Dallas Cowboys' X-factor for NFL Playoffs revealed

The NFL Playoffs have arrived and 14 teams are now gearing up to compete for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Of those 14 teams is the Dallas Cowboys, who will open postseason play Sunday in the NFC Wild Card round against the San Francisco 49ers.

Heading into the game, and the playoffs in general, NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks – who’s a former NFL player and scout – laid out the X-factor for each of the 14 teams in the NFL Playoffs.

For the Dallas Cowboys, Brooks thinks veteran kicker Greg Zuerlein – who’s made 29-of-35 field goals and 42-of-48 extra points this season – is their X-factor.

“The long-distance kicking specialist is a dangerous offensive weapon for ‘America’s Team,’ but his inconsistency on extra points and short-range kicks could put Mike McCarthy in a bind in close games,” Brooks said. “The Cowboys’ 12 missed kicks were tied (with the Saints) for the most in the NFL this season, as Zuerlein failed to convert six field goals and six PATs.

“While ‘Greg the Leg’ has a track record of nailing big kicks over his career, Dallas will need the veteran to emerge as a more dependable point scorer to advance through the postseason.”

Zuerlein and the Cowboys (12-5) kickoff against the 49ers (10-7) at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday from AT&T Stadium. Dallas is a three-point favorite, with the over/under set at 51 total points. CBS will be carrying the national broadcast.

Vikings request permission to interview pair of Cowboys assistants

The Vikings could be looking to bring a little Cowboys flavor to their franchise. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the franchise is requesting to interview both Dallas offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

“Vikings requested permission to interview Cowboys’ OC Kellen Moore for their HC job, per source” revealed Schefter.

Moore has never been a head coach and is only 33 years old. Still, the way he’s changed the Cowboys’ offense over his time in Dallas has been enough for teams to want the coach to lead their franchise.

Moreover, his aforementioned defensive peer is also getting calls for the same job.

“The Vikings requested an interview with Cowboys DC Dan Quinn for their head coaching job, per source,” tweeted Pelissero.

While the Vikings just fired a defensive-minded coach in Mike Zimmer, Quinn has experience coaching in a Super Bowl. Additionally, he could look to bring members of the Cowboys offensive staff to Minnesota with him.

Losing either coordinator would be a huge blow to the Cowboys. However, Minnesota would rejoice if one of the Dallas coordinators was the next leader of the Vikings.

On3’s Stephen Samra contributed to this report.