Recency bias is one hell of a drug, and when it comes to the America’s Team moniker, there’s always a team in the running to steal the Dallas Cowboys’ valor.
For the 2023 season, that hopeful team was the Detroit Lions. Winning over fans around the country with an underdog story, an iconic head coach, and a quarterback looking for redemption, the Lions quickly became a popular prime-time candidate.
Detroit may have had the common man rooting for it in the playoffs, but the title of America’s Team is one of history and discourse, not a season-long trend.
At the Pro Bowl , Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb and Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs were both asked about the right to that titular throne.
“I mean they go to one playoff, have a little success, now they America’s Team?” Lamb asked. “It’s crazy.”
Detroit undoubtedly has more recent playoff successes, making the NFC Championship Game – while Dallas’ drought continues – but it had also been over three decades since the Lions’ last playoff win. Even for fans willing to share the America’s Team title, a resumé like that would render the name a yearly award.
Gibbs responded accordingly, boasting Detroit’s magical run, interrupted only by the devil magic and ruthless talent that make up the San Francisco 49ers.
“We got more playoff wins than CeeDee, though!” Gibbs said with a laugh.
With two playoff victories in 2023, Gibbs doesn’t just have more mid-January wins than Lamb. The rookie (two) has surpassed Lamb’s career playoff win total (one), as well.
From the controversial meetings at the end of the regular season to Pro Bowl disputes, these two teams have grown quite a connection. With Pro Bowlers across both of their rosters, Dallas and Detroit will surely meet again with the theatrics to match.
The Cowboys won this battle, though. It takes a lot more than an unsuccessful playoff run to be the sport’s most loved – and hated – team.
More must-reads: