Vikings & Cowboys – Contenders Or Pretenders In The NFC?

Regardless of what anyone says, we see a fairly steep drop off from the Packers to the rest of the National Football Conference. The Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys were both talked about as Super Bowl XLV contenders, never mind NFC Title contenders, during the NFL preseason.

Two weeks into the NFL 2010 season they are both 0-2 out of the gates and have looked horrible in the loses. Both teams are desperate for a quick fix as their seasons could easily slip away over the next five weeks.

Minnesota Vikings And Dallas Cowboys – Contenders Or Pretenders?

On paper, with the talent they have, they should both be able to right the ship in the coming weeks. Paper and production are two different things though. Of the two, we see a fix coming for the Vikings sooner than the Cowboys but neither will come easy. This is largely due to the fact that Minnesota is playing decent defense as they rank 10th or better in the top four categories. The Cowboys meanwhile have been very mediocre on defense as they rank 19th in points allowed and 18th in pass yards allowed.

They both have serious issues on their offensive line; which have been downright offensive through the first two games. This is more of an issue for the Vikings with grey beard QB Brett Favre under center than it is for the Cowboys with the mobile Tony Romo at the helm. That being said, Romo can’t keep taking the hits he has been taking through the first two games and hope to survive. At this point, it is difficult to gage which team will get right on the O-Line first.

The Vikings should be able to right their listing ship somewhat when they welcome the Lions in Week Three. Detroit is playing exciting football and aren’t going to roll over, but we see the Vikings letting out some pent up frustration on the Motown Kitties this weekend.

The Cowboys struggles will continue as they head south to Houston and face the explosive Texans. The Dallas secondary is up against it this weekend but could get a bit of a break with the Texans Andre Johnson being less than 100% with a groin injury. AJ will play and he is a beast but the Cowboys will take any advantage they can get at this point.

Cowboys & Vikings – Week Three Through Week Seven NFL Schedule

With every game being of the utmost importance, both the Vikings and the Cowboys will have to win three of their next four games if they stand any chance of getting back in the NFC Title race.

Dallas has a brutal stretch of games through the next five weeks. In addition to traveling to Houston this weekend, they get a bye in Week Four, welcome the Titans in Week Five, head to Minnesota in Week Six and host the Giants in Week Seven. One word; Ouch! It is entirely possible that Dallas could be 0-6 after Week Seven. We aren’t saying they will go 0-6, and the bye week will help them shuffle the deck, but they better get it right soon.

The Vikings path to recovery isn’t any easier than the one the Cowboys face except they get the lovable Lions in Week Three. They also have a bye in Week Four to lick their wounds before they welcome in Dallas and then head out on the road to face the Packers and the Patriots. Again, one word; Ouch! Like the Cowboys, the Vikings could be in serious trouble as they close out the first half of the season.

While we aren’t 100% ready to label either the Cowboys or Vikings as done yet; the fork is getting closer. Both Minnesota and Dallas could very well anoint themselves as pretenders over the next five weeks of the 2010 NFL season.