2007 vs. 2008

[Hostile]

In 2007 we finished 13-3. In the 2008 off season we have improved the personnel of the team and the team will be more familiar with the Offensive and Defensive schemes.

I want to caution fans that this does NOT mean we will be 13-3 or better in 2008. Let me explain why.

In 2006 we finished 2nd in the NFC East. That meant we played a 2nd place schedule in 2007. In 2008 we're going to be playing a 1st place schedule.

6 games will be within the NFC East. Never easy games.

We will also play the Packers and the Steelers on the road. We have never won at Lambeau Field BTW. We will also play the Seahawks and Buccaneers at home. That is four 2007 Division winners.

In 2007 we also played 4 Division winners, but 2 of them were the Eagles, so we really only played two, the Bears and the Patriots.

In 2007 the schedule strength of our opponents was .496. In 2008 our schedule strength is .523, and the NFC East is looking much stronger coming off of 2007 than it was coming off of 2006.

In both 2007 and 2008 we will be facing 7 teams that made the playoffs from the previous year. Both years 4 of the 7 games are from the NFC East. In 2007 we did not face the Defending Super Bowl Champ. In 2008 we will face them twice.

So we could be a better team in 2008 and not finish with a record better than 13-3. I think it will be crucial for the fans and media to remember that.

The big goal of course is going to be to finish strong, a job we have not done since 1996, ironically the last time we won a post season game.

In his career, Tony Romo has started 30 games, including two playoff games. The Cowboys are 20-10 in those 30 games. 7 of the Cowboys 10 losses in those games have occurred in December and January.

Go hard or go home. That's the theme for me.

 

[odog422]

In his career, Tony Romo has started 30 games, including two playoff games. The Cowboys are 20-10 in those 30 games. 7 of the Cowboys 10 losses in those games have occurred in December and January.

Go hard or go home. That's the theme for me.

Ouch...

 

[JonJon]

This is going to sound strange but I actually hope we don't get a first round bye. I still want us to go to the playoffs (of course) but I think the 3rd seed will seat us better. Right now, we are not mentally focused enough to have an off week and then return to play at a high level.

 

[Doomsday101]

I feel better already about 2008 one thing that has been left out is the fact Newman missed the 1st few games and I have no doubt even when he returned that foot injury was not 100 percent. Add to that the addition we added to the secondary this defensive unit alone will be a big upgrade for this team and as they say defense wins championship. We have the offense to put up some points but we need a defense who can throw the knock out punch in the post season

 

[Hostile]

This is going to sound strange but I actually hope we don't get a first round bye. I still want us to go to the playoffs (of course) but I think the 3rd seed will seat us better. Right now, we are not mentally focused enough to have an off week and then return to play at a high level.

That's an interesting take.

 

[JonJon]

That's an interesting take.

It just seems that once we "figure out" that we are pretty good, we lose focus and collapse. Maybe a bit of a struggle will help keep the players locked on what needs to be done, and the key word is need, in order to win. We didn't do what we needed to do in last year's game. Sure you can blame the coaching, but it still comes down to execution.

 

[THUMPER]

We will go 19-0 in 2008! :starspin

 

[Hostile]

We will go 19-0 in 2008! :starspin

If we had a WR opposite TO I'd be inclined to agree.

 

[Yeagermeister]

As long as we win the last game of the season I don't care what our record is. :laugh2:

 

[THUMPER]

If we had a WR opposite TO I'd be inclined to agree.

I just figured I would be optimistic today. At this point one prediction is as good as another.

 

[STAR GAZER]

If we had a WR opposite TO I'd be inclined to agree.

Ya, the WR thing is still bugging me. There is no way we go 19-0. However, I would be stoked if we avoided a loss in December and January.

 

[bootsy]

This is going to sound strange but I actually hope we don't get a first round bye. I still want us to go to the playoffs (of course) but I think the 3rd seed will seat us better. Right now, we are not mentally focused enough to have an off week and then return to play at a high level.

I am never going to say I wouldn't take a bye but the last 3 SB Champions all came out of Wild Card weekend. They also had disappointing losses in the playoffs in the previous season.

 

[bbgun]

This is what worries me: what are the odds that Wade will not only win his first playoff game next January, but two or three? And what are the odds that his QB, who has yet to taste victory in the playoffs, will do the same? Doesn't it seem unlikely/farfetched? Why will it suddenly come together for these two? In 1981, Walsh and Montana won their first post-season games together en route to the Super Bowl, but Walsh didn't have a history of post-season failure like Wade does. Therefore, Wade and Tony winning it all this year would be (pretty much) unprecedented.

 

[adamknite]

Are you sure about that? I thought we beat them up there with 7 FGs one time in the late 90s but I don't have any of my reference stuff with me.

That was a Monday Night game in Dallas, November 18, 1996.

 

[Hostile]

This is what worries me: what are the odds that Wade will not only win his first playoff game next January, but two or three? And what are the odds that his QB, who has yet to taste victory in the playoffs, will do the same? Doesn't it seem unlikely/farfetched? Why will it suddenly come together for these two? In 1981, Walsh and Montana won their first post-season games together en route to the Super Bowl, but Walsh didn't have a history of post-season failure like Wade does. Therefore, Wade and Tony winning it all this year would be (pretty much) unprecedented.

In my opinion it is a valid concern.

 

[bbgun]

In my opinion it is a valid concern.

I'd feel much better about 2008 had we won at least one playoff game last year (just to get it behind us and get the millstone off Wade's neck). He/we didn't, so the issue remains.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

i will agree with the original poster....but for some different reasons....when you consider we had a 1st time starter at QB, 1st time d-coordinator....1st time o-coordinator....new head coach...and lots of new assistant coaches....going into the season i thought we were a 10 - 6 team...which means you are a couple of lucky bounces away from 12 or 13 wins....or a couple of bad bounces away from 8 or 9 wins. Well when you look at this past season we had the bounces go our way....in the buffalo game, in the detroit game.

So with all that being said...we no longer have all of these 1st time coaches, QBs issues.....we have improved our secondary depth immensely....we have improved our special teams immensely...and we SHOULD have a chip on our shoulder. That means I view us as a 12 - 4 team...that could win 13/14 games with some lucky bounces or win 10/11 games with bad bounces.

But regardless of our record....if Romo is healthy...if Ware is healthy and if TO is healthy...I like our chances against anybody in the playoffs. Not saying other guys are not key...but we have no replacement for the guys I just mentioned.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Maybe we are not in good enough SHAPE!

 

[I LOVE ME SOME ME!]

It just seems that once we "figure out" that we are pretty good, we lose focus and collapse. Maybe a bit of a struggle will help keep the players locked on what needs to be done, and the key word is need, in order to win. We didn't do what we needed to do in last year's game. Sure you can blame the coaching, but it still comes down to execution.

If Dallas can't suceed without a bye then they dont deserve a championship. I dont agree with the logic you are using one bit. What would make them any different than the Giants? Id prefer to be great the whole way through like the old Cowboys. If this current team is scared of expectations and cant perform accordingly step aside and let the Pats win because i guarantee you they are gonna be rushing towards the trophy with ferocity while you want us to "struggle". Wasn't losing to an inferior team and watching them win a Super Bowl enough struggle?

 

[Hostile]

I'd feel much better about 2008 had we won at least one playoff game last year (just to get it behind us and get the millstone off Wade's neck). He/we didn't, so the issue remains.

So would I. I compared 2007 to 1991, and want to compare 2008 to 1992.

In 1991 we won a wildcard game to get us primed.