NFL Trends: How about them Cowboys...?

Neil Monnery
24 November 2015

Tony Romo is healthy and the Dallas Cowboys are back in it

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Tony Romo is back and Neil Monnery is liking the Cowboys to make a run at the NFC East. He is less favourable about the Eagles' new QB, however...

"I've said all season long that Dallas are the best team in that division and I'm still convinced by that, not only that, I'd go as far to say they are the best offense and the best defense."

Trending Up

Green Bay Packers

Doing this column makes me look either knee-jerk and/or foolish* but last week I hit the panic button on the Green Bay Packers. A week later and the team from Titletown look to have solved all of their problems. They stuffed Adrian Peterson, Aaron Rodgers was given time to make some good throws down the field and Eddie Lacy enjoyed a 100 yard game at runningback. The receivers still dropped some easy balls but suddenly they've beaten their main challengers for the NFC North away from home and once more are in the hunt for a top two seed, which comes with that bye week in the play-offs.

*delete as applicable

Next up: home v Chicago on Thanksgiving

Dallas Cowboys

How about them Cowboys? The NFC East stinks as we all know, but the best team are the Cowboys as long as they have their QB healthy. Tony Romo wasn't great on Sunday but you'd expect some rustiness. He led his team to the win and at only two games off of top spot in that stinky division, they are miraculously still in the hunt. I've said all season long that Dallas are the best team in that division and I'm still convinced by that, not only that, I'd go as far to say they are the best offense and the best defense. They play the undefeated Panthers on Thanksgiving and are favoured to win in Vegas, the Betfair Exchange though has Carolina as favourites, I loves me some Cowboys at home.

Next up: home v Carolina on Thanksgiving

Indianapolis Colts

Simple one, this. The Colts with Matt Hesselbeck under center are 3-0. The Colts with Andrew Luck are 2-5. I think this is a similar situation to what is going on in Denver, they might be better to let their #1 QB get completely healthy. I don't think Luck has been 100% all season long and the Colts can still survive with their veteran backup QB. The AFC South stinks and Indy, Houston and Jacksonville are all hilariously still in it.

Next up: home v Tampa Bay

Trending Down

New York Jets

They looked set to be a player in the AFC wildcard stakes but one win in five games has put paid to that. That vaunted defense has given up 20+ points in every one of those five matches. When TJ Yates is going deep and beating Revis Island then you have a problem. I do like them to win on Sunday (but that is mainly so I can continue to laugh at all those who thought Dan Campbell was the answer in Miami) but other teams are bubbling up to take those wildcard spots, Kansas City in particular are now very much in the picture.

Next up: home v Miami

Baltimore Ravens

Look, they have had a terrible season, but losing starting RB Justin Forsett to a broken arm and starting QB to both an ACL and an MCL means that it'll be hard to back them in any game for the rest of the season. They are playing Cleveland next week and they are not favoured, that says everything! Trending down down, deeper and down.

Next up: @ Cleveland

Oakland Raiders

I was really liking what Oakland were doing. Defeat to Minnesota was a bit of a gut punch to their ambitions but a bad loss in Detroit was a lot worse. With the fast flying Chiefs now muscling in on the wildcard hunt in the AFC, suddenly Oakland look less and less likely to make the post-season. I still like them long-term and I wouldn't be surprised if they win in Tennessee on Sunday but my confidence levels are sinking rapidly.

Next up: @ Tennessee

Philadelphia Eagles

I usually only do three teams in both sections but I really wanted to write a detailed report on why the Eagles are trending down. I needed two words, Mark Sanchez. Need I say any more? I didn't think so...

Next up: @ Detroit on Thanksgiving

Recommended Bet
3pt back Dallas to beat Carolina at 2.0811/10 on the Exchange