I think this game will show if things are changing for this team

[Wayne02]

Originally Posted by Fmart322

I agree. The culture has changed but with the defense so many 2nd and 3rd stringers because of injuries I feel it's going to be too much to overcome. The redskins are healthy and playing good team ball. They have a running game and our injuries on D are to our best run stoppers.

I'm not saying we have no chance but the odds are long in my opinion. If I were a betting man i'd take the skins without thinking twice.

Wrong. Off the top of my head, they are missing they're best defensive player in Orakpo, another starter on the D-Line Carriker, one of their safties Merriweather, and their playmaking tight end Davis. Both teams have impact players that are injured, no excuses on either side, just go win the game.

[yimyammer]

Originally Posted by ufcrules1

I want to agree with you but I can't. One thing I can see is this team is not quitting at all anymore. They may lack the talent right now but they are fighting with everything they have lately and that is something I haven't seen in forever.
It may just be a brief aberration, but it's certainly here right now.

I agree, there is a noticeable difference in effort, fight and competitiveness, I dont understand how RS doesn't see this

[fanfromvirginia]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

I don't. I think this is the same team I've seen over recent years, whether they win this next game or not. They've got the same issues they had three years ago.

I dunno. Beating this fired up, Shanahan-coached Redskin team on the road would be pretty damn impressive IMO.

I don't expect it to happen though.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by ufcrules1

I want to agree with you but I can't. One thing I can see is this team is not quitting at all anymore. They may lack the talent right now but they are fighting with everything they have lately and that is something I haven't seen in forever.
It may just be a brief aberration, but it's certainly here right now.

They fought in 2009 too. This is the same team.

If we beat the Redskins, that's great. We beat the Eagles that year too. We even beat them again in the wild card round but then we faced better competition and got absolutely destroyed due to our lack of talent in the trenches.

The same thing will happen to this team should they beat the Redskins on Sunday.

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

They fought in 2009 too. This is the same team.

If we beat the Redskins, that's great. We beat the Eagles that year too. We even beat them again in the wild card round but then we faced better competition and got absolutely destroyed due to our lack of talent in the trenches.

The same thing will happen to this team should they beat the Redskins on Sunday.

Maybe, maybe not the only way to find out is win Sunday and see where it takes the team.

[Plumfool]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

They fought in 2009 too. This is the same team.

If we beat the Redskins, that's great. We beat the Eagles that year too. We even beat them again in the wild card round but then we faced better competition and got absolutely destroyed due to our lack of talent in the trenches.

The same thing will happen to this team should they beat the Redskins on Sunday.

I think the Cowboys were just a bad matchup for the Eagles in 2009. That team didnt have fight.

[fifaguy]

Originally Posted by Wayne02

Wrong. Off the top of my head, they are missing they're best defensive player in Orakpo, another starter on the D-Line Carriker, one of their safties Merriweather, and their playmaking tight end Davis. Both teams have impact players that are injured, no excuses on either side, just go win the game.

weren't they missing all of those guys in the first game?

[DenCWBY]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

They fought in 2009 too. This is the same team.

If we beat the Redskins, that's great. We beat the Eagles that year too. We even beat them again in the wild card round but then we faced better competition and got absolutely destroyed due to our lack of talent in the trenches.

The same thing will happen to this team should they beat the Redskins on Sunday.

Yes this is exactly the case. Watching other games throughout the season(Denver, Seattle, SF) for example, these teams are consistent and rarely make mistakes. The addage that "you are what your record is" comes into play here. We have a pretty good team but we really don't know who is going to show up each Sunday. These other "better" teams are consistent and confident in all 3 phases throughout the whole game. They know their assigments and play solid team ball. Call it better talent or better coaching; they are just consistently better (esp in the trenches) than us.
I think the foreskins are alot like us in that respect so we'll give them a good game but playing the upper level talent (home or away) will tell the tale of how good we really are.

[Wayne02]

Originally Posted by fifaguy

weren't they missing all of those guys in the first game?

Yes they were, but those guys are still huge parts from their team. Injuries are no excuse for either team because both teams have them.

[Staxxxx]

Originally Posted by Plumfool

In recent years games with this much on the line, Dallas would fold at the opening kickoff. No spirit no fight nothing. If this team comes out ready to play despite its abundance of concerns, then there should be little doubt that at least the coaching culture has changed dramatically and that the direction for this team is on the upswing.

I have no idea what you could possibly be looking for in this game that hasn't already been on display the last 7 weeks. This is an undermanned team whose backs have been up against the wall since they were 3-5. This team may be short on talent right now but they're certainly not short on heart.

[Roadtrip635]

Being ready from the opening kickoff would be a welcome change for this team this year. For the most part, they have looked flat, unprepared and uninspired in the first half of games and that cost the team big against the Skins in their first meeting.

Hopefully JG gets rid of his usual early game plan of plodding, conservative, predictable play calling and tempo and instead play to the strengths of Romo and this offense. I would like to see him mix in some no-huddle early in the game, I'm not saying to use it exclusively, but mix it up. There is no denying our results using the no-huddle, but don't wait until we HAVE to use it. It will help keep their def. guessing and off balance and hopefully give our unit a spark, confidence early in the game and most importantly early points.

As banged up as our defense is, we obviously can't use it exclusively, since too many 3 and outs will tire our already weakened defense. If we can actually get early points, it will help our defense and help force the Skins to have to score.

[Plumfool]

Originally Posted by Staxxxx

I have no idea what you could possibly be looking for in this game that hasn't already been on display the last 7 weeks. This is an undermanned team whose backs have been up against the wall since they were 3-5. This team may be short on talent right now but they're certainly not short on heart.

Simple it's a win or go home game. Past teams in this scenerio gave very little effort and frankly looked ill prepared. What I'm looking for is a team that doesn't play scared in this game.

[DFWJC]

Originally Posted by Plumfool

In recent years games with this much on the line, Dallas would fold at the opening kickoff. No spirit no fight nothing. If this team comes out ready to play despite its abundance of concerns, then there should be little doubt that at least the coaching culture has changed dramatically and that the direction for this team is on the upswing.

I think the last 4 weeks have been huge games for Dallas.
I don't see any quit in this team. They may lose, but it won't be due a lack of effort.

[REDVOLUTION]

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

Then again many fans threw in the towel vs Cinn and Pitt only to be wrong.

I will gladly admit that I thought they had no shot vs Pitt.

Originally Posted by ufcrules1

Pitt had fallen apart before they even played us.

That is just crap.
Game was theirs for the taking.
We denied them REPEATEDLY!


I admit I was wrong. Admit they WALKED THE WALK in that one and got the Win.

[Fmart322]

Originally Posted by Wayne02

Wrong. Off the top of my head, they are missing they're best defensive player in Orakpo, another starter on the D-Line Carriker, one of their safties Merriweather, and their playmaking tight end Davis. Both teams have impact players that are injured, no excuses on either side, just go win the game.

They are a lot more healthy then us. Were missing a NT, both IMLB's, and S. They love to run and were missing our heart on defense. That's a lot to overcome.