When you watch the Super Bowl, do you watch it from a Cowboys reporter's perspective? Do you compare the Cowboys' players, system, and strategy to what the 49ers and Chiefs are doing? If so, what do you look for? Or do you just put all that aside and enjoy the game as a fan? Can you do that? – Bill Perkins/Santa Fe, New Mexico
Nick Eatman: I think it's a natural thing to do, especially when it comes to the Super Bowl and knowing how long it's been for the Cowboys. But you don't need to watch Sunday's game to know the Cowboys aren't at that level right now. We know they can't be as good as the 49ers, given their last three games and their blowout losses this season. They are more physical on both sides of the ball and have too many weapons. As for the Chiefs, they have the best QB in the NFL, probably one of the top five quarterbacks of all time. Therefore, they have a huge advantage over any team. Additionally, the combination of head coach, QB, and tight end is at an elite level that is unparalleled. So you can see that the 49ers and Chiefs are on a much different level. Additionally, they can both run the ball when needed, which is another thing the Cowboys need to improve on.
patrick: At this point in my career as an analyst and beat writer covering the Cowboys, I'm programmed to evaluate other teams' successes and weight them against Dallas' failures, and vice versa. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say the same is true (I also weigh Dallas' successes and others' failures/struggles). So, yeah, I'm going to watch the battle between Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy and see if the latter does anything much different than Prescott, but the former is unparalleled, so I'm going to give it a fair shot with other players. No QB in the league can compare. We're also going to look at how effective or ineffective each position group and players on both sides of the ball are. And I'm seriously interested in seeing Kyle Shanahan and Andy Reid go head-to-head in an offensive scheme. Adjustments, and the same goes for Steve Wilkes vs. Steve Spagnuolo. It's definitely stress-free to watch, but this part is the closest I can get to enjoying it as a fan as my heart allows – constantly trying to figure out what the Cowboys need to do to win this game. I'm a fan.
