Just How Good Is SD?

[joe_cowboy]

A lot of people have been saying that SD is not that good. We beat them by 4, and it came down to the wire.

If they aren't that good, how good are we?

I think they are pretty good...at least their O. Their D didn't impress me (and neither did ours, really).

[The30YardSlant]

For the purposes of this thread, they will go 15-1 :D

[joe_cowboy]

And we go 16-0

[miamicowboy21]

Remember they were playing without gates, but it was a great win against a quality opponent on the road. I'll take it.

[big dog cowboy]

Well they went 12-4 and deep into the playoffs last year and we beat them at home in the season opener. This just in: they don't suck.

[BlueStar22]

Well, this loss is big for them. They do have one of the toughest schedules in the league this year.

[Duane]

Still don't think SD is very good, only beat teams with losing records last year. We are better but I don't know if we're playoff good better.

[JDSmith]

I don't think they are as good as they looked going 12 - 4 last year. But nobody knows at this point. You can't base things off of last season, because everything is so up and down. Although Shottenheimer's teams tend to play tough and smart football and always compete. So maybe they'll win another 10 games this year. Don't forget, they didn't have Gates today and that changes a lot.

[jterrell]

I'd say they are a 10 win or so team. But its a win against a playoff team on the road for us. How often has that happened the past 5 years?

We are pretty dang good.

[Cbz40]

SD is a very good football team. I say they go 10-6

[big dog cowboy]

You can't base things off of last season, because everything is so up and down.
Every analysis going into this season is based on what each team did last year. They didn't lose or gain much in FA. Granted Gates didn't play and he would have seen some passes the last possession. But SD is still a playoff team from last year and playing at home in the season opener and playing against America's Team.

[davidyee]

I don't think they are as good as they looked going 12 - 4 last year. But nobody knows at this point. You can't base things off of last season, because everything is so up and down. Although Shottenheimer's teams tend to play tough and smart football and always compete. So maybe they'll win another 10 games this year. Don't forget, they didn't have Gates today and that changes a lot.

...on that team. Alot of their problems today were mental errors. They are a competitive team and they should be able to win a few games this year.

Outside of a crappy owner in Washington hampering him, Schottenheimer has tough teams.

[Sitting Bull]

We beat a playoff team today. They gave us nothing. Brees played like a star, LT is the best RB in football (barely, for now), they have one of the best special teams and their nasty D-line compensates for a secondary that is no worse than average. Rejoice, this one was BIG...

[Nors]

I've propped all week - San Diego played a cupcake schedule last year.

And we rocked!

[BlueStar22]

I was very surprised that they didn't get LT more involved.

[yesfan]

I was very surprised that they didn't get LT more involved.

I thought that too, especially on those last shots going for the
endzone.

[davidyee]

I was very surprised that they didn't get LT more involved.

...I think it became obvious to everyone that Brees was the most effective offensive player on the field for SD. But I agree with you, I would have showcased LT when the were at first and goal at the end of the game.

It would have consecutive runs by LT for the sidelines/endzone and on the last play I would have play actioned for a QB sneak.

The question would be were the Cowboys' rookie LB on the outside going to be disciplined enough in the waning moments of a tense game to secure containment on the QB?

[Dallas]

Remember they were playing without gates, but it was a great win against a quality opponent on the road. I'll take it.

Jim Brown on the Fox Post Game show had something like this to say about Gates being out.

"Even w/ Gates does that overcome all of those penalities" then he shakes his hand at Jimmy. It was Howie pointing it out that Gates didnt play.

[joe_cowboy]

I think our D can only improve! And Newman...if I were them, I would have picked on him much more after the penalties.

[scottsp]

I'd say they are a 10 win or so team. But its a win against a playoff team on the road for us. How often has that happened the past 5 years?

We are pretty dang good.

Yes. They won on the road. Scored 28 points against a tough defense. Battled, came back from deficits, and that after as rocky a start as one could possibly imagine.

We haven't seen this sort of thing in quite a while.

Any team in this league would take this and go home happy, IMO.

[zagnut]

I think SD is legit -- at least 10-6. I was impressed with their D, esp. their LBers Foley, Leber and Godfrey are tough and play with a lot of swagger. Wish we never let Godfrey go. I'd take them over any of ours save for Ware. Jamal Williams is tough too. Exactly what you want in a NT.

Great win.