CFZ Now is when Cowboys must prove they’re for real

lukemartin79

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This has been this franchise's achilles heel since Emmitt, Mike and Troy retired. Just not mentally strong enough to focus in come playoff time. Frankly I have very little doubt that the 2014 probably goes up to Seattle and molly whops the Seahawks again if they get past Green Bay.. And all Romo has to do is hit the open guy for the first down on 4th and 2 instead of the yolo throw to Dez. Yes he caught it, but the smarter play would have been take the first down.. Keep grinding on that defense that had not stopped Murray all day, and score the game winning TD with about 5 seconds left on the clock so you know who has no chance to come back and beat you.

Then the 2016 team was good but too young and inexperienced. When they were moving the ball late in that game and Zeke had ripped off a nice run into the red zone they hurried to the line and ran that stupid WR screen that got picked off. Again the smart play would have been to keep handing the ball to Zeke. The Packers had about as much chance of stopping him that day as they had stopping Murray two years before. Then later in the game it happened again.. They drove down into scoring position and spike the ball before setting up the FG. Again why? If you were going to spike it, then do so with 5 seconds left.. not a minute or so. Should have handed it to Zeke 2-3 more times THEN kicked the FG. Assuming the Packers even stopped Zeke from housing it on their arses. The mental stuff has haunted this franchise for over 2 decades. I am nervous that it's going to get them again in the end. I pray I'm wrong.
Excellent points. Another thing that seems to haunt them is the stupid penalties. I guess those are really mental too, so I suppose that fits in with your last sentence here. I am worried about those too, all those ones that negate gains and keep you moving backwards. Especially the ones on defense after you get a stop, and it gives them automatic first downs and keeps their offense on the field when you had them stopped. Those things send you home from the playoffs - one and done.
 

lukemartin79

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If we dont catch Philly, we are going to Atlanta or Tampa in the first round.

Even though they gave us our most embarrassing loss, I would not mind playing in Tampa on WC weekend
Thanks for bringing that up- been thinking about that too. Its late in the year now, playoff picture is definitely taking shape.
 

Jumbo075

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I honestly believe that 90% of the mental toughness of the 90’s Cowboys dynasty came from one man - Emmitt Smith. It is why he’s my all-time favorite Cowboys player. Back in the 70’s, the team relied on the toughness and mental strength of Staubach. It was Emmitt in the 90’s. Can Micah get them there now??!
 

GMO415

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Bullet, Cowboys are peaking, while the iggles have done so already. I expect GB to win tonight.
 

SteveTheCowboy

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CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
NFL Champions are usually forged in November and December. The winners of the last 4 SBs all had 4-5 losses after 10-12 games, then they all got red hot in November and December, riding that momentum all the way to a Lombardi.

The Cowboys sit now at 8-3, fresh off two wins over teams with winning records and fresh off finally winning their Thanksgiving Day game for the first time since 2018. The remaining 6 games will determine how this postseason sets up for this team. These are the remaining regular season games:
  • Colts at home
  • Texans at home
  • @Jags
  • Eagles at home
  • @Titans
  • @Commanders
If the Cowboys could either win out or go 5-1 in the remaining 6 games, they still have a legit shot at the division and possibly the #1 seed.

If we end up a Wild Card team, this team will need to prove something they haven’t done in 30 years: Win a playoff game on the road. (Last road playoff win was under Jimmy Johnson in ‘92 NFC Championship game!)

So we absolutely don’t need any “Super Bowl talk” from any of the Jones boys. This team needs to do their talking on the field.

NOW is the time to prove it. It’s all there for the taking.
No more talk no hype. Win games.
 

SteveTheCowboy

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I honestly believe that 90% of the mental toughness of the 90’s Cowboys dynasty came from one man - Emmitt Smith. It is why he’s my all-time favorite Cowboys player. Back in the 70’s, the team relied on the toughness and mental strength of Staubach. It was Emmitt in the 90’s. Can Micah get them there now??!
That o line? Those wrs. Irrvin. Jimmy? Didn't help win?

Come on. Not a one man show.
 

fansince68

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This has been this franchise's achilles heel since Emmitt, Mike and Troy retired. Just not mentally strong enough to focus in come playoff time. Frankly I have very little doubt that the 2014 probably goes up to Seattle and molly whops the Seahawks again if they get past Green Bay.. And all Romo has to do is hit the open guy for the first down on 4th and 2 instead of the yolo throw to Dez. Yes he caught it, but the smarter play would have been take the first down.. Keep grinding on that defense that had not stopped Murray all day, and score the game winning TD with about 5 seconds left on the clock so you know who has no chance to come back and beat you.

Then the 2016 team was good but too young and inexperienced. When they were moving the ball late in that game and Zeke had ripped off a nice run into the red zone they hurried to the line and ran that stupid WR screen that got picked off. Again the smart play would have been to keep handing the ball to Zeke. The Packers had about as much chance of stopping him that day as they had stopping Murray two years before. Then later in the game it happened again.. They drove down into scoring position and spike the ball before setting up the FG. Again why? If you were going to spike it, then do so with 5 seconds left.. not a minute or so. Should have handed it to Zeke 2-3 more times THEN kicked the FG. Assuming the Packers even stopped Zeke from housing it on their arses. The mental stuff has haunted this franchise for over 2 decades. I am nervous that it's going to get them again in the end. I pray I'm wrong.
Totally agree with your assessment. Our OC needs to focus more on running more and reducing Daks passes to 25 or less passes. Ball control is the best friend of the run defense. With a lead, our defense has a chance to beat anyone other than Aaron Rodgers. Rolling Dak out with the TE crossing, if the lb stays with the TE Dak runs and visa versa.
 

pitt33

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I honestly believe that 90% of the mental toughness of the 90’s Cowboys dynasty came from one man - Emmitt Smith. It is why he’s my all-time favorite Cowboys player. Back in the 70’s, the team relied on the toughness and mental strength of Staubach. It was Emmitt in the 90’s. Can Micah get them there now??!
Right?

And now they have a running back who has three longish runs in a row and takes himself out. I like Zeke but man I don’t think I’ve seen a back get winded quicker than that guy.
 

ArtClink

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This has been this franchise's achilles heel since Emmitt, Mike and Troy retired. Just not mentally strong enough to focus in come playoff time. Frankly I have very little doubt that the 2014 probably goes up to Seattle and molly whops the Seahawks again if they get past Green Bay.. And all Romo has to do is hit the open guy for the first down on 4th and 2 instead of the yolo throw to Dez. Yes he caught it, but the smarter play would have been take the first down.. Keep grinding on that defense that had not stopped Murray all day, and score the game winning TD with about 5 seconds left on the clock so you know who has no chance to come back and beat you.

About the 2014 team: Everyone forgets there was nearly 5 min left on the clock when the refs cheated Dez out of a catch. All the Pack had to do was kick a field goal to win. The Dez catch did not occur with 0:10 left in the game.
 

ArtClink

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I honestly believe that 90% of the mental toughness of the 90’s Cowboys dynasty came from one man - Emmitt Smith. It is why he’s my all-time favorite Cowboys player. Back in the 70’s, the team relied on the toughness and mental strength of Staubach. It was Emmitt in the 90’s. Can Micah get them there now??!
Mental toughness, a pro bowl roster, and a hc with the final say over ALL football matters. Yeah, we could leverage that same winning formula now except the fuhrer refuses to relinquish control, winning be damned.
 

plymkr

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I agree. The Cowboys are as good any team that’s a contender. All they’ve lacked in the past was the mental toughness that is required to win playoff games. Is this team still soft or has it finally turned a corner. We will soon find out.
We're as good as any team in the NFL as long we don't beat ourselves.
 

