🏈 Facing Tom Brady, Cowboys Need New Narrative

Tom Brady feels inevitable. And fairly or not, it feels like Dallas' moment passed. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider with Martin Rogers: The Cowboys have had a great year, but it feels like Tom Brady may be an immovable object blocking their path to a championship … What do the Bears have planned with Justin Fields going forward? … and more! Sometimes it is hard to work out whether sports fans have a short memory or a really, really long one. Or, when it comes to talking about and thinking about Tom Brady, Dak Prescott and Monday's blockbuster wild-card showdown, maybe both. If football was linear, there would be no fathomable reason why the clash between Dallas and Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium would be a pick ‘em in so many minds. If, as simplistic thought would dictate, the primary criteria for analyzing a team's readiness for the playoffs is its overall body of work across the regular season, then this should not be a fight at all, let alone a fair one. But the only things linear about football are the markings on the field, the postseason is a time when Captain Obvious goes on vacation, and the perception of an 8-9 team playing a 12-5 opponent boils down to a couple of key things. Football fans are conditioned, either through awe-struck observation or by having their team's heart broken by him too often, to trust Tom Brady. Similarly — and Cowboys fans will seethe as this suggestion but also know it's true — they're primed to distrust Dallas, especially when it's the postseason, especially when they're on the road. Brady and the Bucs could so easily not have been here, after a season filled with struggle, and enough narrow escapes that honestly demands even an 8-9 mark should be considered somewhat flattering. However, the champ from two years ago has an unmistakable gust of momentum behind it, which is where the short-term memory piece comes in. For the rest of the story, [click here.]( [STORY IMAGE 1] [IN OTHER WORDS] - Bears GM Ryan Poles holds the No. 1 pick and left all options open in his remarks this week, including drafting a QB. [What's his game]( Carmen Vitali has the answer. - No NFL defensive coordinator embraces pressure quite like the Giants' Wink Martindale, who [plans to apply it heavily]( against the Vikings, Ralph Vacchiano writes. - The Twins unexpectedly landed their top free-agent target. But [do they have enough pitching]( for it to matter in 2023? Jake Mintz examines the staff. - Buckets are [no longer at a premium](. What's with all the individual offensive explosions this season? Ric Bucher surveys players, general managers and coaches to find the answer. - What are the [chances of Gregg Berhalter returning]( as USMNT coach? What is the timetable for a new hire? Doug McIntyre delves into the coaching search. For the latest news and updates, [click here.]( [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET) Stephen Curry and the Warriors hope to fix their road woes when they take on the Spurs in San Antonio. Denver Nuggets at LA Clippers (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET) The Western Conference best Nuggets head to Los Angeles to battle Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. No. 19 Providence Friars at Creighton Bluejays (Saturday, FS1, 2 p.m. ET) The Bluejays hope get earn a résumé building win when they host the Friars in a Big East showdown. Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (Saturday, FOX, 4:30 p.m. ET) Brock Purdy and the 49ers look to extend their 10-game winning streak when they host Geno Smith and the Seahawks. Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars (Saturday, NBC, 8:15 p.m. ET) Justin Herbert and the Chargers face Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars with both young quarterbacks looking to earn their first playoff victory. No. 25 Marquette Golden Eagles at No. 12 Xavier Musketeers (Sunday, FOX, 12 p.m. ET) Two of the best in the Big East clash when Xavier hosts Marquette with both looking to earn a ranked win. Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (Sunday, CBS, 1 p.m. ET) In a matchup of two AFC East teams, the Bills welcome the Dolphins to Buffalo with both looking to advance to the divisional round. New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, FOX, 4:30 p.m. ET) Justin Jefferson and the Vikings look to continue their elite play at home when they welcome the Giants to Minnesota. Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, NBC, 8:15 p.m. ET) Joe Burrow and the Bengals welcome the division rival Ravens to Cincinnati looking to win their third straight home game against Baltimore. For all of today's games and scores, [click here](. [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars: Chargers (pick’em) to win From FOX Sports Betting Analyst: Jason McIntyre Rematch of a Week 3 game that should have zero bearing on how you bet this one. Yes, Jacksonville won 38-10 at SoFI Stadium. But the spot was horrible for the Chargers as they were coming off a grueling loss to the rival Chiefs, and QB Justin Herbert was nursing injured ribs and played terribly. Possession receiver Keenan Allen did not play. During the game, the Chargers lost star tackle Rashawn Slater and edge rusher Joey Bosa, and the team was rattled. They came out of halftime looking crestfallen and were blown out in the second half. Jacksonville’s 30th-ranked pass defense will struggle to contain Justin Herbert, as this is a huge step-up in class from the QBs they’ve faced in the last six games. If you’re looking at props, Keenan Allen might be your guy. Jacksonville’s slot corner is Tre Herndon, who was undrafted and graded out as 101st out of 104 corners at the position. For the latest betting odds, [click here](. [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2023 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. 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