Opinion: Cowboys played like world champs

Jerry Jones said it Sunday night after Sunday's 40-3 deconstruction of what used to be the Minnesota Vikings. And I am inclined to believe every word of it.

"I think we've had adversity. We very easily could have some more adversity,'' the Cowboys owner said. "But I sure do think what I see out here right now is a team like you could go get a Super Bowl with.''

If you're of a belief that's nothing more than Salesman Jerry talking, I would advise that he rarely throws out Super Bowl talk in November. He has learned his lesson the hard way with good teams over the last quarter of a century that fell far short of that goal.

Talk is cheap.

But there's nothing for Cowboys fans not to love about what transpired in Minneapolis as far as what it means to Dallas the rest of the season. If head coach Mike McCarthy could bottle that performance and uncork it every Sunday (or Thursday) the rest of the way, then the Cowboys would host a Super Bowl party in the Arizona desert for the first time in 27 years.

We know it doesn't work that way. Late Sunday night it was easy for all of us to sit back and say, "Well, the Super Bowl is obviously Kansas City and Dallas, let the old rivalry commence." Of course, that was after nearly two months of saying, "Well, the Super Bowl is obviously Philadelphia and Buffalo.'' It's possible in three weeks we'll be muttering about the obviousness of an all-Florida Dolphins vs. Bucs Super Bowl.

These things are extremely fluid as Packers 31, Cowboys 28 should remind us.

Without a doubt the Cowboys played like world champs Sunday. Micah Parsons and Tony Pollard wouldn't have it any other way. We were all wondering (perhaps even questioning?) when Dak Prescott would have one of his trademark all-pro performances. I think 88 percent completions and 11 yards per attempt against a team that had an 8-1 record entering the game qualifies.

While Prescott was living the high life, Kirk Cousins generated 56 yards on 30 pass plays (including sacks). Given what we have seen from Justin Jefferson this season, the idea that Trevon Diggs would follow him and shut him down seemed like a reach. But not with Dallas' pass rush. On 11 third-down plays, the Vikings lost four yards. The Cowboys' 42 sacks after 10 games lead the league by a significant margin.

But if Dallas is to make this translate into that thing that has eluded this franchise for so long, it still has one major chore on its list. Catch Philadelphia.

For all their hard work and wonderful play Sunday in a game that feels like it should have counted for three victories, the Cowboys remain two games behind the Eagles in the NFC East with the clock ticking. The good news for Dallas is invulnerable unbeaten Philadelphia is no more. Vulnerable Philadelphia has taken the field the last two games, losing to Washington at home and trailing Indy by 10 in the fourth quarter Sunday before rescuing a one-point victory.

So it's really a two-game lead with a full disclaimer. The Eagles already have lost within the division. Any loss to any team from either conference would pass Dallas in position to wrestle the tiebreaker away from the Eagles with a win on Dec. 24.

These Cowboys - possibly much more than past teams - seem capable of keeping their heads down and grinding out wins in the next month to keep the heat on. Dallas hosts the Giants Thursday, and their 7-3 record feels a lot like the Vikings' fabricated record that the Cowboys destroyed Sunday. I actually think the Colts, somehow revitalized after dipping into the ESPN studios for a head coaching change, will be a tougher battle on Dec. 4. Regardless, it's three home games against Giants, Colts and Texans and the Cowboys have no business not beating them all by double digits while waiting for the next shoe to fall in Philly.

The Eagles host Green Bay Sunday. I wouldn't count on another Packers uprising. The Dallas game was not a harbinger. But then Tennessee visits Philly, and that game along with a road trip to New York provide real chances for the Eagles to suffer that second loss.

Why is this is so important? Aren't the Cowboys playoff-bound regardless?

You simply can't compare the chance to reach a Super Bowl by playing two home games (I'm anticipating another Vikings' defeat or two, I don't think that troubles anyone) or having to play three road games in January. Right now the Cowboys could set a franchise record for wins by going 14-3 and still open the playoffs at Tampa Bay or San Francisco. It doesn't seem fair, but either the Eagles or the Cowboys will be asked to travel the long road to get to Glendale, Ariz. on Feb. 12.

Even with the Cowboys turning in the best road performance of the NFL season Sunday, the right to host playoff games is out there and a thing worth seeking.