CFZ What we need and don’t need for a Cowboys deep playoff run

Bobhaze

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The frustration of the last 27 years grinds on us all. This is by far the longest drought of playoff success in the Cowboys storied history. No need to detail the futility. We all know the numbers. We are long overdue for a deep run in the playoffs.

So what needs to happen for us to win at least 3 playoff games this year? I think the answer to that question is simpler than many might think.

Let me start by saying WHAT WE DO NOT NEED:
  • We won’t have a deep playoff run because our QB carried us. I don’t care if Dak or Rush starts. I do think that Dak is a better QB in the long haul, but unless we have Brady or Mahomes, no QB alone can carry any team to a championship. We just need our QB to play efficient, smart football. We don’t have a gunslinger, and neither do about 29 other teams. SB history is full of QBs who weren’t HOFers but won rings.
  • We don’t need some washed up former star being added to this roster- like Odell Beckham, Jr or Ndamakong Suh. Guys like that won’t be the difference. We already have enough talent on this roster to win in the playoffs.
WHAT WE DO NEED:
  • We must have a complete team- all 53- playing together as a TEAM with intensity and toughness- honestly we have been a soft team for far too long. Last year the niners taunted us by saying they were going to run on us- and they did just that. Soft.
  • Role players must perform in key moments- Very few playoff games are won by just the QB or some other star player- for example:
    • In last year’s SB win, the rams had several key role players make huge contributions. Their leading tackler in last year’s SB? LB Ernest Jones who had 6 tackles and a sack.
    • How about Tampa Bay’s leading tackler in SB LV? LB Devin White had 12 tackles, 2 were TFL.
    • Many forget that in the 2020 NFC championship game, Tom Brady threw 3 picks. What saved him and the Bucs was the defense. Anyone remember Sean Bunting’s 3 INTs in the playoffs?
My point is, we need all 53 players to do their jobs with commitment, focus and toughness. We don’t have to have a superstar QB. We need a tough team to emerge like we haven’t seen since the 90s. This team has been resilient after week one. Can they maintain it and continue to get better? The answer to that question is what makes football fun.
 

Shane612

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They need to avoid the team nobody wants to see in January, SF, as long as possible. If and when they get that far you want it to be a home game.
Cowboys lost that game by 6 measly points. It was very winnable.
If one player would have stepped up and played a little better....:angry:
 

GMO415

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The frustration of the last 27 years grinds on us all. This is by far the longest drought of playoff success in the Cowboys storied history. No need to detail the futility. We all know the numbers. We are long overdue for a deep run in the playoffs.

So what needs to happen for us to win at least 3 playoff games this year? I think the answer to that question is simpler than many might think.

Let me start by saying WHAT WE DO NOT NEED:
  • We won’t have a deep playoff run because our QB carried us. I don’t care if Dak or Rush starts. I do think that Dak is a better QB in the long haul, but unless we have Brady or Mahomes, no QB alone can carry any team to a championship. We just need our QB to play efficient, smart football. We don’t have a gunslinger, and neither do about 29 other teams. SB history is full of QBs who weren’t HOFers but won rings.
  • We don’t need some washed up former star being added to this roster- like Odell Beckham, Jr or Ndamakong Suh. Guys like that won’t be the difference. We already have enough talent on this roster to win in the playoffs.
WHAT WE DO NEED:
  • We must have a complete team- all 53- playing together as a TEAM with intensity and toughness- honestly we have been a soft team for far too long. Last year the niners taunted us by saying they were going to run on us- and they did just that. Soft.
  • Role players must perform in key moments- Very few playoff games are won by just the QB or some other star player- for example:
    • In last year’s SB win, the rams had several key role players make huge contributions. Their leading tackler in last year’s SB? LB Ernest Jones who had 6 tackles and a sack.
    • How about Tampa Bay’s leading tackler in SB LV? LB Devin White had 12 tackles, 2 were TFL.
    • Many forget that in the 2020 NFC championship game, Tom Brady threw 3 picks. What saved him and the Bucs was the defense. Anyone remember Sean Bunting’s 3 INTs in the playoffs?
My point is, we need all 53 players to do their jobs with commitment, focus and toughness. We don’t have to have a superstar QB. We need a tough team to emerge like we haven’t seen since the 90s. This team has been resilient after week one. Can they maintain it and continue to get better? The answer to that question is what makes football fun.
Bullet for president 2024.
 

OGCowboy

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Bob pretty spot on as usual.
I’m still skeptical.....not hating on the teams we’ve beaten so far but I need to see this solid play against good solid teams. These next couple games be a good start. Win both of em or at least be highly competitive and that’ll be a good start towards the kind of identity this team needs. That they can stand in the ring with anybody anytime anywhere which I reckon is just repeating what Bob said....
 

75boyz

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Just a few needs for me.

1.Better offensive coaching by the HC, OC and OL coach. They ALL failed miserably at their jobs down the stretch last year. Total collaborative effort required. The whole this is Kellen's untouchable offense crap is BS. They either want to win or they don't. If Moore screws the pooch on play calling it is the head coach's job to take over. Period.

2.Better run defense.

3. Overall good team health.

Just a couple of don't needs.