OGCowboy

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I read somewhere that this team needs to avoid complacency Lol. That’s hilarious. In order to be complacent you need to have a rep and the rep this team has is NOT what I’m talking about. This team has so much to prove to themselves and others
I just wanna see continued workmanlike play and less talking although these days that’s almost impossible on the talking
 

RonnieT24

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About the 2014 team: Everyone forgets there was nearly 5 min left on the clock when the refs cheated Dez out of a catch. All the Pack had to do was kick a field goal to win. The Dez catch did not occur with 0:10 left in the game.

No "everyone" doesn't. That's why I said the smarter play would have been to take the short pass, get the first down and keep driving it into the end zone leaving little time for the Packers to do anything. But don't forget the side judge on the play had ruled Dez down at the 1. That left the Cowboys with the luxury of taking their time about getting that TD. I would have kneeled on first down just to burn 40 seconds off the clock. THEN try to score. Since you know it's 4 down territory anyway you could afford to throw away one down. Yes if it backfired and you didn't score you would have been crucified in the media.. but the Packers had shown me no signs that they were keeping Murray out of the end zone down close behind that line. I would have taken my chances..

But to your point about the refs cheating Dez out of the catch. We have no guarantees that they would not have found another way to cheat the Cowboys even if they had scored. You know a phantom PI or ticky tacky defensive holding at just the right moment to negate a game clinching sack.. Or a mysterious unnecessary roughness because they didn't like the way we tackled Rodgers. I firmly believe that if the refs decide you're going to lose.. you are GOING to lose. I don't know if it's Vegas, Goodell or whoever.. but a lot of the stuff that goes on in these games looks mighty damn fishy at times.
 

RonnieT24

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we really need the one seed. Philly may lose to either titans of giants. we ahve to win win win.

go Cowboys!

Even though I'd like the one seed and HFA frankly having it has not worked out all that well for us the last couple of times. Given the psychological make up of this team I really think they function better in the underdog, counted out role than they do in the favorite role. Until they show me they are mentally tough enough not to lose sight of the prize after the media starts blowing sunshine up their arses I want them to stay hungry.. Maybe being a wild card longshot is just what the doctor ordered.
 

john van brocklin

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NFL Champions are usually forged in November and December. The winners of the last 4 SBs all had 4-5 losses after 10-12 games, then they all got red hot in November and December, riding that momentum all the way to a Lombardi.

The Cowboys sit now at 8-3, fresh off two wins over teams with winning records and fresh off finally winning their Thanksgiving Day game for the first time since 2018. The remaining 6 games will determine how this postseason sets up for this team. These are the remaining regular season games:
  • Colts at home
  • Texans at home
  • @Jags
  • Eagles at home
  • @Titans
  • @Commanders
If the Cowboys could either win out or go 5-1 in the remaining 6 games, they still have a legit shot at the division and possibly the #1 seed.

If we end up a Wild Card team, this team will need to prove something they haven’t done in 30 years: Win a playoff game on the road. (Last road playoff win was under Jimmy Johnson in ‘92 NFC Championship game!)

So we absolutely don’t need any “Super Bowl talk” from any of the Jones boys. This team needs to do their talking on the field.

NOW is the time to prove it. It’s all there for the taking.
You are getting me pumped up Bob!
 

plasticman

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Took the words out of my keyboard!

The Eagles and 49ers both sent a message today. This season the NFC Championship will be earned.

In addition, only 25% of inter-division games have already been played in the NFC East. There are a total of 12 and 9 of them remain. This means that 9 losses will be assigned to four teams with a winning record. It's going to be a bloodbath.

If the Cowboys are serious contenders, then they must improve week by week while staying healthy. They have the attributes common to a SB team but we best realize that the 49eds and Eagles can say the same thing. Sooner or later the Cowboys must deal with both.

There can't be difficulty stopping the running game. There can't be a string of failures in the red zone. There can't be drive-killing, momentum-shifting penalties peppered throughout December and January.

It's time to earn a championship.
 
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