Thoughts From Burress
Former NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who experienced the thrill of winning a Super Bowl with the New York Giants, shares his heartfelt perspective on the Dallas Cowboys' quest for championship glory, pointing to Dak Prescott as a potential obstacle. According to Burress, Prescott has reached his peak as the Cowboys' quarterback, suggesting that their dreams of a championship may remain elusive under his leadership.
Burress himself gained recognition during his time with the Giants from 2005 to 2008, after starting his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He later had stints with the New York Jets and returned to the Steelers. Drawing from his own journey and the joy of past triumphs, Burress believes that the Cowboys may struggle to replicate the exhilarating success he experienced with the Giants in the unforgettable 2008 season, as long as Prescott continues to lead the team.
The Playoff Curse
The Cowboys have faced their fair share of challenges in the postseason, grappling with a longstanding playoff curse. Only recently did they manage to secure their first road playoff victory since 1992. Despite reaching the divisional round on three occasions under Prescott's guidance, they have faltered, enduring heartbreak against the Green Bay Packers in 2016, the Los Angeles Rams in 2018, and the San Francisco 49ers in the most recent season.
However, the Cowboys have remained resolute in their support for Prescott, firmly believing that he represents their best chance at ultimately achieving Super Bowl glory. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, with a mix of conviction and yearning, has expressed unwavering confidence in Prescott, lauding his leadership skills, work ethic, and overall qualities as a quarterback, even as he acknowledges the need for improvement in crucial playoff moments.
Injuries Won't Stop Him
Prescott's journey has been shaped by both injuries and fluctuating performances. In 2022, a thumb injury sidelined him for a portion of the season, during which he showcased his abilities with 23 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 2,860 passing yards, and a completion rate of 66.2% over 12 games.
In the 2021 season, he played all 16 games, delivering impressive numbers with 37 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a completion percentage of 68.8. Unfortunately, his 2020 season was cut short due to a devastating broken ankle suffered in Week 5, though he had shown immense promise early on.
Giddy-Up Cowboys
During the offseason, the Cowboys made changes to their roster, signing wide receiver Brandin Cooks and parting ways with running back Ezekiel Elliott. As per Caesars Sportsbook, Dallas currently holds the sixth-best odds (+1500) of winning the Super Bowl, with +650 odds to win the conference and +165 odds to win the division.
The stage is set, and the anticipation lingers as the Cowboys embark on their journey to claim football's greatest prize.
Most Shocking Super Bowl Losses in NFL History
Everyone knows winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal for any NFL team or player. Unfortunately, however, even when they are the season's favorites, winning is not guarenteed. From being knocked out on the pitch, to the referee making bad call; many top teams have lost out on a ring for some of the craziest reasons. Here's a breakdown of the most shocking Super Bowl losses of all time.
When the Green Bay Packers Lost Out in 2021
This one was a shock for us all. The Green Bay Packers are an incredible team and in ‘21 they were having an incredible run. They even had Aaron Rodgers finishing out his final dramatic season on such a high that he won the NFL MVP for the second year running.
They also smashed records in the NFC North - but for some reason, when it came time for the playoffs, the 49ers took everyone by surprise - including Green Bay - with an amazing game. In the end, the Packers lost by three points, making the final score 13-10, and never quite lived it down.
When the Buffalo Bills (Also) Lost Out in 2021
2021 was a surprising year all around. Not only did Geen Bay lose out to the 49ers, but the hotly contested Bills also ended up losing in overtime… for the second year running. It doesn’t get much more frustrating than that, does it?
They lost out to the Kansas City Chiefs; some still believe that it was all down to a case of overconfidence. In fairness, they were the best team in the AFC East, and they beat the Patriots in a playoff that will go down in history - so you can’t blame them for being a bit cocky.
When the Kanas City Chiefs (Also) Lost Out in 2021
2021 was full of shocks - and we may have saved the best (or at least the most shocking) for last with the Kansas City Chiefs. After their triumphant defeat of the Buffalo Bills, everyone had high hopes for the new front runners, and they were proving people right.
They won against the Pittsburgh Steelers and their quarterback Mahomes was on track to being the player of the season… that was, of course, until he choked. That’s right - just at the final hurdle against the Bengals, he lost momentum and lost the Chiefs the AFC title game, which took them out of the Super Bowl running.
When the New Orleans Saints Lost Out in 2019
The New Orleans Saints sang a sad tune in 2019. Things started off promisingly for them when they got put up against the Vikings in the wild-card round and were the clear favorites. Well, with a 13-3 record against the Vikings 10-6, it was a no-brainer… or so everyone thought.
