Sometimes I sit in my cubicle and ponder to myself... what happened to the 2007 team?

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Originally Posted by GloryDaysRBack

If you think that NE team was anything short of great you're foolish.

Do you have any clue as to how NY won that game?

Here's a hit. They had a matchup advantage vs NE that we never could have matched.



Here's another hint for you. Pats barely walked out of the regular season undefeated after week 17 in Ny.

The pats stomped Dallas in Dallas that year.

Learn the game. This league is about matchups. There's a reason NY has beaten NE 3x straight and 2x in the SB. They matchup well vs them.

In 2007-we didn't.

I suppose that's why the Giants beat us in the playoffs after we swept them during the season. The Giants got hot at the right time, the same way they did last year. I don't think the Cowboys would have beat the Patriots. Looking back at this team, they weren't tough enough. Nobody knew it then though. I've been following the NFL since the 1970's. I've seen enough.

[BraveHeartFan]

I used to wonder that myself...back at the end of the 2007/2008 season.

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Originally Posted by KJJ

The 07 team became complacent after beating the 10-1 Packers. Everyone was handing the Cowboys the NFC championship after that game. The Cowboys started thinking about their trip to Cabo after wrapping up the division and the #1 seed. Complacency did that team in they relaxed and went into a slump. While they were daydreaming about Cabo the Giants were getting hot.

Had Jimmy still been the coach no way does that Cowboys team fade the final month and go one and out in the playoffs. NO WAY would he have allowed his struggling QB who was accounting for more turnovers than TD's to go to Cabo prior to the playoffs. What a stupid team that was.

Bingo. That's what happened. The Cowboys pretty much lost focus. They were satisfied with winning the NFC East.

[jayhouston12]

worst part of the 2007 season

we go on a 12 minute drive and score a td

giants comeback in less than 2 minutes and score a td to end the half

[kojak]

There are a lot of legitimate reasons I have read through and can't argue with either. But some do forget that both Owens and Glenn wasn't 100 percent for the playoff game against the Giants.

Owens suffered a high ankle sprain against the Panthers and though I commend him for playing it was obvious he wasn't 100 percent. And why they decided to start Glenn is beyond me. I don't believe he played any during the regular season, maybe a little in the last game against the redskins. They both managed a mere 6 catches between them for 60 yards against the Giants. IMO we would of had a better chance starting Hurd or Austin in that game.

[perrykemp]

The Giants were a team of destiny that year. That's the only conclusion I can come to.

They beat the Cowboys AT DALLAS.

They beat the Packers AT LAMBEAU in like -30 degree weather.

They beat the best team in NFL history not to win the Superbowl and arguably the best regular season team in NFL history in the Patriots.

All three of those teams beat the Giants earlier that season.

It's beyond comprehension that the Giants won the SB that year.

[KJJ]

Originally Posted by kojak

There are a lot of legitimate reasons I have read through and can't argue with either. But some do forget that both Owens and Glenn wasn't 100 percent for the playoff game against the Giants.

Owens suffered a high ankle sprain against the Panthers and though I commend him for playing it was obvious he wasn't 100 percent. And why they decided to start Glenn is beyond me. I don't believe he played any during the regular season, maybe a little in the last game against the redskins. They both managed a mere 6 catches between them for 60 yards against the Giants. IMO we would of had a better chance starting Hurd or Austin in that game.

Can't use Glenn not being 100% as an excuse because the Cowboys went 13-3 without him. Starting him in a playoff game when he hadn't played all season proved to be a dumb move as were several of the moves the Cowboys made that day. Although TO wasn't 100% he still produced 4 catches for 49 yards and a TD. The Cowboys were slumping and played not to lose that's what got them beat. They ran Barber ragged until he had nothing left in the second half.

He had 101 yards in the first half and only 28 yards in the second half. Barber was the most effective second half back in the league and the Cowboys totally drained him in the first half and all it led to was a 14-14 tie. The Giants didn't fear Barber they found out in the first half when he broke off a 36 yard run with nothing but daylight in front of him that he he didn't have the wheels. They knew they could stack the box not having to worry about him making any house calls from 50 yards out. The defense couldn't make critical stops hardly putting Eli under any duress.

The Giants were on the way up late that season not resting any starters and going all out while the Cowboys were on the way down with their heads still in Cabo from the extra week they had to rest. The Giants start playing their best football when it matters most and the Cowboys don't. It's interesting how the Giants worst month November is the Cowboys best month and the Cowboys worst month December is the Giants best month.

