To what extent did Troy Aikman, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback who has since become an ESPN color commentator, express confidence that his former team would be among the four teams competing for a conference championship?
Aikman’s confidence was evident, to the point where he took proactive steps to clear his schedule for the upcoming weekend’s games. He aimed to be present for what could have marked the Cowboys’ return to the NFC Championship Game, a scenario he hasn’t experienced since his own participation in 1995.
“My season as a commentator concluded last weekend with the divisional round. I have an open schedule this weekend,” Aikman remarked. “I genuinely expected Dallas to be competing in the championship game, likely in San Francisco. Consequently, I had planned to attend the game and refrained from scheduling a vacation post my season.”
Considering the Cowboys’ prolonged absence of 29 years from the NFC championship, it is undeniable that their potential qualification this season would have justified the presence of numerous former players at the event.
“I’ve been a fan of this team throughout the entire year,” Aikman expressed. “I believed they possessed considerable talent. However, it’s a recurring narrative, and I don’t say that to criticize. Despite impressive regular seasons, they have consistently fallen short of playing their best football when it matters most. That’s the crucial factor in succeeding during the postseason and advancing to the Super Bowl.”
“I’m uncertain about what the solution to that issue might be.”
He is not the only one in this predicament. Despite securing 36 victories in the past three seasons, the Cowboys have only managed to clinch a single playoff win.
Despite the Cowboys’ postseason difficulties, which have become a source of humor on social media over the past 29 years, Aikman is not the sole individual who held the belief that this season might bring about a change.
Following the Cowboys’ significant defeat in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers, they undertook essential adjustments that led to improvement in the subsequent 12 games. A significant portion of the modifications made by the Cowboys after the humbling loss focused on the offensive aspect. Coach and play-caller Mike McCarthy integrated his “Texas Coast Offense” with the strengths of quarterback Dak Prescott.
After his challenging performance, marked by multiple interceptions, in the game against the 49ers with the recurring theme of “Here We Go” resurfacing, Prescott rebounded impressively, crafting a season that could be deemed MVP-worthy. He topped the league in passing touchdowns with 36, a stark contrast to just nine interceptions, all while accumulating a total of 4,516 passing yards.
By combining Prescott’s stellar performance with the offense and a defense that excelled in takeaways, the Cowboys secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC, granting them the advantage of two home playoff games.
The promising alignment of stars took an unexpected turn when the Green Bay Packers, seeded at No. 7, handed the Cowboys a defeat reminiscent of the ones suffered during the regular season against the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers.
Instead of the anticipated scenario of being on the sidelines at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco to witness the Cowboys play on Sunday, Aikman is now likely to join numerous fellow fans in watching the game from the comfort of his own couch.
