Dear Santa: A Dallas Cowboys Christmas Letter

Dear Santa, Dallas Cowboys fans have been extremely patient for almost three decades now as they await another trip to the Super Bowl or even an NFC Championship Game appearance.

As a fanbase, AT&T Stadium has been louder, providing a perfect record at home entering Week 16 (the only team in the league to have one!). Cowboys Nation has also strongly kept in tune with other results around the NFC East to pull for the division title.

Even after a beatdown in Week 15, fans still believe this can finally be the year. I know how hard it is to win the Super Bowl, and I wouldn't dare ask that when 31 other fanbases might hit you with the same gift request. But here's my Cowboys' Christmas list to you, hope we can get at list a few of them: 

1. Just win vs. Dolphins, baby

This is the easiest of the things I'd like for Christmas. I realize it might be a lot to ask for since it'd be an early present but if you can, give the Cowboys a win on Christmas Eve. 

The team was on a fantastic run before dropping 31-10 to the Buffalo Bills and the fans have been miserable. Beating a winning team on the road will be huge for the team's confidence and its fanbase, to be honest. Please? 

2. Better health

They say the playoffs aren't necessarily about the best team but the healthiest team and I believe they're right, Santa. In Week 16, the Cowboys will be without Tyron Smith and Johnathan Hankins while Zack Martin and Malik Hooker are questionable. Sure, if they aren't around for the Dolphins it might not matter a whole lot but please get Dallas a healthy roster when it's do-or-die football in January. 

3. The NFC East title

You see, Santa, Philadelphia Eagles fans booed their own team when trailing at halftime against the powerhouse that is the San Francisco 49ers. They hadn't even lost and they were already showing naughty list-worthy behavior. That wouldn't happen at Jerry World! 

Nick Sirianni also yelled at Chiefs fans after beating them in Kansas City. Can you imagine hot-chocolate-drinking Mike McCarthy doing that? He could never. Not trying to say the Cowboys should be handed the division but history is at stake! You're probably too busy doing North Pole-related stuff to have noticed but the division hasn't been won by the same team since 2004. Surely, you wouldn't want to break such an iconic tradition? 

4. A better run defense

Speaking of the 49ers and Eagles, they've got some scary rushing offenses that match up well against the Cowboys, who are dead-last in defensive success rate versus the run. 

Some people say the Cowboys just need to have better defensive tackles or better linebackers. Dan Quinn said they simply need to tackle better and they'll be fine. I'm not sure what the answer is but whether it's a linebacker stepping up or Quinn making a tweak or two to the scheme, can we get a better run defense in time for the postseason? It could make or break the fate of the team. 

Asking for it all might be too much, which I understand. But I hope Cowboys Nation is on the good list this year and we can get a few of these, preferably #3 on the list. Thanks, Santa Claus!