Week 17 Division Away Games--why so many?

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by mldardy

The last time we opened the season at home was 2007 before that it was 2003. We've had two home openers since 2002. I don't think any other team in the league has had this few. It would be nice to have the opener at home next season. I don't care how bad we've been at home I'd still rather be playing at home than on the road especially in the opening game of the season.

There you go. It seems like it's every year and that's because it's pretty much been every year.

We are a better road team but I get what you're saying. Every team's stadium is rocking on opening day and the Cowboys routinely have to play in that environment.

[cajuncocoa]

I don't think it's irrelevant at all. Being at home is an advantage and in a big game situation, a team needs all the advantages it can get.

[Super_Kazuya]

Well on one hand, we are always guaranteed without fail to have a home game on Thankagiving. So while it's not a massive difference, statistically there is a greater chance that last game will be on the road.

But yes, the whole "win or go home" stupidity (which was really just created by the media to antagonize Romo) looks even stupider when you just think of it as just the regular season game that it is. If you take care of your business, it's just another game. Regardless of where the games are, it's really amazing that the Cowboys have played in so many of these games in such a short time. It's one thing to still be alive in Week 17, but even stranger to have to play a team in the exact same boat. It's crazy.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by cajuncocoa

I don't think it's irrelevant at all. Being at home is an advantage and in a big game situation, a team needs all the advantages it can get.

But that last game is just as likely to be meaningless as a big game. Even more likely since you can either be already in or out of the playoffs.

Who's to say the week 13 game isn't the biggest of the season?

The schedule isn't the problem. It's not the time, date or location of the games. It's the players we bring.

[DFWJC]

Originally Posted by cajuncocoa

I don't think it's irrelevant at all. Being at home is an advantage and in a big game situation, a team needs all the advantages it can get.

We were 3-5 on the road in 2011 and 3-5 on the road in 2012.
We may play well on the road, but our record does not reflect it.

I'm looking forward to the day where we're 5-3 on the road and even better at home. 12-4 would be nice.

We did play maybe our best game this season on the road when we thumped the Giants in New York. BTW, if you ask any player they would say they were as pumped and felt as much pressure going into that division road game season opener (at the SB Champs) as they did that division road game season ender.
But that win doesn't count as a "big" win to some. Whatever.

[BanditHiro]

not that it matter but in the 90s what kind of teams did we face the last game of the season? division opponents?

[Nation]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

But that last game is just as likely to be meaningless as a big game. Even more likely since you can either be already in or out of the playoffs.

Who's to say the week 13 game isn't the biggest of the season?

The schedule isn't the problem. It's not the time, date or location of the games. It's the players we bring.

This times ten million.

[Super_Kazuya]

Originally Posted by BanditHiro

not that it matter but in the 90s what kind of teams did we face the last game of the season? division opponents?

Sometimes. But it's only been a recent devopment that the league mandates that Week 17 be division games only. It wasn't required in the 90s, or even possible (uneven division sizes).

[texbumthelife]

Its great for TV revenue and makes it less likely teams sit starters. Bottom line.

[windward]

Originally Posted by BanditHiro

not that it matter but in the 90s what kind of teams did we face the last game of the season? division opponents?

90 at Atlanta L
91 Atlanta W
92 Chicago W
93 at NYG W
94 at NYG L
95 at Arizona W
96 at Washington L
97 Giants L
98 Washington W
99 Giants W

So 7 out of 10 years in the 90s we played division rivals. 92, 94, 96 and 97 were irrelevant to playoff positioning.

[DFWJC]

Originally Posted by windward

90 at Atlanta L
91 Atlanta W
92 Chicago W
93 at NYG W
94 at NYG L
95 at Arizona W
96 at Washington L
97 Giants L
98 Washington W
99 Giants W

So 7 out of 10 years in the 90s we played division rivals. 92, 94, 96 and 97 were irrelevant to playoff positioning.

I noticed that the home and away is split evenly like it should be.

[Hoofbite]

Originally Posted by DFWJC

The question was: does anyone find it unusual that Dallas would play a road division game as the last game of the season almost every year?

And by the way, if we win the New Orleans game this year, for example, the final game still has the exact same meaning.
Even if we had won the Washington game earlier, the last game would still have been do or die....unless we had also had a a second extra win.

In the end, the team was lucky to even be in the race at the end. They were just an average team.

The question is simplified to, "does anyone find it odd that Dallas would play on the road for the last game of the season almost every year".

That's what it comes down to. All teams play a division game that week so it has nothing to do with the divisional aspect.

[Hoofbite]

Originally Posted by mldardy

The last time we opened the season at home was 2007 before that it was 2003. We've had two home openers since 2002. I don't think any other team in the league has had this few. It would be nice to have the opener at home next season. I don't care how bad we've been at home I'd still rather be playing at home than on the road especially in the opening game of the season.

I think it was probably 3-4 years ago I noticed Dallas was getting horrid matchups to start the season.

Road game against a tough opponent. Compare that to the Redskins who were almost always starting at home against a cake walk.

My scope covered about 7 seasons I think and New York and Philly were kind of in the middle. Dallas and Washington at the ends.

I think the NFL does a horrid job at scheduling. They should alternate the games.

Dallas played at Washington for second game of the season this year, next year the second game goes to Dallas.

Also, the Giants were at hom to finish the season this year. Next year you send them to Dallas and Washington has to go Philly.


I've posted a few times, they could do so much more with the scheduling. It's honestly a shame they don't get more out of it.

[nake]

Oh well, hopefully we'll be arguing about whether or not to rest our starters for the last game because we already have the number one seed locked up.

Well, I did say "hopefully".

[DFWJC]

Originally Posted by Hoofbite

The question is simplified to, "does anyone find it odd that Dallas would play on the road for the last game of the season almost every year".

That's what it comes down to. All teams play a division game that week so it has nothing to do with the divisional aspect.

True and I did already realize that.
I just put that in there to magnify the iniquity of it. I could be wrong, but i think most teams would choose to end their season with a home game vs a division rival compared to being on the road--especially if the game had meaning.

I just found it odd, that's all.

No excuses. Good team overcome stuff like that. Just seems weird, that's all.