It's very simple...We have been a laughing stock since Ricky quit football to smoke weed, we haven't won a playoff game in 17 years, and you can't undo that with one 10-6 season and a first round exit of the playoffs. The national media looks at the national teams, Cowboys, Packers, Stealers, and the lighting rod teams like The Raiders who are good and have huge national news(moving to Vegas,) and the perinatal power houses.
If we make the playoffs again, and win one playoff game, we will garner a lot more national respect.