What actually happened, however, was a nail-biting game that ended in seeing Kyle Rudolph of the Vikings do a touchdown pass in overtime and scoop an unexpected victory. Some still believe the Saints were actually victims of poor officiating calls…. most of those people being Saints fans. But either way, it was a sad loss for the team.
When the Baltimore Ravens (Also) Lost Out in 2019
When the Baltimore Ravens lost in 2019, more than anything, it was disappointing for the spectators because during that time the Ravens were undoubtedly one of the most exciting teams to watch - mostly due to Lamar Jackson. He had an incredible ability to rush - beating anyone in the Jets or Jaguars.
In fact, the team as a whole accumulated over 3000 rushing guards for the first time since 1978! Apparently, rushing wasn't enough to secure a win though - as we saw when they came up against the Titans and they were knocked, or should we say ‘rushed’ … out of the competition.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers Lost Out in 2017
When Pittsburgh lost to the Patriots, it was their first loss in nine games! Going into the game, with an AFC North title, and star player Le’Veon in their lineup; they were feeling pretty confident. And when they lost, they were not only angry, but out for revenge.
And they almost had the chance to get it. All they had to do was defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars and they'd face the Patriots. Unfortunately, they were so focused on the Patriots that they completely underestimated the Jaguars. And so when the Jaguars also defeated them, they were absolutely blindsided and never did manage to get revenge.
When the Atlanta Falcons Lost Out in 2016
This has to be one of the most shocking defeats of all time, as the Atlanta Falcons were leading with a whooping 28-3 in the third quarter and yet still somehow managed to lose. It remains a mystery to many as to how this even happened but sadly when they went into overtime, they just completely lost their stride and practically gifted the 2016 trophy to the New England Patriots.
They had arguably the best offense that season and had players such as Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Devonta Freeman who were in their absolute prime. But alas, it turns out that even in overtime it can all go wrong.
When the Carolina Panthers Lost Out in 2015
The Panther's time in the Super Bowl may have been (very) brief - but it was beautiful. To start with, they had an amazing team, including Denver and future MVP Cam Newton, who had the best season of his career and led his stand-out team to a 15-1 record.
Unfortunately, however, their moment in the limelight came to a crashing end when they went up against the Broncos - and more specifically, Peyton Manning. Manning was the Bronco’s iconic quarterback who just so happened to be playing his last-ever Super Bowl. So you can hardly begrudge him the win … although I'm sure the Panthers did.
When the Seattle Seahawks (Also) Lost Out in 2015
This had to be one of the closest finals in NFL history. To set the scene, it was the Seattle Seahawks versus the Patriots. Entering into the Super Bowl, they were both on complete par with each other, holding matching 12-4 regular-season records. They also both did equally well in the run-up to the finals.
No one could call who was going to win - making it a particularly thrilling final. As we know the Patriots managed to eke out a four-point win in the end, but understandably it’s a game that has been analyzed almost more than any other by fans and critics alike.
When the Minnesota Vikings Lost Out in 2009
This loss, rightly or not, has pretty much all been pinned on the Vikings' quarterback, Bret Favre. Despite being a little older than most NFL quarterbacks, he still had a lot of wins and experience under his belt, and the Vikings bought him in the hope of completing their stand-out team, which included running back Adrian Peterson.
Unfortunately, however, that wasn't quite how it worked out as Brett actually ended up throwing a bad interception and as a result, the Vikings didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. Favre has never lived it down.
When the San Diego Chargers (Also) Lost Out in 2009
In 2009, the San Diego Chargers were another team that everyone was surprised didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. In fact, they only managed to make one AFC title game before being knocked out. So what happened? Well, some blame Philip Rovers - the controversial quarterback who stayed with the team for a whopping 16 seasons.
And in some people's opinion, a few seasons too long. But then there were other strong players in the team, including LaDainian Tomlinson who made sure that the Chargers had the top-five offense for four years running. So the verdict is still out on how they let the Jets win.
When the Indianapolis Colts (Also) Lost Out in 2009
2009 really was a year full of surprises. With the Vikings and the Chargers out of the way, the Colts had a really good chance, especially with the former Super Bowl champ Peyton Manning at the helm and an AFC South title win under their belt.
Unfortunately, however, star player Peyton came up against Drew Brees, who outplayed him so much that he scooped that year's MVP award. Tracy Porter intercepted him, and in doing so essentially won the game for New Orleans, giving them their first-ever Super Bowl title, leaving the Colts (and Peyton in particular) bitterly disappointed.
When the New England Patriots Lost Out in 2007
Now, this was a big one, as up until this point the Patriots had made it through the regular season without a single loss. So when everyone found out that they were playing against the Giants, who had a regular score of 10 - 6, it was a no-brainer.
