What is your definition of a successful season?

[jazzcat22]

I started out with expectations of the playoffs and at least 1 playoff win, if not 2, depending on if we won the division. but as things fell apart with the OL, all the defensive injuries. My expectations turned to hope....hope the could finally get it together and still just make the playoffs.

Well now they have that chance, and to be a successful season is to win the last 2 games, and win the division, get a playoff win, and a quality win. Will that be beyond expectations from when they were 3-5, yes, but even then I believed they could still turn it around and at least make a run for a playoff spot.

As for expecting to go to a SB every year....yes I do expect that....but sometimes reality hits you like a falling boulder....

[sacowboysfan513]

At the beginning of the year, a successful season would have been making the playoffs.

After winning that first game against the giants, a successful season would have been winning a couple playoff games

NOW...making the playoffs. Back to original. If they beat the Redskins on the last game and go into the playoffs because of it, it will definitely have been a successful season in my eyes.

[RomoIzDaMan]

The Cowboys have raised expectations by winning 5 o f their last 6 games,and 3 in a row in their most dreaded month-December.A successful season now is going to the post season and winning at least one playoff game.My heart CAN'T TAKE ANOTHER CHOKE JOB LIKE LAST SEASON

[Apollo Creed]

If they finish 9-7 I'd say that's a win. They've been through hell, started 3-5, missing 7 defensive starters, worst o-line in football, I don't like to make excuses but its' not like any of experts had them picked to go 12-4 and win the NFC or anything.

But in today's league of parity I've learned to never say never. This team could go 10-6, roll Seattle in Dallas, go to Atlanta and get revenge in a place they should have won, and ya never know.

Never say never man.

I've learned to never doubt the power of positive energy in a group. This is a tight football team, you can tell how the guys all have each other's backs, no more rifts, no more rats, just a football family.

Despite their lacks of talent and multiple injuries they remind me of a boxer that's cut over both eyes, that barely has his legs anymore, and the ref is waiting to call off the fight - but someone someway they throw a few jabs and a cross and boom their living to fight another day.

If this team wins these next two games, and they get that momentum and that same kinda energy that the Giants are notorious for carrying into January - then this may be a very dangerous team in a suspect conference.

When players and coaches all start to believe and buy into that 'hey man why not us?' Then great things happen. We all knew this team was gonna fold, almost all of us were certain that there was no way they were gonna bounce back from 3-5, but here they are controlling their own destiny.

Man I love this time of year.

[sonnyboy]

Originally Posted by john van brocklin

I have been a Cowboy's fan for 37 years.
I am not crazy enough to think we should win the Superbowl every year, that is not realistic as there are 32 teams competing for that prize.

I just consider a positive season one in which we meet or exceed reasonable expectations.

I was thinking 9 and 7 going into this year would be good based on the offensive line weakness.

How do you judge each season as good or bad ?

That's a broad based question.

Throwing expectations of any particular season and the injuries occured in that season out of the equation.......I have a single minimum goal in mind that equates to a successful season for me......and that's advancing to the divisional round of the post season.

If you make it to the final eight, you've accomplished something. You've either finished with a top 2 regular season record in your conference, or you've beaten another playoff team.

And you're three wins from a championship. IMO you are a contender.

For the 2012 Cowboys, that was my expectation. For all the *****ing and moaning about this hole here and that hole there, in the final analysis, we had more than enough heading into 2012.

Any reasonable and objective evaluation of our roster in comparison to the other 32, would put us firmly in the top quartile.

We had an elite QB and more than enough elite talent and depth to get it done. The only two things that could keep us from reaching the divisional round were injuries and or subpar coaching.

[jterrell]

A successful season would be getting to week 17 and playing for a playoff birth and division title.

If they win that game and make the playoffs it becomes one of the best seasons of the past 20 years.

[HoosierCowboy]

Originally Posted by jterrell

A successful season would be getting to week 17 and playing for a playoff birth and division title.

If they win that game and make the playoffs it becomes one of the best seasons of the past 20 years.

I agree

[KJJ]

Originally Posted by jterrell

A successful season would be getting to week 17 and playing for a playoff birth and division title.

If they win that game and make the playoffs it becomes one of the best seasons of the past 20 years.

That tells you just how lean things have been the past 20 years.

[kirkjrk]

Originally Posted by john van brocklin

I have been a Cowboy's fan for 37 years.
I am not crazy enough to think we should win the Superbowl every year, that is not realistic as there are 32 teams competing for that prize.

I just consider a positive season one in which we meet or exceed reasonable expectations.

I was thinking 9 and 7 going into this year would be good based on the offensive line weakness.

How do you judge each season as good or bad ?

Simply put Playoffs. You must reach the second season to have a chance at your teams goal set at the beginning of the season.

[jobberone]

I imagine successful season takes into account many factors. This team is physical and doesn't quit. That's success compared to some recent teams. Acquisition of depth has been successful.

[zeroburrito]

2 playoff wins.

[CowboyMcCoy]

Originally Posted by john van brocklin

I have been a Cowboy's fan for 37 years.
I am not crazy enough to think we should win the Superbowl every year, that is not realistic as there are 32 teams competing for that prize.

I just consider a positive season one in which we meet or exceed reasonable expectations.

I was thinking 9 and 7 going into this year would be good based on the offensive line weakness.

How do you judge each season as good or bad ?

You make the playoffs=Good.
You don't make the playoffs=Bad.

[Gameover]

10 wins!!

[john van brocklin]

Originally Posted by Gameover

10 wins!!

I think expectations play a role in this as well.
I remember after we whipped the Giants the first game,
thinking we might have something really special.

Then we crashed and burned at Seattle : (

[jterrell]

Originally Posted by KJJ

That tells you just how lean things have been the past 20 years.

If you mean it forces one to look at the reality of the team then yes, it does.

Gotta love fans who sit by and demand Super Bowl or bust 20+ years in a row.
They are akin to the cat ladies.

I am a coach and I hate to lose. But you create realistic goals based upon circumstances. Very seldom can you go from 20 years of futility to Championship in one season. This team needs to focus on playing meaningful football in December every year. They can have winning this division as a goal. They can even aim for winning any home playoff games. But outside that the goals would be more adequately labeled dreams.

If winning this division and a home playoff game is considered a failure than by all means I hope we fail this year.

I hope each week to win the game and deep down make my self belief we can. But I also know taken in context over the course of a season any goofball that expects to go win the Super Bowl every year is clinically insane.