On paper, the Cowboys have all the trappings of a Super Bowl contender.
Quarterback Dak Prescott has been superb in 2023, throwing a league-leading 26 touchdowns against six interceptions. Dallas's defense is currently fourth in points allowed and third in yards allowed, its best ranks in those categories since 2009 and 2003, respectively.
However, the consensus among NFL observers is that the Cowboys still lag slightly behind the NFC’s two main contenders, the Eagles and the 49ers. Dallas lost to Philadelphia 28–23 on Nov. 5 and San Francisco 42–10 on Oct. 8.
On Friday morning's episode of This is Football with Kevin Clark of ESPN, Hall of Fame former Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith offered a theory as to why that might remain the case.
"I think the gap is going to be between the ears of the Cowboys," Smith said. "I think Dak Prescott and our team (have) definitely come a long way, and I think those battles between Philadelphia and the 49ers, it's a mental battle."
The Cowboys are one of the hottest teams in football. I asked Emmitt Smith what the gap is was between his former team and two best teams in the NFC, the Niners and Eagles. "I think the gap is going to be between the ears of the Cowboys." Great episode of This Is Football. pic.twitter.com/lBQP6KIBZk
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) December 1, 2023
The Eagles and 49ers are scheduled to play on Sunday, three days after Dallas’s 41–35 shootout win over the Seahawks.
"I think we need to spend time when we're going against teams like Carolina and others that we should be dominating against focusing on getting those things together for when we do go up against a Philly or the 49ers again," Smith said. "That's the difference between those teams and our team. They're built inside out."