[M'Kevon]

Originally Posted by perrykemp

The Giants were a team of destiny that year. That's the only conclusion I can come to.

They beat the Cowboys AT DALLAS.

They beat the Packers AT LAMBEAU in like -30 degree weather.

They beat the best team in NFL history not to win the Superbowl and arguably the best regular season team in NFL history in the Patriots.

All three of those teams beat the Giants earlier that season.

It's beyond comprehension that the Giants won the SB that year.

This. Every team NY beat after Atlanta - Dallas, GB and NE - were better teams and had proven so during the regular season. NY did not match up well against any of them. They were on a mission, and overcame whatever was thrown against them.

[Tenkamenin]

2007 team? I was pondering about the 1999 team. If Irvin didn't hurt his neck we were going to win the Super Bowl that year. We had an amazing win against Washington and Irvin was playing as good as ever, him and Rocket were going to be an unstoppable duo.........

[Blackspider214]

Originally Posted by DejectedFan1996

Thought I was the only one. Everything on offense as perfect. Defense sucked but it didn't matter because we would just outscore you.

In the first 11 games or so, you are correct. Our offense was a fine tuned machine. But starting with the Lions game where we barely won, that was a turning point of the season. We completely laid an egg the following week against the Eagles at home. Looked horrible. Then TO got hurt for the rest of the regular season the next week game or so. Then we rested our players for the last game because we had the #1 seed wrapped up. We were all out of sync offensively. Then the bye week and the whole Romo going to Mexico fiasco that blew up.

Giants were rolling coming into that playoff game. We were not at all. Still should have won but the defense screwed up big time on the 1st drive of the 1st half giving up the 50yd TD on horrible tackling and the last drive of the 1st half giving up that easy TD after taking a lead after a 11-12min drive. Then there was Crayton in the 4th qtr. Never forgave him for that.

Honestly, looking back, our mojo was kind of shot in that Packers game on Thu night. We had a commanding 24pt lead or so. Knocked Favre out the game. On top of the world. Then Rodgers comes in and brings them back to within 3 and had the ball. And a fortunate PI call on GB on the 1 helped us take a 10pt lead. But leaving that game, didn't feel right even though it was a huge win.

[benson]

There was nothing opposing quarterbacks and lines could do against the Giants d-line when they got hot, it proved to be to much for every team that got in their way. There is really nothing more valuable to a defense and a team in general when you have 4 monsters rushing the passer that are being kept fresh for four quarters by backups that could have started for other teams.

Had we somehow gotten passed the Giants, there was no way we would beat New England, the only team that could disrupt Brady like that was the Giants and they did.

[SaltwaterServr]

Originally Posted by GloryDaysRBack

If you think that NE team was anything short of great you're foolish.

Do you have any clue as to how NY won that game?

Here's a hit. They had a matchup advantage vs NE that we never could have matched.



Here's another hint for you. Pats barely walked out of the regular season undefeated after week 17 in Ny.

The pats stomped Dallas in Dallas that year.

Learn the game. This league is about matchups. There's a reason NY has beaten NE 3x straight and 2x in the SB. They matchup well vs them.

In 2007-we didn't.

That's all well and good but you're overlooking one thing.

Week 17 - Healthy Tom Brady

Super Bowl - Tom Brady with a high ankle sprain, courtesy of San Diego in the AFC Championship.

There's your difference maker.

[kojak]

Originally Posted by KJJ

Can't use Glenn not being 100% as an excuse because the Cowboys went 13-3 without him. Starting him in a playoff game when he hadn't played all season proved to be a dumb move as were several of the moves the Cowboys made that day. Although TO wasn't 100% he still produced 4 catches for 49 yards and a TD. The Cowboys were slumping and played not to lose that's what got them beat. They ran Barber ragged until he had nothing left in the second half.

[View Full Quote]He had 101 yards in the first half and only 28 yards in the second half. Barber was the most effective second half back in the league and the Cowboys totally drained him in the first half and all it led to was a 14-14 tie. The Giants didn't fear Barber they found out in the first half when he broke off a 36 yard run with nothing but daylight in front of him that he he didn't have the wheels. They knew they could stack the box not having to worry about him making any house calls from 50 yards out. The defense couldn't make critical stops hardly putting Eli under any duress.

