percent, behind only the Kansas City Chiefs who have a 23 percent chance of winning.
Oddly enough, the Philadelphia Eagles are still the favorite to win the division, but the Cowboys have jumped their NFC East rivals. Based on their most recent performance, many analysts think they’re looking like a more complete team than the Eagles who’ve struggled against mediocre teams.
Now it’s perhaps too early to easily chart the Cowboys’ path to the Super Bowl, as they’ve turned in some inconsistent games so far this season. This most recent contender narrative is evidence of the variance in their performance so far this season.
The Dallas Cowboys have some easier games on the horizon but they finish the season against the Eagles and the Titans. If at that point, the Cowboys are still looking strong, then it might be time to start talking Super Bowl.
