Something happens to some fans with a team with repetitive behavior and some are purely results driven for the season, it is all about the destination, the journey is inconsequential. And there is no good or bad to it, it's just how you view the season.
If the Cowboys were to make the playoffs, and right now it looks like winning the division is the only way they would, and they were to lose out in that first round, would you rather they didn't make it at all?
Would the disappointment and frustration of that be to the point you'd rather just have the season end after 16 games?
Those are your only two choices, none of that "anything can happen in the playoffs", the choice is simple. End the season after 16 or end it after 17 games?