Don’t judge this team on opening night

Bobhaze

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It happens every year. Opening day occurs and win or lose, many Cowboys fans either proclaim, “Super Bowl here we come!”, or scream, “This team sucks!”….all after one game.

With our season opening on National TV in a Thursday night matchup with the defending SB champs, all eyeballs will be focused on Tampa Sept 9. I love when the season finally starts because all the speculation and hype about what kind of team and players we have begins to finally be answered. The long off season will finally be over and meaningful football begins. Sept. 9th can’t get here soon enough!

But just remember Cowboys fans- season openers don’t really tell us the whole story of any season. It takes at least 4 to 6 games to really get a decent idea of a team. Let’s look at the recent history of season openers and the first 4 games and whether it really predicted what actually happened in the whole season.
  • 2020- lost season opener to Rams 20-17, then started 1-3 in one of the few seasons where our start predicted the whole season. Finished 6-10.
  • 2019- started the season beating the giants 35-17, and went 3-1 in first four games, and looked unstoppable offensively. Finished 8-8 in Garrett’s last season.
  • 2018- lost the opener to the panthers 16-8, went 2-2 in first 4. After 7 games, Jerry traded for Amari Cooper, the defense stiffened, and the team won 8 of its last 10 games to finish 10-6. Won a WC playoff game against the Seahawks before losing to the Rams in divisional round.
  • 2017- won the season opener against the giants 17-9, went 2-2 to start. Finished 9-7 in a very disappointing non-playoff season.
  • 2016- lost the season opener to the giants 20-19, in Dak and Zeke’s rookie year. A year when Romo went down early and expectations were low. The team proceeded to win 11 straight to capture the #1 seed in the nfc before losing in divisional playoff round one.
  • 2015- The Cowboys won the season opener against the giants 27-26 on Sun night football. They went 2-2 in first 4, with Romo looking great- until he broke his clavicle in game 3, and the team finished 4-12.
  • 2014- we lost our opener in miserable fashion 28-17 to start a season where expectations were low. The Cowboys then won 7 straight en route to a 12-4 season that included a WC win against Det and a close painful loss to the the pack in the divisional round.
This could go on and on. The point here is that it takes more than a few games to know what kind of team you have. I know on opening night, win or lose, these forum boards will explode with either joy or agony depending on the outcome. But we have a long way to go before we know what kind of team we have this year.
 

Jake

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Jake

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It happens every year. Opening day occurs and win or lose, many Cowboys fans either proclaim, “Super Bowl here we come!”, or scream, “This team sucks!”….all after one game.

With our season opening on National TV in a Thursday night matchup with the defending SB champs, all eyeballs will be focused on Tampa Sept 9. I love when the season finally starts because all the speculation and hype about what kind of team and players we have begins to finally be answered. The long off season will finally be over and meaningful football begins. Sept. 9th can’t get here soon enough!

But just remember Cowboys fans- season openers don’t really tell us the whole story of any season. It takes at least 4 to 6 games to really get a decent idea of a team. Let’s look at the recent history of season openers and the first 4 games and whether it really predicted what actually happened in the whole season.
  • 2020- lost season opener to Rams, then started 1-3 in one of the few seasons where our start predicted the whole season. Finished 6-10.
  • 2019- started the season beating the giants 35-17, and went 3-1 in first four games, and looked unstoppable offensively. Finished 8-8 in Garrett’s last season.
  • 2018- lost the opener to the panthers 16-8, went 2-2 in first 4. After 7 games, Jerry traded for Amari Cooper, the defense stiffened, and the team won 8 of its last 10 games to finish 10-6. Won a WC playoff game against the Seahawks before losing to the Rams in divisional round.
  • 2017- won the season opener against the giants 17-9, went 2-2 to start. Finished 9-7 in a very disappointing non-playoff season.
  • 2016- lost the season opener to the giants 20-19, in Dak and Zeke’s rookie year. A year when Romo went down early and expectations were low. The team proceeded to win 11 straight to capture the #1 seed in the nfc before losing in divisional playoff round one.
  • 2015- The Cowboys won the season opener against the giants 27-26 on Sun night football. They went 2-2 in first 4, with Romo looking great- until he broke his clavicle in game 3, and the team finished 4-12.
  • 2014- we lost our opener in miserable fashion 28-17 to start a season where expectations were low. The Cowboys then won 7 straight en route to a 12-4 season that included a WC win against Det and a close painful loss to the the pack in the divisional round.
This could go on and on. The point here is that it takes more than a few games to know what kind of team you have. I know on opening night, win or lose, these forum boards will explode with either joy or agony depending on the outcome. But we have a long way to go before we know what kind of team we have this year.

