Who ya got in the NFL 2018 Conference Championship games?

The NFL Conference Championship games. That’s a place the Cowboys desperately want to be, but have failed to make it there since their Super Bowl run after the ‘95 season. Maybe next year.

This year, we have the Jacksonville Jaguars visiting the New England Patriots at 3 PM EST on Sunday, while the Minnesota Vikings visit the Philadelphia Eagles at 6:30 PM EST the same day.

Jaguars

The Jaguars prominently feature a couple of ex-Cowboys in Barry Church and Jeremy Parnell. Church had a year in Jacksonville that we all hoped he would have in Dallas, but never really did. He was a solid player here, but his splash production was never much. In Jax, he upped his game.

He stepped that up in Jacksonville this year, grabbing four interceptions - double his single-season record in Dallas - and making 72 tackles (56 solo). He also deflected a career-high eight passes, scored his first touchdown and recorded 1.5 sacks after no regular-season sacks as a Cowboy.

Maybe that’s why the Cowboys are shaking up the secondary coaches?

Jeremy Parnell is the starting right tackle for the Jags. His departure in free agency wasn’t as contentious considering what the Jags paid him and how the Cowboys were using him at the time, but he’s definitely working out for Jax. At least the Cowboys got a compensatory pick that turned into Dak Prescott.

Patriots

The Patriots roster includes former Cowboys Martellus Bennett and the one who got away, Danny Amendola.

Bennett is on IR. He suffered the same fate as many #2 tight ends in the Jason Witten era, years of blocking followed by leaving for another team.

Amendola is a guy the Cowboys just didn’t foresee having the career he has had. He spent a year on the practice squad. He surely could have played the Cole Beasley role here in Dallas for many years if the Cowboys had had the foresight to keep him.

Vikings

Minnesota is the home of former Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. He’s done a phenomenal job as their head coach, especially dealing with all the quarterback injuries. He deftly handled the Adrian Peterson departure from Minnesota, and has assembled a fearsome defense.

Terence Newman plays for Zim in Minnesota, and is surely, finally, getting near the end of his career. It’s just remarkable that Newman is still playing at a position that requires such physical skill. He had a good career in Dallas, but when the Cowboys let him go they probably thought he only had a few more years left in him. Six years later, he’s still chugging along.

The Vikings also feature Andrew Sendejo in their secondary. He was in Dallas for a short time, and was not really thought of as starting material. In Minnesota, he has started for the last three years. Guard Joe Berger, who also had a brief stint with the Cowboys, starts on their line.

Eagles

Ha! As it should be, no former Cowboys.

So who you got this weekend BTB. Tell us who you think will win, or who you are rooting for to win. My guess, there are a lot of Vikings fans on Sunday!