NFL 2016 Bigger Surprise: Dallas Cowboys or Minnesota Vikings?

The Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings have caught the NFL by storm in 2016, which team’s run has been more surprising?

The Dallas Cowboys had a rough 2015 NFL season. Quarterback Tony Romo missed most of the year with a variety of injuries, Pro Bowl wide receiver Dez Bryant played in only nine games due to a foot injury, and the team never found a running game anywhere close to the one they fielded in their 2014 playoff run. When Romo broke his back during a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks in mid-August, panic set in for Cowboys Nation. Another doom and gloom season appeared imminent.

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Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings surprised a lot of people last season by winning the NFC North and nearly defeating the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the playoffs. Despite the early exit, the Vikings had high hopes for the 2016 season. That, however, would soon change.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who had been improving his play every year, gruesomely tore up his knee during a training camp practice and was quickly ruled out for the year. The Vikings started Shaun Hill at quarterback Week 1. Needless to say, the Vikings faithful weren’t feeling too great. But then things got worse, as All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson tore his meniscus in Week 2 and was placed on injured reserve. The Vikings playoff hopes quickly started to diminish.

Yet, with all of the misfortunes both teams have experienced already this year, the Cowboys are Vikings are in the thick of the playoff picture, and some are calling them the two best teams in the NFC. If you told any Vikings or Cowboys fan this a few months ago, I don’t think anyone would have believed you.

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Both teams have been greatly impacted by the play of young up-and-comers. Nobody embodies this more than Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, a fourth-round pick whose strong play has many believing Tony Romo has taken his last snap with the team. Prescott has been a revelation for two reasons. For one, he’s a rookie quarterback who is not turning the ball over. Two, he has not let the pressure faze him one bit. His play late in Week 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles is a great example of this.

Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott has also been a revelation. Many people expected him to be a productive player, but I’m not too sure many thought he would be this good this early. Running behind the Cowboys offensive line can make any running back look good, but Elliott has been flat-out unstoppable as he leads the NFL in rushing.

The Vikings have also gotten some very impressive play from young players. Cornerback Xavier Rhodes, linebacker Eric Kendricks, and defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (when healthy) have been big reasons why the Vikings have a top-five defense in nearly every statistical category. Yes, acquiring quarterback Sam Bradford has stabilized the offense in the wake of the Bridgewater injury, but the defense is the main reason Minnesota has gotten off to a great start.

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Both teams have surprised for numerous reasons, but it’s hard to say that any team has surprised fans more than the Cowboys. The Vikings have been impressive with what they have been able to accomplish without Bridgewater and Peterson, but they did win their division last year and have a ton of talent on defense. The Cowboys (4-12 in 2015), on the other hand, didn’t even have this high of expectations with Tony Romo under center, let alone with a fourth-round rookie leading the offense.

“America’s Team” has been one of the best stories so far in the NFL season, and with their recent play, it doesn’t appear that is going to change anytime soon.

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