Mr. Haze, that is a lucid, intelligent, well-thought out objection.

This place on game night:

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Whyjerry

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Can’t believe it but I am going to disagree with Bob. While he is correct in part I think we will know a lot about this team week one. It’s somewhat unique and based on the circumstances but here are a few reasons why:

1. This is Moore’s third year with this offense. Dak is back. Solid veterans all around. Exciting younger play makers. OL will be in tact. Zeke looks to be motivated. McCarthy is an offensive guru or so we are told. If this team doesn’t move the ball it’s a big problem.

2. The defense HAS to be better. I continue to believe if Gregory has a full off season he is going to ball out this year. I think that elevates the whole thing. Quinn HAS to be better than Nolan. Historically Quinn plays a pretty straightforward defense so the new playbook shouldn’t be an excuse. The LB and S play SHOULD be better. If 40 something Brady lights it up it’s a bad sign.

3. Dallas motivation has been questionable in a big spot. If they are flat to start and can’t get up for this game it’s a bad sign.

4. Will the real McCarthy please stand up. Is he the SB winning coach with a knack for winning when Rodgers was hurt or is he the bad coach he has appeared to be over his last few seasons? McCarthy made some very bad calls last year. Like really bad. I expect him to come in with a tight game plan. If not it’s a really bad sign.


So yeah I am watching this game very closely.
 

Bobhaze

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Can’t believe it but I am going to disagree with Bob. While he is correct in part I think we will know a lot about this team week one. It’s someone unique and based on the circumstances but here are a few reasons why:

1. This is Moore’s third year with this offense. Dak is back. Solid veterans all around. Exciting younger play makers. OL will be in tact. Zeke looks to be motivated. McCarthy is an offensive guru or so we are told. If this team doesn’t move the ball it’s a big problem.

2. The defense HAS to be better. I continue to believe if Gregory has a full off season he is going to ball out this year. I think that elevates the whole thing. Quinn HAS to be better than Nolan. Historically Quinn plays a pretty straightforward defense so the new playbook shouldn’t be an excuse. The LB and S play SHOULD be better. If 40 something Brady lights it up it’s a bad sign.

3. Dallas motivation has been questionable in a big spot. If they are flat to start and can’t get up for this game it’s a bad sign.

4. Will the real McCarthy please stand up. Is he the SB winning coach with a knack for winning when Rodgers was hurt or is he the bad coach he has appeared to be over his last few seasons. McCarthy made so very bad calls last year. Like really bad. I expect him to come in with a tight game plan. If not it’s a really bad sign.


So yeah I am watching this game very closely.
Good points.
 

Redball Express

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We have to as a fan base stop trying to constantly compare this team to the past ones. All the past teams HD to go thru tough times to improve. Competition as a team and learning to respond as a team is required. Too many fans want to look at one or two players as the difference makers. That is not how the team gets to the next level. It takes everybody to make a real change that works in the heat of a game.
 

Techsass

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The season opener won't be definitive, but we ought to get a pretty good taste of individual abilities.

Primarily I don't expect the defense to have the kinks worked out yet. Heck they probably won't even know who the real starters are going to end up being.
 

jazzcat22

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This could go on and on. The point here is that it takes more than a few games to know what kind of team you have. I know on opening night, win or lose, these forum boards will explode with either joy or agony depending on the outcome. But we have a long way to go before we know what kind of team we have this year.

And some on here will explode over the agony of a defeat, in a joyful way. So they can say they were right. :laugh:
 

Tangle_Foot

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I'm not naive enough to think that anything I say will change the way fans react or behave. Not even if it's backed up my history or percentages. Fandom is purely emotional, it's why many of us purchase jerseys, seek autographs, stand in lines, brave the elements or paint our faces. There is no mathematical formula, no surgeon general warning, that fans will adhere to when it comes to their favorite team. In fact the only thing that you can count on is the irrationality of emotion.

Go Cowboys :flagwave:
 

JoeKing

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I'm not naive enough to think that anything I say will change the way fans react or behave. Not even if it's backed up my history or percentages. Fandom is purely emotional, it's why many of us purchase jerseys, seek autographs, stand in lines, brave the elements or paint our faces. There is no mathematical formula, no surgeon general warning, that fans will adhere to when it comes to their favorite team. In fact the only thing that you can count on is the irrationality of emotion.

