This year's team reminds of the 2014 team

[DandyDon52]

Thanks for posting this still pic. I have rehashed this topic many times:

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/today-in-dallas-cowboys-history-dez-caught-it.541965/post-14658688

Some folks will forever talk negatively about Martin. He blocked Julius Peppers COMPLETELY out of the hole. Martin is the main reason why that hole was so wide, but guess what, everybody? Peppers was never chopped liver. As the video clearly shows in the link I posted, Peppers recovered, leaped BACK INTO THE HOLE, and stripped the ball.

Peppers was an above-average defensive player. He made a play. In fact, Peppers made a great play. Defenders are allowed to do that.

However, n-o-t-h-i-n-g Peppers did excuses Demarco Murray's inability to properly protect the ball while entering the line of scrimmage. Adequately protecting the ball should have equaled a huge run or touchdown. Blaming Martin for BLOWING a player like Peppers OUT of the hole is just...

Whatever. It's just CowboysZone as always.

what about the broken hand that was all wrapped up??
I think they should have played randle that game, he was fresh and healthy, and was pretty good.

 

[DallasEast]

what about the broken hand that was all wrapped up??

More reason for him to have considered covering up with the unbroken hand and forearm.

 

[LonnieElam]

Especially after Game 1 vs SF. There was a lot of "Here we go again".

Even worse, the crowd was 80% red at home.

 

[TwentyOne]

...and a dump truck wide hole Demarco Murray fumble.

I still see his fumble as one of the bigger reasons we lost the game. Dez catch (or not) not so much.

I barely remember what last years team did

You lucky bastid.

How do you do that? I try that for months now.

I remember people saying the 2014 team would be lucky to win six games. They won six games by week seven and were a "Dez caught it" play away from the NFC Championship Game.

I do think the only thing these two teams have in common is that Dez is not going to catch that ball either if we make it to the NFCCG.

we have been cursed by such in way too many playoff games.
Starting with the Catch; though one could argue all the way back to the Ice Bowl and earlier; where just one or two plays doomed us

So you should feel lucky and happy that we dont see those playoff apperances that often. Shouldnt you?!

 

[Flamma]

I still see his fumble as one of the bigger reasons we lost the game. Dez catch (or not) not so much.

Yep. That swung the momentum and changed everything. We were starting to take control of that game. Similar to many of our other wins.

 

[Flamma]

The 2014 team went to the defending Super Bowl champions' house (would have been the eventual two-time defending champions if not for a bad call/Russell Wilson goal-line throw) in Week Six. The 2026 team has an opportunity to do the same thing in Week 13.

Maybe that will happen, but I will wait to see it happen. Until then, unless the team plays high-level, well-executed football beforehand, I will hold off saying this season's team is as good or better than that team.

That 2014 team reminds me more of 2016. Similar defenses with a ball control offense. In 2014 we had a RB that ran for over 1800 yards if I'm not mistaken. I don't see that with our current team.

 

[HungryLion]

What specifically about this team reminds you of 2014 though?

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

there were 2 guys who had an angle to cut him off, no way he goes for td.
here is the play pause at start and scroll thru and watch martin and the worst block ever.

Even the person that made your video thinks it was a TD...lol

"Julius Peppers saves TD Forces DeMarco Murray fumble"​

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Most people felt that way after Wk1 when SF beat us. I remember the doom and gloom predictions vs the Titans.

Of all the teams I've watched since the Glory Days, I felt the 2014 team was the most equipped to win it all. Despite the flaws on defense, it was the most mentally tough team in a year that just wasn't super competitive elsewhere.

We talk about the Dez catch. We talk about the Murray fumble. I think another play that decided the game was the unrecovered Cobb kick-off fumble with 4:00 to go in the 3rd.

There is no doubt in my mind if we recover that fumble, we win. The OL, Murray, and Clutts had just smacked the Packers defense around on a 80 yard drive to go up 21-13.

They wouldn't have kept us out of the endzone from their own 23, and we go up 28-13. The back to back possession would have spent the rest of the GB defense energy and morale. I don't care if Rodgers pulled off more miracles following it. The Cowboys score there, they keep scoring until ultimately kneeling out the clock.

Agree 100 percent. Also recall had Dallas won they would have faced Seattle in the NFC Championship; and they beat them already earlier that season. That 2014 team was indeed possibly the closest to the Super Bowl since 1995.

Another factor if I recall was Rodgers was not 100 percent in that game. Was hobbled by a calf or something; but the pass rush got nowhere near him most of that game.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

What specifically about this team reminds you of 2014 though?

Lots of similarities.

Major questions on defense (2014 team just lost Ware to the cap and Sean Lee to injury), low expectations (some saying 3rd in the division), explosive offense that people believe needs to win shootouts just to win; and both 2014 and 2026 teams coming off multiple .500 or sub-.500 seasons.

 

[gtb1943]

Lots of similarities.

Major questions on defense (2014 team just lost Ware to the cap and Sean Lee to injury), low expectations (some saying 3rd in the division), explosive offense that people believe needs to win shootouts just to win; and both 2014 and 2026 teams coming off multiple .500 or sub-.500 seasons.

I THINK our D will be better then the 2014 D
It failed almost every single time it mattered
The big difference and its a negative one is that our O line was GREAT in 2014
Tyler Smith is the only one on this O line that could have started on that line

 

[Proof]

I remember people saying the 2014 team would be lucky to win six games. They won six games by week seven and were a "Dez caught it" play away from the NFC Championship Game.

i really thought that losing sean lee was going to be a death knell. oops

 

[Proof]

Agree 100 percent. Also recall had Dallas won they would have faced Seattle in the NFC Championship; and they beat them already earlier that season. That 2014 team was indeed possibly the closest to the Super Bowl since 1995.

Another factor if I recall was Rodgers was not 100 percent in that game. Was hobbled by a calf or something; but the pass rush got nowhere near him most of that game.

and when jeff heath did get home, and delivered a blindside crushing tackle a rod miraculously held on to the ball. just a game of bad beats

 

[Pokes12]

We didn’t win a SB that year. I hope we are two wins better.

 

[DallasEast]

Even the person that made your video thinks it was a TD...lol

"Julius Peppers saves TD Forces DeMarco Murray fumble"​

Additionally, Troy Aikman is heard saying (paraphrasing) Demarco Murray would have hit his head on the goal post. There is only one way a running back could have done that in relation to where the play (and fumble) was located.

 

[Proof]

Up to thatplay Murray was working his way to the top of my "List". I'll never forgive him for letting the ball get tapped out of his hands in what should have been a beeline for the endzone.

zack martin is who you should direct your ire to. murray was gone, it's not his fault a 6'7 freak reached out from behind punch the ball out. if zack had blocked him slightly instead of being made to touch his toes, it's case closed

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I am not ready for that comparison yet

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

zack martin is who you should direct your ire to. murray was gone, it's not his fault a 6'7 freak reached out from behind punch the ball out. if zack had blocked him slightly instead of being made to touch his toes, it's case closed

So you're gonna blame a blocker and not the ball carrier. Since WHEN? Case closed?

Even Troy was like "Peppers made a play or Murray's in the endzone". I'll take his word over yours. No offense!

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Additionally, Troy Aikman is heard saying (paraphrasing) Demarco Murray would have hit his head on the goal post. There is only one way a running back could have done that in relation to where the play (and fumble) was located.

Yep...just reminded Proof of it.

 

[ghst187]

...and a dump truck wide hole Demarco Murray fumble.

That’s actually bigger than the Dez catch IMO…