The Biggest Surprise of the NFL season (2019)

[GannonFan]

How a team loaded with talent like Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, Travis Frederick, Jason Witten, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Robert Quinn can have a losing record on Christmas Day and possibly miss the playoffs.

I'm not gloating about the Eagles win. It's seriously befuddling how the Cowboys aren't an 11+ win team.

The Cowboys dominated the top 100 active players list
They are loaded



Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch and Sean Lee are close to a top 5 linebacker crew in the NFL also

Eh, linebacker is becoming the defensive equivalent of the fullback, especially if it's not a pass rushing linebacker. Teams are playing nickel defenses as almost their base D these days, meaning you're already pulling a linebacker anyway. It's almost becoming a niche position and you're either really a safety or an edge rusher masquerading as a linebacker.

[Chizzang]

The Cowboys dominated the top 100 active players list
They are loaded



Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch and Sean Lee are close to a top 5 linebacker crew in the NFL also

Eh, linebacker is becoming the defensive equivalent of the fullback, especially if it's not a pass rushing linebacker. Teams are playing nickel defenses as almost their base D these days, meaning you're already pulling a linebacker anyway. It's almost becoming a niche position and you're either really a safety or an edge rusher masquerading as a linebacker.

Except that ^ excludes all of the top 5 defenses in the NFL this season
The Chargers coming in at No.6 would fit your model / you're looking at 2018 defensive snaps
2019 has changed back considerably...

But
New England
Buffalo
Baltimore
San Francisco
Pittsburgh

The NFL defensive leaders do not match your model

[Gil Dobie]

Green Bay has been morphing its defense to stop the pass first. It still has a lot of holes, but they have stopped a few teams with it. We will see how and if it works in the playoffs, and next year with a tougher schedule.

[93henfan]

Wentz made it through a whole regular season! (almost; fingers crossed)