Watch the film from Super Bowl VI next to the Cowboys ’ latest tape, and it’s night and day. Back in ’71, Dallas shut down Miami 24–3, holding them to just 185 total yards and a lonely field goal. That team was built on three rock-solid pillars: An elite O-line, a defense with real field generals, and a quarterback who came through when it mattered most. Those pillars didn’t just win games; they made Dallas the standard.

Today’s Cowboys have big-name stars, one of the most loyal fan bases in world sports, and a multi-billion-dollar franchise. What’s missing? The DNA that powered the ’71 champs. The trenches aren’t dominating week in and week out, linebacker leadership feels more patchwork than commanding, and the kind of structure that turns regular-season flashes into playoff wins ju

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