Go Cowboys :flagwave:
You underestimate the power of your own words. With the right message, you can mold minds, be the catalyst that invokes a movement that causes real change. Or your ideas could be lost to the dustpan of time and never be appreciated which is what happens to unspoken words.
 

Tangle_Foot

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You underestimate the power of your own words. With the right message, you can mold minds, be the catalyst that invokes a movement that causes real change. Or your ideas could be lost to the dustpan of time and never be appreciated which is what happens to unspoken words.
"Unspoken words lost in the dustpan of time" that makes for a nice fortune cookie :laugh:
 

Bobhaze

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I'm not naive enough to think that anything I say will change the way fans react or behave. Not even if it's backed up my history or percentages. Fandom is purely emotional, it's why many of us purchase jerseys, seek autographs, stand in lines, brave the elements or paint our faces. There is no mathematical formula, no surgeon general warning, that fans will adhere to when it comes to their favorite team. In fact the only thing that you can count on is the irrationality of emotion.

Go Cowboys :flagwave:
Well said. Absolutely true.
 

Bobhaze

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I'm not naive enough to think that anything I say will change the way fans react or behave. Not even if it's backed up my history or percentages. Fandom is purely emotional, it's why many of us purchase jerseys, seek autographs, stand in lines, brave the elements or paint our faces. There is no mathematical formula, no surgeon general warning, that fans will adhere to when it comes to their favorite team. In fact the only thing that you can count on is the irrationality of emotion.

Go Cowboys :flagwave:
IMO most of the frustration (and sometimes anger) that comes from Cowboys fans who don’t like anything but cheerleading and blue skies is actually an emotional shield they have built for themselves. Like most Cowboys fans they so deeply want to win and any opinion that doesn’t support that narrative is a threat to the shield. Rational arguments can still be “threats” to what they want to happen.

To some other Cowboys fans, any preseason positivity is “kool aide”. They want to see us win too but have been burned so many times by this organization over the years, their shield is to not bite any hook of hype or promotion that suggests “this could be our year”.

There are all kinds of Cowboys fans and I’m fine with any and all fans’ take on the upcoming season. The only absolute that we can count on is this: NONE OF US KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR!
 

Jake

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To some other Cowboys fans, any preseason positivity is “kool aide”. They want to see us win too but have been burned so many times by this organization over the years, their shield is to not bite any hook of hype or promotion that suggests “this could be our year”.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 25 times, shame on me. The same regime is still in charge.

I'm 100% in I'll-believe-it-when-I-see-it mode when it comes to success in January and February.
 

AsthmaField

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I'm not naive enough to think that anything I say will change the way fans react or behave. Not even if it's backed up my history or percentages. Fandom is purely emotional, it's why many of us purchase jerseys, seek autographs, stand in lines, brave the elements or paint our faces. There is no mathematical formula, no surgeon general warning, that fans will adhere to when it comes to their favorite team. In fact the only thing that you can count on is the irrationality of emotion.

Go Cowboys :flagwave:
You’re right about some but there are fans that aren’t ruled by emotion as well. Look at Bob’s OP. He has a pretty good handle on things and understands that the outcome of the first game very well might have little bearing on the outcome of Dallas’ season. Maybe it does or maybe it doesn’t. We just can’t tell after 1 game.

There are examples scattered throughout NFL history. The OP outlines ways that the first game doesn’t decide the course of the season, good or bad.

We all saw New England get blown out and embarrassed in their first game against KC just a few years ago. They looked awful and everyone was talking about the downfall of Belichick and the Patriots. The media had segments asking if the Patriot dynasty was over and asking the odds of KC winning it all.

Of course we also all saw New England go on to win another super bowl that year.

If history isn’t enough to prove that the first games outcome doesn’t determine the success of the season, then common sense should. Teams have to grow together as a young group while others are veteran laden and hit the ground running. Sometimes a bad game plan can doom a team’s first game… or a great one can make a mediocre team appear great.

None of that tells us where the team will be mid season.

We all should remember 2014 when the Cowboys looked awful week one and Romo threw what seemed to be 20 interceptions in that game. SF out hit Dallas and was way more physical. Also, we should all remember that team righted itself, made a great run to the playoffs and was one of the most physical run teams in the league, beating up opponents and going undefeated on the road that season until the Dez catch/no-catch game in GB.

Frankly, people shouldn’t have to be told not to get too high or too low after week 1. We all know that the season is yet to be written after 1 game.

I don’t see emotions as a valid reason for abandoning logic and going immediately to one extreme or the other and proclaiming super bowl or toilet bowl.
 
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