1. Don't need all the tiresome publicity antics that will surface with regards to quarterbacking. Make your decision and go with it.

2. If you've made your bed with SleepNumber, now lie in it and be prepared to live with the likely results.

* Hope like h*** the defense turns into an 85 Bears type and not just a strong pass rush type.
 
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Diehardblues

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I think after these two potential losses coming up we’ll see we need much more to reach the next level. But my hope is we are still a playoff contender . Its doubtful we are ready to take the next move up against Tampa and GB, maybe even LA and SF. Not to mention Buff and KC in AFC.

A 10 or 11 win playoff team isn’t a bad place to be. Especially with one of if not the worst ran franchise , no doubt the most dysfunctional. Not sure why we’d expect more.

We’ll need that Mahomes, Brady type QB to overcome all of the obstacles this team has in our toxic atmosphere. Somehow I think Jethro would still screw it up.

Lower your expectations and enjoy it for what we are and have become.
 

Jake

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Cowboys lost that game by 6 measly points. It was very winnable.
If one player would have stepped up and played a little better....:angry:

It was 23-7 after three quarters. Niners won both lines of scrimmage most of the day. San Fran possessed the ball for over 33 minutes and Dallas had 14 penalties.

Laying all of that on Dak, who definitely had his own issues, is just scapegoating. The Niners were the better team that day. Jimmy G made it closer with a bad pick.
 

TequilaCowboy

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What we need is a rock'em sock'em in your face defense, which could happen by the end of the regular season. And a smart, turnover free, bus driven offense that can score around 24 points at least; which means TDs and not just FGs...that will get you beat.

If teams have to score 28+ points to win, we should be fine. Talking about in the playoffs. So really, the defense will need to carry this team,
 

zerofill

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The frustration of the last 27 years grinds on us all. This is by far the longest drought of playoff success in the Cowboys storied history. No need to detail the futility. We all know the numbers. We are long overdue for a deep run in the playoffs.

So what needs to happen for us to win at least 3 playoff games this year? I think the answer to that question is simpler than many might think.

Let me start by saying WHAT WE DO NOT NEED:
  • We won’t have a deep playoff run because our QB carried us. I don’t care if Dak or Rush starts. I do think that Dak is a better QB in the long haul, but unless we have Brady or Mahomes, no QB alone can carry any team to a championship. We just need our QB to play efficient, smart football. We don’t have a gunslinger, and neither do about 29 other teams. SB history is full of QBs who weren’t HOFers but won rings.
  • We don’t need some washed up former star being added to this roster- like Odell Beckham, Jr or Ndamakong Suh. Guys like that won’t be the difference. We already have enough talent on this roster to win in the playoffs.
WHAT WE DO NEED:
  • We must have a complete team- all 53- playing together as a TEAM with intensity and toughness- honestly we have been a soft team for far too long. Last year the niners taunted us by saying they were going to run on us- and they did just that. Soft.
  • Role players must perform in key moments- Very few playoff games are won by just the QB or some other star player- for example:
    • In last year’s SB win, the rams had several key role players make huge contributions. Their leading tackler in last year’s SB? LB Ernest Jones who had 6 tackles and a sack.
    • How about Tampa Bay’s leading tackler in SB LV? LB Devin White had 12 tackles, 2 were TFL.
    • Many forget that in the 2020 NFC championship game, Tom Brady threw 3 picks. What saved him and the Bucs was the defense. Anyone remember Sean Bunting’s 3 INTs in the playoffs?
My point is, we need all 53 players to do their jobs with commitment, focus and toughness. We don’t have to have a superstar QB. We need a tough team to emerge like we haven’t seen since the 90s. This team has been resilient after week one. Can they maintain it and continue to get better? The answer to that question is what makes football fun.

We need key players to stay on the field... like Parsons, DLAW, Armstrong, etc...
If we could keep everyone on the field, we have a chance.

A lot of rosters are broken by the time the playoffs hit.
 

RS12

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It was 23-7 after three quarters. Niners won both lines of scrimmage most of the day. San Fran possessed the ball for over 33 minutes and Dallas had 14 penalties.

Laying all of that on Dak, who definitely had his own issues, is just scapegoating. The Niners were the better team that day. Jimmy G made it closer with a bad pick.
Yeah still not sure what some people were watching. Not nearly as close as the score indicated. Jimmy G did his best Neil O Donnell impression or it was much worse.
 

Blackrain

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What we need ,players to buy in and believe they can win a super bowl so that they want to win a super bowl not just collect a paycheck.
I believe we have gotten rid of most of the paycheck collectors and added players that value winning a super bowl Micah Parsons heads that list and leads by example.

Football is a game of time and distance we need players that make the best use of their time and can go the distance. Seasons have become a marathon not a sprint. Those who hesitate are lost.

We need players to control their emotions and not get penalties. In the past we seem to have hurt ourselves more than other teams were capable of hurting us but things look like they are slowly changing.

We need the coaching staff to continue coaching at the high level it's been coaching at the last few weeks all the way through to the end of the season.

We don't need injuries.
We don't need players making business decisions worrying about their next contract
We don't really need Jerry's input
 
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