There was no competition, right? Wrong! Because, despite being 12-point favorites, somehow the Patriots were annihilated by the Giants and in what should have been their year, failed to win a ring. Don't worry though, they still have more rings than any other team in history (well apart from the Pittsburgh Steelers whom they share the title with).
When the Philadelphia Eagles Lost Out in 2004
The real shock here, rather than the Eagles losing, was actually Donovan McNabb losing. McNabb with the Eagle's quarterback and is commonly believed to be the best one they ever had, and yet he never won a Super Bowl. There were many rumors that year about why they lost.
Some of which were fuelled by Mcnabb’s teammate and well-known rival, Terrell Owens. And so when McNabb publicly vomited during the game, Owens was the first to announce that he thought it was due to a hangover. Could a hangover really have lost a Super Bowl? Mcnabb denies it but we guess we’ll never know.
When the St Louis Rams Lost Out in 2001
When the St Louis Rams lost to the New England Patriots in 2001 - we all got to see one dynasty pass the torch to another. The Ram’s biggest asset at that time was Kurt Warner, a two-time MVP, and all-time quarterback hero. So, when the Patriot's own quarterback, Drew Bledsoe, got injured and had to drop out, the Rams thought they had it in the bag.
What they weren’t banking on, was Tom Brady taking his place. As a fifth-round draft pick, he didn't seem to pose any kind of threat but to everyone's surprise, he ended up helping the Patriots to defeat the best offense in the NFL.
When the Jacksonville Jaguars Lost Out in 1999
It may be a surprise to hear, but when they started out the Jacksonville Jaguars were actually the ones to beat. And in 1999, during their fifth season, they had a 14-2 average record and were in their prime. This was mostly due to them having one of the best defenses in the NFL of that time.
As a result of their defense, they made it straight to the Championships. Head Coach, Tom Coughlin, then managed to lead his team to victory against a host of NFC teams and things were looking good - but sadly they were defeated by the Titans and just lost out on the AFC championship. Bad luck.
When the Tennessee Titans (Also) Lost Out in 1999
The Titans may have stopped the Jackson Ville Jaguars from winning in 1999, but that didn't mean that they won either. Turns out they may have been a match for the Jaguars,but most certainly weren't for the Rams.
The Titans had an incredible team that year, that included future MVP Steve McNair, bruising runner Eddie George, and linebacker Mike Jones - who tackled Kevin Dyson and in a historical playdown managed to stop him from scoring a touchdown. It wasn't enough though and in the end, it was their receiver that let them down. There’s always one …
When the Minnesota Vikings Lost Out in 1998
It's hard to believe that the Vikings have never actually won a Super Bowl, and particularly hard to believe that they didn't even qualify for it in 1998. It was one of their most talented packed teams, with Randall Cunnigham as quarterback, John Randle on defense, and Chris Carter and Randy Moss making up the receiving corps.
As a result, they had a regular 15-1 score and sailed into the NSC Championship game. Unfortunately, the Falcons definitely came to play that day and managed to defeat them in the last moment, snatching away yet another chance at the title. So close and yet so far.
When the Buffalo Bills Lost Out in 1991, 1992, 1993 … and 1994
It was a shocking four years for what was one of the best teams of the time. Well, they had to be to make it to four consecutive Super Bowls! No one could quite believe how the Buffalo Bills kept having the title snatched from them. They even had Jim Kelly - one of the greatest quarterbacks in history - on their team.
But they kept trying until 1994, and it was this fourth loss that truly defeated them and they failed to gain back any such status for almost twenty years. In 2020 however, we finally saw them make a triumphant comeback, with MVP Thurman Thomas, and Defensive Player of the Year, Bruce Smith on their side … but still no wins. Good try though Bills.
When the New England Patriots Lost Out in 1996
When the New England Patriots played against the Packers in the Super Bowl final, they weren't actually the favorites to win. And so it wasn't a complete surprise that they lost. But they had entered the playoffs on a winning streak, and had the dynamic ‘Drew Bledsoe and Curtis Martin’ due, who did at least mean that they came close. Unfortunately, not enough to keep the head coach.
Head Coach, Bill Parcells resigned shortly after the loss and was replaced by his former assistant, Bill Belichick. And although it may have been another Bill, he made sure it was a very different-looking team indeed from then on.
When the San Francisco 49ers Lost Out in 1992
A lot of teams in this article lost out to the 49ers (especially in ‘88). But it turns out they had some near misses of their own too, such as in ‘92 when they went up against one of their biggest rivals of the time, the Dallas Cowboys.
In 1992 they were arguably the two best teams in the NFL. So when they found themselves up against each other in the Conference, the whole sporting world waited with bated breath to see who would be declared the best, and it turns out it was the Cowboys, who went on to win the whole Super Bowl.