The Giants were on the way up late that season not resting any starters and going all out while the Cowboys were on the way down with their heads still in Cabo from the extra week they had to rest. The Giants start playing their best football when it matters most and the Cowboys don't. It's interesting how the Giants worst month November is the Cowboys best month and the Cowboys worst month December is the Giants best month.

I didn't use Glenn as an excuse during the regular season run to 13-3. I said it turned out to be a mistake to start him against the Giants because he was pretty much done career wise. Austin or Hurd would have been a better option. But we don't know who made that call. My guess is it came from the top.

Can't argue the rest because it's all basically true. The Giants were on a roll and we didn't take them serious.

[KJJ]

Originally Posted by kojak

I didn't use Glenn as an excuse during the regular season run to 13-3. I said it turned out to be a mistake to start him against the Giants because he was pretty much done career wise. Austin or Hurd would have been a better option. But we don't know who made that call. My guess is it came from the top.

Can't argue the rest because it's all basically true. The Giants were on a roll and we didn't take them serious.

You mentioned some forget that both Owens and Glenn weren't 100 percent for the playoff game against the Giants. I just wanted to make it clear that the Cowboys did just fine that season without Glenn. Against the Giants in the playoffs the Cowboys went against a lot of what made them a 13-3 team during the regular season. They gave Barber and Glenn their first starts and didn't attack down the field. They played right into the hands of the Giants who must have been licking their chops after being dissected by Romo twice during the regular season.

One of the main reasons the Giants turned it around in 07 was Eli stopped turning the ball over once the playoffs started. He had 27 turnovers during the regular season and only ONE during 3 playoff games and the SB. The game plan the Cowboys had during the playoffs enabled Eli to manage the game never having to take shots down the field. He only had to attempt 18 passes and completed 12 of them for a mere 163 yards.

In the two regular season games the Cowboys and Romo went on the attack forcing Eli into 75 passing attempts which resulted in 6 sacks and 3 turnovers. The Cowboys were averaging around 32 points for the first 12 games that season then dropped off to around 14 points per game during the final 4 games. The team went from possibly the most explosive offense in franchise history in which Romo was on pace for over 40 TD's to virtually punchless by the time the playoffs arrived. From week 9 of that season until week 14 Romo never had a passer rating lower than 102.1. During that 6 game stretch he tossed 19 TD's compared to 5 ints.

In the final 3 regular season games and playoff game his passer ratings fell to 22.2, 81.2, 34.9 and 64.7. During that 4 game stretch he tossed only 2 TD's and had 6 int's. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that Romo's Dec swoon that season and the Giants improving pass rush caused the Cowboys to completely change their game plan against them during the playoffs. Had Romo's game not fallen off the Cowboys would gone right at the Giants the same way they did during the regular season but Garrett didn't trust Romo.

When Romo goes into a turnover funk Garrett tries reducing his passing attempts and starts focusing more on the running game which results in fewer points. With all the turnovers Romo has had this season we're seeing virtually the same conservative approach by Garrett now and it's resulted in the Cowboys scoring under 20 points in 5 of their 9 games this season.

[Doomsay]

Originally Posted by Blackspider214

In the first 11 games or so, you are correct. Our offense was a fine tuned machine. But starting with the Lions game where we barely won, that was a turning point of the season. We completely laid an egg the following week against the Eagles at home. Looked horrible. Then TO got hurt for the rest of the regular season the next week game or so. Then we rested our players for the last game because we had the #1 seed wrapped up. We were all out of sync offensively. Then the bye week and the whole Romo going to Mexico fiasco that blew up.

Giants were rolling coming into that playoff game. We were not at all. Still should have won but the defense screwed up big time on the 1st drive of the 1st half giving up the 50yd TD on horrible tackling and the last drive of the 1st half giving up that easy TD after taking a lead after a 11-12min drive. Then there was Crayton in the 4th qtr. Never forgave him for that.

[View Full Quote]Honestly, looking back, our mojo was kind of shot in that Packers game on Thu night. We had a commanding 24pt lead or so. Knocked Favre out the game. On top of the world. Then Rodgers comes in and brings them back to within 3 and had the ball. And a fortunate PI call on GB on the 1 helped us take a 10pt lead. But leaving that game, didn't feel right even though it was a huge win.

Great summary, I had forgotten about the PI call in GB. I just remember how blase' Wade was after our loss to NE during the regular season. He was a guy that wanted to find the positive in losses and reflect back on prior wins rather than pressure his team for constant improvement. When the team was clearly loosing focus down the stretch, he punted.