When the San Francisco 49ers Lost (Again) In 1991
They may have already appeared on this list once but make no mistake - the 49ers had more victories than failures - winning two consecutive years in a row and making it to almost three when they reached the Championship game in 1991.
Sadly, however, they were quite literally knocked outof the competition by the Giants - when Leonard Marshall hit the 49er's Quarterback, Joe Montana, so hard that he was knocked unconscious and didn't play again for two years following the incident! Impressively, despite this devastating blow, they still actually only lost by a single score, just enough to end their winning streak.
When the Chicago Bears Lost Out in 1988
This one is mostly blamed on the head coach of the time, Mike Ditka. The Bears took home the Super Bowl title in '85 and it was after this that Ditka took over. So when they lost the Super Bowl in '88, all fingers pointed in his direction.
They continued to lose important games shortly after; people were convinced he was to blame. Although that year Jim McMahons also sustained a terrible injury and Walter Peyton retired - both of which could be to blame. Nonetheless, they still had an incredible defense,
When the Cincinnati Bengals (Also) Lost Out in 1988
The Cincinnati Bengals were yet another team who ended up losing in ‘88 to the 49ers. We don’t think any team has ever experienced quite as many disasters. From broken limbs to drug issues and uncharacteristically poor playing - it's no surprise then that the 49ers managed a 20-16 victory.
This was particularly painful for the Bengals as they had only ever reached the Super Bowl once before and that time they lost out to - you guessed it - the 49ers! At least they didn't have to worry about it happening again any time soon, as they didn't get another shot at a ring for over 30 years!
When the Cleveland Browns Lost Out in 1986
You may be reading this and thinking that you’re surprised that the Browns were even in the Superbowl in '86. Not because they’re not good enough, but because they were there so briefly that you could be forgiven for forgetting. Their appearance came following a great run at the AFC North, with a 12-4 defeat.
This meant that Marty Schottenheimer took his impressive team, which included Earnest Byner, Kevin Mack, and of course Bernie Kosar, straight to the Super Bowl. But in the end, they lost out to the Broncos by a mere three points - and that was the end of their (brief) moment in the limelight.
When the Miami Dolphins Lost Out in 1984
This wasn't just a loss for the Miami Dolphins, who finally came close to scooping a victory in the Super Bowl. It was also a huge loss for their quarterback Dan Marino, as this was his last shot at getting a ring.
Famed for being one of the best quarterbacks of all time, he was outshone by Joe Monata and ended his Super Bowl career getting crushed by the San Franciso 49ers, with a shocking loss of 38-16. The team may have had a great offense but their defense was all off, and in the end, they just couldn't secure the win.
When the Cincinnati Bengals Lost Out in 1981
The Cincinnati Bengals came into the ‘81 finals after winning the coldest game on NFL record, which is a pretty big accomplishment. The ‘80s also happened to be the golden era of Cincinnati quarterbacks - mostly thanks to Ken Anderson.
Anderson's performance won him the MVP award and brought his team to their first-ever Super Bowl final. So, things were looking good for the Bengal. That was, however, until they realized that they were up against the San Francisco 49ers. Sadly, they just couldn't quite compete and finished the game on 26-21, losing by a frustrating five points.
When the Houston Oilers Lost Out in 1979
Ah, the poor Oilers really did have some bad luck in 1979. Despite being one of the best teams of the era, a series of unfortunate events meant that they ended up losing to the Steelers in the AFC title game. Firstly two of their top players, quarterback Dan Pastorini and MVP Earl Campbell, both got injured before the game and were unable to play.
And then, in a controversial move that has gone down in history, the referee disallowed Mike Renfro’s touchdown. To this day people still believe that the ref got it wrong and can't understand what happened, but ultimately it led to them losing the title.
When the L. A. Rams Lost Out in 1973
1972 saw arguably one of the Ram's best lineups of all time. Their team included Harold Jackson, a 12-touchdown reception receiver, and Jonn Hadl aka the reigning NFC MVP. And so hopes were high, which meant that disappointment was even greater when they didn't quite manage to make it to the Super Bowl.
Turns out that even with a team crammed full of big names, they don't always deliver. This was definitely the case in ‘73 when they went up against the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round and lost 27-16. Ouch.
When the Baltimore Colts Lost Out in 1968
When the Colts lost, it was definitely a shock. They had won the NFL Coastal Championships and had a top team that included John Mackey and Johnny Unitas, the best quarterback of the league - plus they had an 18-point favorite. So, what could possibly go wrong?
Well, legend has it that it was all down to the quarterback on the opposing team, Joe Namath, freaking everyone out. He told anyone who would listen that the Jets were going to win, and then somehow - against all the odds - they actually did! No one can work out how it happened - apart from Joe of course, who somehow knew all along.